Akeman Press – BATH NEWSEUM

The writings on the wall.

Its wasn’t the first book to roll off the local Akeman Press but Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott’s ‘Ghost Signs of Bath‘ was an important and unusual addition to local history when it was published in 2016. It’s all about those faded advertisements for long defunct businesses you can still spot when you are out […]

by Richard Wyatt

It’s electrifying!

Never mind the ‘Beast from the East’ we had our own ‘monster’ to help chill us in Bath earlier this week.. On the 200th anniversary of its publication, we had gathered in Abbey Church Yard to honour the woman who gave us the nightmare that is Frankenstein. Yes, Mary Shelley wrote the dark gothic novel […]

by Richard Wyatt

Turning the pages at Chapter One

Michael and Emma Heap at Chapter One Pub on the London Road – once upon a time the Hanover Hotel – have now extended their opening hours to Wednesday evenings as well. So co-founder of Akeman Press, Kirsten Elliott, is offering four history talks on four Wednesdays – 14th and 28th of February, 14th and […]

by Richard Wyatt

Get out of Bath!

Christmas excesses and New Year resolutions could both lead you to consider a late stocking filler which offers you fourteen different scenic and historic walking routes out of Bath to help you feel both fresher and fitter as 2018 begins. We tend to get a little city-centric here with so much in the way of […]

by Richard Wyatt

The writings on the wall

Ghost signs – those faded advertisements for long forgotten businesses – found on the walls of old buildings – are among the most potent reminders of a bygone age – and nowhere are they found in greater abundance or variety than on the streets of Bath. Over 160 ghost signs are featured in a new […]

by Richard Wyatt

Bath and the Battle of the Somme

With July lst marking the first day of the terrible ‘Battle of the Somme’ – during the First World War – local author and historian Andrew Swift has given Bath Newseum access to an extract from his book All Roads Lead to France. It details the stories of soldiers from Bath who took part in […]

by Richard Wyatt

Pieroni’s Fountain

Readers looking for something local and original as gifts should check out the website of Bath-based publisher Akeman Press. Run by writers and historians Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott, the company has two new books out in time for Christmas, as well as a fine backlist of books of local interest. The first new book, […]

by Richard Wyatt

The canal-side pub that vanished.

I often cycle into town along the Kennet and Avon Canal tow-path and out through Sydney Gardens. My way onto the waterway is via Grosvenor Meadows and across the River Avon on a horrible concrete bridge that l knew had at some point replaced a delicate suspension bridge which l have seen in old photographs. […]