[Could you design a label fit for a Bowler bottle? Project Coordinator Ellie Bowes displaying a genuine original!]
I think we are all aware of the fact that Bath-based Stothert and Pitt were once ‘crane-makers to the world’, but the late, lamented industrial complex wasn’t the only local manufacturer putting some fizz into our world.
The centre-piece of the Museum of Bath at Work’s fascinating displays – covering an entire floor – is the extraordinary engineering and soft drinks factory of Victorian businessman J. B. Bowler.
His ‘aerated waters’ came in many flavours and put as many bubbles into Bath as our hot springs!
While this collection may be a star performer in a museum dedicated to the commercial development of Bath over the centuries, it’s going to face a bit of competition from a rival display.
A generous Heritage Lottery Fund grant has enabled the museum to take on a new Project Coordinator.
She’s Ellie Bowes, and she comes with quite a lot of local experience – in the past she has helped promote everything from the SS Great Britain to Bath Abbey.
Now, in her new job, she’s preparing to launch a competition for people to design a new Bowler fizzy drink bottle label of their own. The winner will no doubt get pride of place in a new exhibition being planned for later in the year – along with all the other entries.
There will be more information about this competition online by April 12th, so do keep an eye on the museum website https://museumofbath.org/
I went along to meet Ellie.
