Cinema goers at Bath’s Little Theatre have something rather special to mantain their interest while waiting to go in for their film.
Bath Medical Museum has set up a modest but fascinating exhibition called The Three Olivers which will be on display until January 28th.
Curated by BMM volunteer Hannah Rustomjee and BMM volunteer events co-ordinator Ella Parfitt, the specially devised posters indicate the chief features of the life and work of three physicians who lived and worked in Bath over two centuries ago.
Many Bathonians will have heard of Bath Oliver Biscuits and possibly the work of their inventor William Oliver but not of the earlier Oliver who was physician to two invading armies one successful and one a failure and the third Dr Oliver who was not allowed to work in ‘The Min’ which his father had helped found.
You can also see one of the last tins of Bath Oliver biscuits baked in Green Street over 70 years ago and a graphic example of what was then a common medical procedure ‘bleeding’ and a reproduction of all that remains of the ‘feathers’ that The ‘ill fated’ Duke of Monmouth wore in his hat at the Battle of Sedgemoor .
The exhibition has already created interest amongst visitors to the cinema:
“I knew about ‘Biscuit Oliver’ but never knew there were three Doctor Olivers!”
“Really good to have something to look at while waiting to go in to see a film.”
“Never knew anything about the Bath Medical Museum and certainly not the Dr Olivers.”
“Very interesting exhibition considering it is so small. It made us go to The Hetling Pump Room to find out more.”
The exhibition is usually on permanent display at the Museum’s HQ in the Hetling Room – alongside The Cross Bath and Thermae Spa – which is open on Mondays 12pm to 4pm
My uncle who lived and worked in the family business (started in 1821) at 14 Green Street always maintained that the cellars contained the original ovens that produced the Bath Oliver biscuits. My uncle’s grandson still runs the family art shop.