The Museum of Bath Architecture will reopen on 30th March, the Bath Preservation Trust has announced, after being closed since December 2019.
Photo © The Museum of Bath Architecture / Bath Preservation Trust
The museum will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm, every week.
As part of the reopening, a consultation will take place asking the public to contribute ideas towards the future of the museum.
This will ensure the collection remains relevant, and the building is sustainable for current and future users.
The Museum of Bath Architecture closed in December 2019 and, following the emergence of Covid-19 in 2020, didn’t reopen.
As the pandemic waned, and the Bath Preservation Trust’s (BPTs) 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 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, has urged residents and architecture enthusiasts alike to take the opportunity to see the museum in its current format.
He said: “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, said: “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.”
Ticket prices, which include a free return pass valid up until 15th December 2024, are:
- Adult: £7.00
- Concession: £6.00
- Under 18s: Free (must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- Discovery Card discount: 25%
- Art Fund discount: 50%
