Bath Preservation Trust is reopening the Museum of Bath Architecture on 30th March and from Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, every week.
That’s for the present, but as part of the re-opening, the public’s going to be asked to contribute ideas for the museum’s future. The Trust says this will ensure the collection remains relevant, and the building is sustainable for current and future users.
Ticket prices, which include a free return pass valid up until the 15th December 2024, will be as follows:
- Adult: £7.00
- Concession: £6.00
- Under 18s: Free (must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- Discovery Card discount: 25%
- Art Fund discount: 50%
The Museum of Bath Architecture closed in December 2019 and, following the emergence of Covid-19 in 2020, was unable to reopen. As the pandemic waned and BPT’s other museums reopened, the Museum of Bath Architecture remained closed while the team considered its future.
The museum tells the story of the rich architectural history of Bath, from its transformation from a small medieval town into the world-famous Georgian city, to the Victorian expansion and 20th century demolitions. The collection includes maps, models, drawings, videos, paintings and tools that tell the story of how eighteenth-century architects and craftspeople helped turn a small walled town into the destination of choice for Georgian high society. Celebrating the distinctive Georgian architecture that makes Bath so special, and which has contributed to it becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlights of the collection include a 1:500 scale model of Bath, giving a miniature birds-eye-view of the whole city.
Alex Sherman, CEO of Bath Preservation Trust, urges Bath residents and architecture enthusiasts alike to take this opportunity to see the museum in its current format: “BPT’s theme across all of its museums for 2024 is future-proofing, and this is very much front of mind for the Museum of Bath Architecture. Built in 1765, the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, which is home to the museum, needs routine maintenance and conservation and like many Georgian buildings, is cold and draughty. We want to breathe new life into the unique Chapel and will be seeking feedback from visitors and stakeholders about how they believe the Chapel and its adjoining buildings should be redeveloped, and what they would like the future of the museum to be. The Chapel and its museum are an important part of BPT and through sensitive conservation, refurbishment and renewal it will continue to engage visitors of all ages for many years to come.”
Patrizia Ribul, Director of Museums for Bath Preservation Trust, says: “We are thrilled to be opening up this special museum to the public again; the fascinating scale model of Bath alone is worth a visit, but there are plenty of other items – such as an original stone acorn from the famous Circus – that will delight any fan of architecture or history. When Beckford’s Tower reopens this May, all four of our museums will open at the same time for the first time since 2019.”
For more information about the Museum of Bath Architecture, visit https://museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk/
About the Museum of Bath Architecture
Based in the historic Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, this unique museum explores the rich architectural history of Bath and looks at the architects and craftspeople who transformed a provincial town into the world-famous Georgian city. It demonstrates how classical design influenced the city’s buildings and illustrates the construction of a house from the cellars to the rafters. The building is home to the Bath Model, a fully detailed architectural model of the historic city centre, giving a unique insight into the layout of the Georgian City. The museum also houses the Archives of the Bath Preservation Trust, including the Bath Buildings Record documenting the 20th century ‘Sack of Bath’, which can be viewed by appointment.
The Museum of Bath Architecture is open 10am-4pm Wednesday to Saturday. Adult tickets cost £7.00, under-18s enter free, and concession tickets are available.
