“Perhaps the best thing
I’ve seen in all of Bath!”
“What a place!”

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Where can you see a Horstmann Car from 1914? And how on earth did we get it up the stairs?
Where can you learn about how fizzy soft drinks were made in Victorian times? And what was Hot Tom?
What was the date of the very last edition of the Bath Chronicle newspaper to be printed using metal type? And why did the type-setters have to read backwards?

It’s all here at the Museum of Bath at Work!

Enter the world of working Bath through a series of authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Two thousand years of working life are on display – furniture-making with Keevils the cabinet-makers, J.B. Bowlers’ ironmongers, engineering works and soft drinks making factory, and even a Bath Stone mine – all on show in our amazing building, a former Real Tennis Court, dating from 1777. And we’ve got displays about Stothert & Pitt crane-makers, the Bath Press, and many local trades, shops and businesses.

We love to tell the stories of working people in Bath. The first part of your visit will take you through Bowlers’ factory, workshops and office – you’ll step back in time straightaway when you buy your ticket at his shop counter! Your visit next takes you to the floor above which shows how the city’s workers have served residents and visitors with goods and services since the time of the Romans. And the Hudson Gallery features a changing programme of exhibitions, designed and researched with local people.

Every visitor is offered a free audio guide, but we often do free guided tours as well. There’s a brilliant gift shop with some unusual books and other gifts that you won’t find in other museums, and a self-service hot drinks machine. We regularly have children’s activities, working machinery demonstrations, film screenings, talks and other events – check the website or follow us on social media for up to date news.

The Museum of Bath at Work – only ten minutes’ walk from Bath city centre –“Very cool collection! We had so much fun!” (2022 visitor)


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