The Cheltenham Pantheon

Despite the flurries of snow the early morning light showed up the Montpellier Rotunda in all its glory. Although now a Lloyd's bank it started life as the building of Montpellier Spa. Originally it consisted of a wooden pavilion with a colonnade but, as it became more popular, it was rebuilt in stone complete with a statue of crouching lion on the parapet. Later on, its fine dome was added, this being inspired by Rome's Pantheon. Even the dimensions are almost identical - 53ft high and 54ft across!