I am delighted to share some more good news today. Bath’s Medical Museum has finally found a new home.
Paul Thomas tells me:
“You’ll be pleased to know that yesterday it was agreed to release information regarding the re-opening of the Bath Medical Museum.
It will be based in the Hetling Visitor Centre part Thermae Bath Spa. It is on the site of the Hetling Pump Room, opposite the main entrance to The Spa and close to the Cross Bath and an immediate neighbour to the Chapel In St John’s Hospital.
Sadly roadworks, which began on Monday, now ‘hide’ the museum building from easy access and view but if you squeeze round the barriers or access it from St James Street just opposite Bath College it is easy to find. And high up above the ground floor is a faded sign ‘Hetling Pump Room’.
A group of BMM volunteers meet every Tuesday afternoon between 2:30pm and 4pm and anyone interested is welcome to drop in to join the group.”
Bath Medical Museum was originally located in the chapel of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases but when that hospital relocated to the Royal United Hospital site, BMM became a virtual museum (https://bathmedicalmuseum.org/ ) until now.
It has just announced that it will be developing a unique partnership with Thermae Bath Spa. This partnership will involve the use of the Hetling Visitor Centre, on the site of the Hetling Pump Room, just opposite the main entrance to Bath Thermae Spa. Its mission is to preserve and promote the history and importance of medicine in the city of Bath.
Exhibitions highlighting various aspects of medical history from the Romans to the present day will be arranged from late Autumn 2023. The BMM collection includes records dating back to the 1740s, as well as artefacts and photographs relating to rheumatology, medicine and pharmacy.
Plans are already afoot for partnership exhibitions with Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases, Designabilty and Radstock Museum as well as independent displays featuring the BMM collection.
A group of volunteers has started to meet in the Hetling Room every Tuesday 2:30pm to 4pm and BMM is currently recruiting for more volunteers to join our team. Any one interested is welcome to drop in on a Tuesday.
BMM has plans to develop teams to research, curate, devise and design all sorts of activities and exhibitions. It is already developing a programme of ‘hands on’ twenty minute activities for city centre workers, local students and families using techniques centred around aspects of ‘well being’ and ‘mindfulness’ using ideas from Roman, Medieval, Georgian times as well as the 21st Century.
“It’s fun, restful, interesting and very soothing,” says volunteer Jackie.
“The great shame is that at present we will be hidden by some on going road works. But we are still very accessible and our team is very welcoming,” comments Trustee Irene.
For more information go to the BMM website or better still pop in on a Tuesday afternoon
