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!”

Long Service Award to Euel Lane

March 24, 2025

Long serving museum supporter, Euel Lane, was presented with a surprise award at the Friends AGM on Saturday 22nd March by Trust chairman Trevor Turpin. Euel has served the Museum in various capacities since joining […]

The Race-Course Feud

March 22, 2025

In August 1921, the Bath Races meeting up at Lansdown became the site of appalling violence and assaults inflicted by gangs from Birmingham on men from London. This was ‘The Racecourse War’ for the control […]

Museum Making Team Complete

February 27, 2025

The Museum Making community team is now complete with the addition of two engagement coordinators Helen Daniels is proud to have been part of Bath’s heritage and arts community for over 20 years, having held a […]

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?

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