What’s planned for Bath’s Assembly Rooms.

Richard Wyatt

Things are changing at one of Bath’s premier tourist attractions.

The Grade 1 listed Assembly Rooms – designed by John Wood Junior and opened in1769 – are going to be transformed in the years to come.

The Tea Room

The building’s owned by the National Trust and managed by B&NES – whose Fashion Museum is currently housed in the basement.

However, the Trust is calling in their lease to the council to re-imagine the building as a Georgian experience – so that world-famous clothing collection will have to be found a new home.

Tom Boden, General Manager, National Trust’s Bath Portfolio.

I spoke to Tom Boden – who manages the Trust’s Bath Portfolio – and talked about his plans for the place.

September 30th marks the 250th anniversary of the opening of the Assembly Rooms and the Department of History at the University of Liverpool is organising a virtual conference to mark the event on the 29th and 30th of the month.

Check out Bath 250 Bath 250- Department of History – University of Liverpool for further details.

There are still tickets for an evening public lecture and dance display at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday the 29th. Details are available on the website.

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

1 Comment

  1. I like it fine well as it is, but I suppose it does cry out for more. maybe some volunteers dressed appropriately, who involve visitors by telling them bits of history but couched as gossip?
    It seems a shame to shift the museum, which I failed to cover being unable to manage the stairs down. I’d love to see more of the rooms though. perhaps selling coffee and tea in the coffee room would be good?
    could some costumes be on loan from the costume museum with adverting each other, for dressed models, arranged in static display to accompany recorded material? How about building a replica of one of the two sedan chairs, and having a paid trip around the circle in one? that would be a wonderful experieince. Perhaps a projected trip round the countryside with the sound of horses’ hoofs, seated in a ‘curricle’ which operates much like children’s rides in supermarkets, or fairground rides. lessons in how to hold the ribbons and ply the whip even, perhaps?

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