Work is a fact of life for us all, whether it is paid or unpaid, in the home or in a place of work, whether it is homework, housework or metalwork, we are brought up with it from childhood. This exchange of our labour for reward may have changed its form over the centuries, but it has always been with us.
The Museum of Bath at Work opened in 1978 and since then the nature of work has changed dramatically. Even in the last few years, how, with whom and where we work has changed during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an attempt to record the range of occupations in Bath in 2022 The Museum of Bath at Work arranged with fifty local businesses and organisations, for portrait photographs of workers to be taken in their place of employment. In some cases, this was voluntary work, but in most, paid work. We asked each subject to present us with a brief statement, about their work and why they continue doing it.
These have ranged from a Funeral Director to a Chimney Sweep, a Teacher of Bell Ringing to an Estate Agent. Viewed together these fifty images present a picture of the working life of the city today. Many occupations are not represented here and the intention is to carry this project onwards and take additional photographs as the years go by.
All Day Long: The Workers of Bath in Fifty Portrait Photographs
A Visual Record of a City at Work
Exhibition at Museum of Bath at Work June 30th – 31st December 2022
