Museum of Bath Architecture

13/04/2026

The Museum of Bath Architecture has loaned 70 objects to Blenheim Palace as part of their new exhibition Blueprints of Power: John Vanbrugh's Rivalries & Genius Behind Blenheim Palace.

Blueprints of Power invites visitors to step straight into the dazzling world of Sir John Vanbrugh an architect, playwright and larger-than-life character whose ambition shaped an era.

Our team loved visiting the exhibition and would highly recommend (exhibition runs until May 31) https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/blueprints-of-power.html

09/03/2026

Behind the scenes at The Museum of Bath Architecture🖌️

When assessing objects around the museum, we found that one of the paintings ('The Panorama of Bath') had some mould on the back. We had some advice from a painting conservator and Katherine did a great makeover on it last week. The environment is much better now as we have had some work done to the roof. We will of course be keeping an eye on it!

16/02/2026

A wonderful morning of sunshine and blue skies in Bath 🌞

We may be closed but we do have some brilliant monthly events for you to attend, with lots of architectural talks being held at No.1 Royal Crescent. Find out more and book by visiting our website 🔍

10/02/2026

09/02/2026

Join Bath Preservation Trust’s Senior Curator Dr Amy Frost on two fascinating historical and architectural walks around Bath 💬Part of the award-winning, city-wide

Molly Taylor and Early Women Architects in Bath - Walking Tour with Dr Amy Frost
📆Saturday 14 March 2026
⏰11:00 - 12:00
🗺 Start: Abbey Green by the plane tree
Tickets: https://www.curiousmindsfestival.co.uk/events/walking-tour-molly-taylor-and-early-women-architects-in-bath-with-dr-amy-frost

The Sack of Julian Road - A Walking Tour with Dr Amy Frost
📆Saturday 21 March 2026
⏰11:00 - 12:00
🗺 Start and end outside No.1 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LR
Tickets: https://www.curiousmindsfestival.co.uk/events/the-sack-of-julian-road-a-walking-tour-with-dr-amy-frost

03/02/2026

Bath Preservation Trust X RIBA Bristol and Bath Midweek Monthlies talks are back.

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month for 'Elements of Nature', a new series of talks, plus solution-focussed sessions soon to be announced.

We are excited to be collaborating with Studio Egret West, Make Architects, Waugh Thistleton Architects, Barefoot Architects and others, to deliver an inspiring and informative programme sponsored by RIBA Bristol & Bath, that deep dives into important themes which advance design excellence, excel innovation and press for policy change at both the local and national context.

🎟️Booking is open for TIMBER
📅6pm on Wednesday 4th March
📍Museum of Bath Architecture

Dave Lomax of Waugh Thistleton explores the power of engineered timber and how it might help us build a better future.

Dave will explain the evolution of Waugh Thistleton’s work in mass timber from a world’s first experimental building through to a new model of practice combining world-leading research and international impact to deliver an Architecture of Sufficiency.

Book now: https://museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk/whats-on/

19/01/2026

Behind the scenes preparing 70 items for loan to Blenheim Palace for their upcoming exhibition: Blueprints of Power: John Vanbrugh's Rivalries & Genius Behind Blenheim Palace.

14/01/2026

The MoBA team have been busy preparing 70 items for loan to Blenheim Palace for their upcoming exhibition: Blueprints of Power: John Vanbrugh's Rivalries & Genius Behind Blenheim Palace. One of the objects is this mysterious chain pictured. But what is it?

🤫 This is in fact a Gunter's Chain, a measuring device invented by the English mathematician and astronomer Edmund Gunter in around 1620. This device became the basis for the chain and link units of length used in surveying.

20/11/2025

Meet Selina Hastings, the influential Countess of Huntingdon (1707 - 1791)💬👋

An important figure in 18th Century Bath, she helped finance and guide early Methodism, and she was a key supporter of the Nonconformist movement. She set up 63 chapels around the world, including what’s now the Museum of Bath Architecture.

But her story is complicated. The Countess supported writers who spoke out against the trafficking of enslaved African people. But in 1770 she inherited a plantation in South Carolina, where enslaved people were forced to labour.
Her life shows how faith, charity, wealth, and exploitation were all linked in Georgian Britain.

22/10/2025

When looking through the archives recently, we came across this charming fellow 🐾 He is a cast iron fireplace ornament from around 1870 and was collected by Peter Coard in the 1960s/70s during his project collecting objects from buildings that were marked for demolition in Bath.

Let us know if you would like to see more interesting objects like this...💡

17/10/2025

Designing a Georgian House✍️

The developer, architect, stonemason and builder all contributed to the design of a Georgian house. An exchange of craft activities took place as speculating builders employed other skilled workmen.

Houses were often sold as sparsely ornamented shells. Lodging houses would economise on decoration for their seasonal visitors, but purchasers could enrich the interiors.

These illustrations are part of a diagram that illustrates the process of development that would have been frequently occurring in the city during the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

1. The architect presents a sample elevation to the developer.

2. At a coffee-house, the architect provides the speculating builder with more detailed drawings.

3. The speculating builder employs other crafts people.

4. The front elevation of costly "ashlar" blocks of stone conforms to the architect's drawings.

5. Stonemasons work on the cheaper rubble stone rear elevation without drawings.

6. The architect inspects the standard of work.

7. Plastering the interior.

8. The purchaser selects fashionable improvements from an architect's pattern book.

9. A finer fire surround and mantle could be chosen at the marble mason's yard.

16/10/2025

This 1694 map by Joseph Gilmore shows Bath as a city largely contained within its medieval walls, with a population of around 3,000. The map also highlights the style of 17th century buildings with many inns and lodging houses illustrated in the border. It captures Bath just before the transformation of the city began🗺️

This map is oriented with north to the right.