Museum of Bath at Work facts for kids
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| Established | 1978 |
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| Location | Julian Road, Bath, Somerset |
The Museum of Bath at Work is a special place in Bath, England. It tells the story of how people in Bath have worked and earned a living for over 2000 years. It's like a time machine showing you different jobs and businesses from the past.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The museum first opened its doors in 1978. It was known as the Bath Industrial Heritage Trust back then. The idea for the museum came from a local businessman. He wanted to save the history of Bath's working life.
Saving a Business from the Past
The museum's first big collection was a real-life reconstruction. It showed the engineering and mineral water business of Jonathan Burdett Bowler. This company started in 1872. When it closed in 1969, its entire contents were bought.
Recreating History
People used old photographs to carefully rebuild the Bowler business. They recreated the shop, workshops, offices, and even the bottling plant. Over 10,000 bottles and thousands of important documents were saved. This helped show exactly how the business worked.
What You Can Explore at the Museum
Today, the museum helps visitors understand Bath's business growth. It covers a huge period of 2000 years. You can see many interesting exhibits and reconstructions.
Step Inside Old Workshops
Besides the Bowler collection, you can explore other recreated workshops. There's a cabinet maker's workshop. Here, you can imagine how skilled craftspeople made furniture. You can also see a Bath stone quarry face. It comes complete with a crane and tools. This shows how workers once dug out the famous Bath stone.
Amazing Vehicles and Engines
The museum has some rare and exciting machines. In 1999, it got a very special 1914 Horstmann car. This car is a great example of early vehicle engineering. In 2007, the museum also acquired a rare Griffin six-stroke gas engine. This engine was built in 1885. It is one of only two known examples in the world.
Exhibitions and Galleries
In 2003, a big exhibition called 'Bath at Work: 2000 Years of Earning a Living' opened. It showed how Bath developed over time. The Hudson Gallery also opened in 2007. It has a changing display of photographs. These pictures show different parts of Bath's local history.
The Museum's Unique Building
The Museum of Bath at Work is located in the Camden Works building. This building has its own interesting history. It was built way back in 1777. Originally, it was a court for the indoor game of real tennis. It's cool to think about how the building has changed its purpose over the centuries!
