While the Singapore-based hotel group – who have bought the old Mineral Water Hospital – are inviting the public to see their plans for transforming it into a luxury hotel – perhaps you would like to hear the latest on the fate of Bath’s Medical Museum which is moving to Great Pulteney Street.
The Fragrance Hotel Group are laying out their plans at the Assembly Rooms next Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Bath Newseum has recently been featuring the efforts to rejuvenate the Medical Museum’s website.
They’re hoping – as part of it – to re-create three-dimensional, walk-around, on-line models of the existing hospital and the original John Wood designed 18th century General Hospital.
Now l am hearing – via a credible source – that a number of artworks and items still remaining in the old Min are to be taken out and relocated on Thursday of this week.
Stuart Burroughs, Director of the Museum of Bath at Work , has confirmed that one historic item is heading his way.
He told Bath Newseum: ‘We’ve accepted a monster ‘tavern’ clock which stood in the entrance hall of the Mineral Water Hospital – it’s about 7 feet high and it’s being installed here on Thursday.’
Meanwhile, it is understood that the Bath Medical Museum will re-open in a dedicated space in the Pulteney Practice at 35 Great Pulteney Street.
Many paintings and items from the Min have already been allocated to the new purpose-built unit at the RUH – however there is not the space or the right environment to regime all the items in this way.
I am hearing that a great deal of effort has been put in ‘to identify new homes for items from the Min to ensure artworks and objects will remain on display in other suitable settings, for the benefit of the local and wider community.’
Stephen Dunning has now given the following statement on behalf of the Bath Medical Museum: “I can confirm that Bath Medical Museum will be moving to No. 35-36 Great Pulteney Street, having signed a lease with Pulteney Practice.
Further details will be available in a press statement which will be released soon.”
Further to this l hear the collection will go into number 36 – that’s next door to the practice and that viewing will be by appointment only.
It’s early days, and a real effort will no doubt be going into finding a permanent home and financial backing for both the museum and the development of its on-line website presence.
So this proposed new hotel will be sitting on an inexhaustible source of hot water. I hope the plans include the use of the hot springs to keep the rooms warm and green at the same time.
No thermal water on site l am afraid Neil. It used to be pumped up through a tunnel from the Roman Baths.