The Museum of Bath at Work – The Story of Working Bath

“Perhaps the best thing I’ve seen in all of Bath!”

“A very cool collection! We had so much fun!”

Child, age 4 (Visitor Book, Nov 2023)

“Ooooh but I love this museum – why do we have to go home?”

“Industry is the not the first thing one thinks of when visiting Bath, but this was super!”

“I so enjoyed being transported into the past!”

“History preserved at its best! What a treasure!”

“First class exhibitions and so important for future generations!”

Feb 16 –
Feb 21

Half Term Events 16th – 21st February

February 8, 2026

Museum of Bath at Work 11.00 a.m. Monday 16th February Free with Museum entry Yarn Bombing! Historic Films on the Textiles Industry All About Witney Blankets (1924 15 minutes) and Textiles in Industry (1920 10 […]

Mar

Friends and Trust AGM’s with Talk

January 20, 2026

Saturday 7th March 2.30pm at the Museum. Refreshments from 2.00pm Followed by a talk at 3.30pm “Brunel’s Box Tunnel” – Claire Dimond-Mills After Friends and Trust short consecutive AGM meetings, both groups will combine for […]

Mar

Movie at the Museum: Uncommon Voices

January 20, 2026

Sunday 15th March 17:30 – 19:35hrs Museum of Bath at Work318-348 Julian Road, Bath, BA1 2RH (map) Your ticket includes exclusive after-hours access to the Museum of Bath at Work, with time to explore the collections […]

We love to tell the stories of working people in Bath. The first part of your visit will take you through Bowlers’ factory, workshops and office – you’ll step back in time straightaway when you buy your ticket at his shop counter. Your visit next takes you to the floor above which shows how the city’s workers have served residents and visitors with goods and services since the time of the Romans. And the Hudson Gallery features a changing programme of exhibitions, designed and researched with local people.

Where can you see a Horstmann Car from 1914?

And how on earth did we get it up the stairs?

Why did these bottles have marbles inside?

They were returnable, but why might children break the bottles?

Plasticine was invented in 1897 in Bath by an art teacher

How would he have used this modelling material in his work?

Where would you find this print table for Bath’s local newspaper

Why is the print backwards?

Where would you find this extraordinary bike?

How did you get on, and stay on?

This stone mining tool is used to lift heavy weights.

How did it work?

What was hung from this hook sold in Bowler’s shop?

J.B. Bowler made these in his foundry – what is it made of?

Opening times