OPEN LATER: 10.30am – 5pm
Enter the world of working Bath through a series of authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Two thousand years of working life are here to see: furniture-making, J.B. Bowlers’ ironmongers, a soft drinks factory, even a Bath Stone mine – all on show in our amazing building, a 1777 former ‘Real Tennis’ Court. And we’ve got displays about Stothert & Pitt crane-makers, the Bath Press, and many local trades, shops and businesses.
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Where can you see a Horstmann Car from 1914?
And how on earth did we get it up the stairs?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
Why did these bottles have marbles inside?
They were returnable, but why might children break the bottles?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
Plasticine was invented in 1897 in Bath by an art teacher
How would he have used this modelling material in his work?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
Where would you find this print table for Bath’s local newspaper
Why is the print backwards?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
Where would you find this extraordinary bike?
How did you get on, and stay on?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
This stone mining tool is used to lift heavy weights.
How did it work?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work -
What was hung from this hook sold in Bowler’s shop?
J.B. Bowler made these in his foundry – what is it made of?
Find out more at the Museum of Bath at Work
Opening times
1 April – 31 October
Every day Monday – Sunday
10.30am – 5.00pm Last admission 4.00pm
November - Weekends only
10.30am - 5.00pm Last admission 4.00pm
December and January – Closed
February and March – Weekends only
10.30am – 5.00pm Last admission 4.00pm
10 minutes walk from Bath City Centre near Royal Crescent and Victoria Park
Every visitor is offered a free audio guide, and 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. We regularly have children’s activities, working machinery demonstrations, film screenings, talks and other events.
Latest / What’s on
Experimental Drawing – Finding your Mark
Women and Fashion: A Historical Perspective
Recruiting for the Museum Making Project
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.