Visit us at The Hetling Pump Room, 1 Hetling Court BA1 1SH. You may also refer to the Google Map at the bottom of the page.
Bath Medical Museum welcomes all visitors, and the main entrance at 1 Hetling Court is accessible for most wheelchairs, including motorized ones. The museum is on one level. All the exhibits are easy to access and positioned at a height that can be seen from a wheelchair. The captions are in 20-point font or larger. Additionally, there is always a room steward available to read out information or to provide additional details regarding the exhibits and exhibitions.
Please note that BMM does not have access to water or toilets. The nearest WCs are at Marks and Spencer or The Pump Room.
Click on each exhibition or event for more details:
Exhibitions
James Hunt, a postgraduate student from Bath Spa University, devised an exhibition and activities about “Resuscitating The Past”. The exhibition has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
The exhibition of Medical Inventions has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
“The Bath Beazer Garden Maze as a Wellbeing Tool”, curated by Bath Medical Museum Volunteer and Heritage Management post-graduate student, Karen Espinosa, has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Karen expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I’m very passionate about labyrinths and the positive effect their use can have on people’s wellbeing. Unlike mazes, they are not designed as puzzles to get lost in, but rather as meditative pathways.”
She further explained that the origins of labyrinths can be traced back thousands of years and have been found in various ancient cultures around the world.
Karen’s exhibition described the history of labyrinths, as well as explaining how the Beazer Garden Maze offers a unique opportunity for improving personal wellbeing.
The Beazer Garden ‘Maze’ is located within the city (Spring Gardens Rd, Bath BA2 6PW), along the banks of the River Avon, near Pulteney Bridge. Although called a maze, the design is technically a labyrinth with a maze-like touch. Unlike a maze, which has only a single line woven back and forth, true labyrinths are impossible to get lost in. You can go in any direction you choose and eventually reach the place where you began. The land where the maze stands was donated by Mr. Cyril Beazer in 1973. Cyril Beazer was a prominent figure in the reconstruction and housebuilding industry in Bath and the surrounding region during and after World War II. He was also involved in the local community through his association with the Bath Rugby Club.
Designed by Minotaur Designs for a labyrinth/maze contest for the Bath Festival in 1984 and inaugurated in 1985. The centerpiece, designed by Randoll Coate (1909-2005), Swiss-born who became a British diplomat, maze designer, and “labyrinthologist” and served in the Intelligence Corps during WWII. The maze was designed by Adrian Fisher, who is widely recognised as the world’s leading and most accomplished maze/labyrinth designer. Responsible for designing award-winning mazes for prestigious historic sites, visitor attractions, and private gardens around the world, including Alnwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, Legoland, and the London Dungeon, among others.
Try the maze below!
The exhibition has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Amanda Pollinger, a student from Bath Spa University, has just completed curating and displaying her exhibition for families, aimed at the ‘fun’ side of the ‘horrors’ of surgery in Victorian times. It stretches from the murderers Hare and Burke, who killed Edinburgh folk to provide bodies for doctors to experiment on, to the role of druggists, and to Louisa Aldrich-Blake, Britain’s first woman surgeon.
Many of the exhibits come from a box of instruments owned and used by Samuel Rains, a Bath surgeon, including the box itself.
“I want to capture the imagination of children and families, but most importantly, to get everyone to take more interest in the history of medicine and medical procedures,” says Amanda.
“Bath has been the center of medical practice and research for 2,000 years, and the 19th century was an amazing time in the development of medicine. This exhibition aims to encompass all the various facets.”
The exhibition has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Over the Easter Holidays, Bath Medical Museum invited Bathonians to remember the disaster of 1088 when the city was burnt to the ground, rather than focusing on 1066. It was during this time that two of Bath’s most influential heroes began their work.
All families were invited to join in with a series of free Easter Holiday activities at Bath Medical Museum in The Hetling Pump Room, just opposite Bath Thermae Spa and very close to the Cross Bath in Hetling Court. The activities included an exhibition which dealt with ‘Medicine in Bath during Norman Times’, and the life and work of the scholar Adelard of Bath and Bishop John of Tours.
Thank you for your participation, we hope to see you again soon. Please continue to support us!
As part of our programme of ReBalance Bath Festival of Wellbeing, Bath Medical Museum collaborated with Designability and researchers at the University of Bath to present a small-scale yet highly significant and enlightening exhibition showcasing the importance of creating supportive environments and aids to promote ‘Wellbeing’ and ‘Wellness’ for everyone.
Thank you for your participation, we hope to see you again soon. Please continue to support us!
Thank you for your participation, we hope to see you again soon. Please continue to support us!
Events
Building on our earlier workshop, “Decoding Teaching and Pedagogic
Research,” this session explores what helps and what hinders teachers in researching their own practice. Without engaging in pedagogic research, how can you truly know what resonates with your
students? When time and resources are tight, how can you maximise their impact? Imagine you are a lecturer juggling various commitments – how can you still make pedagogic research happen? The
talk will also cover some support services that the Teaching and Learning Community of Practice (T&L CoP) offers to teachers across disciplines.
Date: 14 Nov 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 2 – 3pm
Venue: The Hetling Pump Room, Bath Medical Museum
Speakers: Vienne Lin and Paul Lam, Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research, Chinese University of Hong Kong
For registration: please go to https://forms.gle/fPxgZ185mKrAy3Fe7.
This interactive session will explore the meaning of willingness to communicate (WTC) and class participation from the perspectives of attendees. Rather than being given scholarly definitions from the literature, participants will be invited to discuss any similarities and differences between WTC and class participation, as well as to imagine various forms of participation that could take place in and out of the classroom. Following the participatory rituals established in the previous chatty classroom
competition, participants will have the opportunity to peer assess each other’s contributions using poker chips.
Date: 14 Nov 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 3 – 4pm
Venue: The Hetling Pump Room, Bath Medical Museum
Speakers: Vienne Lin, Department of Education, University of Bath
For registration: please go to https://forms.gle/VJgej1xia1AeatLK7.
Bath Medical Museum presents an afternoon celebrating the life, work, and music of Dr. Claver Morris of Wells and Bath (1659–1727).
Join us from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, October 22nd, during Museums Week, at The Hetling Room. This event is free, but donations to the Bath Medical Museum Charity are much appreciated.
Dr. Morris was a talented physician and musician—enterprising, knowledgeable, sociable, and loving. Well-liked, he navigated his way through the scandals, political and religious turmoil, treason, and rebellion that plagued the nation at the turn of the 18th century. Despite his reputation, he often faced disputes of his own making, such as when he courted a bishop’s daughter or stole land to build his grand Queen Anne house. Dr. Morris also founded one of the first music societies in England at Vicars Hall in Wells and collaborated with the Harringtons of Kelston, Bath, promoting a wide range of music with both local and international musicians.
The event will also feature the Corylus Recorder Consort from Bath U3A, who will perform music that Dr. Morris either played or listened to during moments of crisis or happiness.
Please register here, as places are limited. We encourage you to book early to secure your spot.
Thank you for your generous support and contribution!
Regency Health, Wellbeing, Medicine and ‘The Waters’
10:30 & 11:30 (duration 20 minutes)
Venue: Bath Medical Museum, Hetling Pump Room, 1 Hetling Court BA1 1SH
A unique opportunity to visit The Hetling Pump Room, pre-eminent location for taking The Waters in 18th century Bath before the Grand Pump Room opened. It was here the Austens came on one of their early visits in 1799 so that Edward could take the waters.
During the Bathscape Walking Festival, BMM contributed two guided walks using the Historic Pharmacies walking trail. The walk was guided by Dr. Roger Rolls.
BMM provided free fun family ‘hands-on medical workshops’ at The Hub in Foxhill on Monday, August 5th, and Thursday, August 22nd. The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
The event has come to an end and has been very successful. Thank you very much for your generous support and participation!
The partnership with the University of Bath, Department of Health, has come to an end. Every fortnight, a PhD researcher visited the Hetling Room and shared their research with members and volunteers on a variety of subjects.
—
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Abstract of Talk:
In collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/), we are having a sharing session on teaching and pedagogic research. Do you have a particular teacher that you like at school or university? What do you like about them? Is it because of their teaching methods, their personality, their caring attitude towards students, or their dedication to creating a positive learning impact on students? Or perhaps it’s a combination of these or other reasons? Now, imagine that you have been appointed as the detective to find out these reasons. What data would you collect to support your arguments? How would you interpret them? Have you encountered any challenges? What can you do to address them? Your voice matters! Join us for an interactive talk where ideas flow freely.
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Description:
An interactive session aims to bring second language acquisition, and willingness to communicate to life. The session will kick off with a fun ‘give it a go’ language learning activity, where everyone will try out common expressions in a second language, such as Mandarin. Next, the participants will engage in the Chatty Classroom Competition. They will earn poker chips for their active contribution to the discussion. This is the opportunity to showcase what they have just learnt. Translanguaging is welcome. Participants can use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate. The session will end with some collective reflection on the value of student participation, the opportunities and challenges in co-constructing an energetic, dialogic learning environment, as well as other forms of contributions in the classroom.
Date: 20 June 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 3 – 4pm
Venue: The Hetling Pump Room, Bath Medical Museum
Speaker: Vienne Lin, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Education, University of Bath
Biography: Vienne Lin is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. Her research focuses on willingness to communicate and class participation. Her work emphasises the creation of a constructive and inclusive learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds and advocates for understanding students’ struggles with class participation from the perspective of willingness to communicate.
The collaborative workshop with the University of Bath has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
The Age-friendly VIP is organising an interactive gardening session that aims to foster intergenerational connections by bringing together older and younger adults. Participants will engage in a handcraft activity, such as the delightful art of painting mini terracotta pots, at the Bath Medical Museum.
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
400+ visitors crowded into The Guildhall on Sunday 21st April when Trustees and Volunteers staffed a BMM stand advertising the work of The Museum as part of Bath World Heritage Day.
It was very successful. The BMM included the ‘virtual’ model of The 1942 RNHRD Building, a pill making machine, rocks and explanation of the Bath Landscape in the context of ‘the healing waters’, a table top ‘zen garden’ for relaxation and well being, a quiz based around the famous painting of Dr ‘biscuit’ Oliver’s consultation with 3 patients, activities for families along with a small collection of Tibetan ‘wellbeing’ devices, an opportunity for children to colour in ‘microbiomes’ and learn about hygiene, and several medical devices including a ‘fleam’ for bloodletting and a prosthetic hip.
Notable visitors to the stand included The Mayor, The Chair of Directors of Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, citizens from Italy, France, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xian, India and well as friends form Bath itself. It was great fun and BMM is very very grateful to the volunteers who made the day possible by working hard and engaging with all the members of the public who visited us. One of the BMM trustees Richard Meunier was supervising his own stand which illustrated the work of the Bath Archives and friends from the BRLSI who recently supported us in our exhibition about Bishop John and Adelard were our immediate neighbours. It was a very successful day thanks to the volunteers who helped.
Bath Medical Museum presents an afternoon celebrating the life, work, and music of Dr. Claver Morris of Wells and Bath (1659–1727).
Join us from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, October 22nd, during Museums Week, at The Hetling Room. This event is free, but donations to the Bath Medical Museum Charity are much appreciated.
Dr. Morris was a talented physician and musician—enterprising, knowledgeable, sociable, and loving. Well-liked, he navigated his way through the scandals, political and religious turmoil, treason, and rebellion that plagued the nation at the turn of the 18th century. Despite his reputation, he often faced disputes of his own making, such as when he courted a bishop’s daughter or stole land to build his grand Queen Anne house. Dr. Morris also founded one of the first music societies in England at Vicars Hall in Wells and collaborated with the Harringtons of Kelston, Bath, promoting a wide range of music with both local and international musicians.
The event will also feature the Corylus Recorder Consort from Bath U3A, who will perform music that Dr. Morris either played or listened to during moments of crisis or happiness.
Please register here, as places are limited. We encourage you to book early to secure your spot.
Step into the world of scandal, gossip, and intrigue at our exclusive event in the historic Hetling Pump Room, where the Austens came on one of their early visits in 1799 so that Edward could take the waters. Delve into the mischievous world of the Georgian era as you learn the art of scandal-mongering, crafting believable gossip, and orchestrating scenarios to outwit your rivals.
Join us for a workshop where you’ll master the art of scandal creation through drawing, writing, and poetry. Bring your own ink dip pen and let your creativity flow as you weave tales to captivate and scandalise. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply intrigued by the secrets of the past, this event is a journey into the intriguing world of Georgian society.
Date: 18th September 2024
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Admission: £10 per person
Venue: The Hetling Pump Room, 1 Hetling Court, BA1 1SH
Capacity: Maximum of 18 participants
Uncover the hidden truths of history and indulge in the allure of scandal. Reserve your spot today for a special experience.
Register here to secure a place.
**FULLY BOOKED: Thank you for your interest! We are currently fully booked, and new bookings will be added to a waiting list. Details will be announced via email**
Regency Health, Wellbeing, Medicine and ‘The Waters’
10:30 & 11:30 (duration 20 minutes)
Venue: Bath Medical Museum, Hetling Pump Room, 1 Hetling Court BA1 1SH
A unique opportunity to visit The Hetling Pump Room, pre-eminent location for taking The Waters in 18th century Bath before the Grand Pump Room opened. It was here the Austens came on one of their early visits in 1799 so that Edward could take the waters. Share the experience and listen to a short talk explaining the etiquette, effectiveness and expense of ‘taking the waters’ in the 18th century. There will also be an opportunity to share stories and scandal!
Free Event – please reserve your place. To learn more about the festival programme 2024, click here.
During the Bathscape Walking Festival, BMM will contribute two guided walks using the Historic Pharmacies walking trail on Monday, 9th September, and Thursday, 12th September. Both walks will meet at 2:00 p.m. outside the Hetling Room. A suggested donation of £12 per participant is appreciated. The walk will be led by our chair, Dr. Roger Rolls. Please click here to register.
BMM provided free fun family ‘hands-on medical workshops’ at The Hub in Foxhill on Monday, August 5th, and Thursday, August 22nd. The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
The event has come to an end and has been very successful. Thank you very much for your generous support and participation!
The partnership with the University of Bath, Department of Health, has come to an end. Every fortnight, a PhD researcher visited the Hetling Room and shared their research with members and volunteers on a variety of subjects.
—
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Abstract of Talk:
In collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/), we are having a sharing session on teaching and pedagogic research. Do you have a particular teacher that you like at school or university? What do you like about them? Is it because of their teaching methods, their personality, their caring attitude towards students, or their dedication to creating a positive learning impact on students? Or perhaps it’s a combination of these or other reasons? Now, imagine that you have been appointed as the detective to find out these reasons. What data would you collect to support your arguments? How would you interpret them? Have you encountered any challenges? What can you do to address them? Your voice matters! Join us for an interactive talk where ideas flow freely.
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
Description:
An interactive session aims to bring second language acquisition, and willingness to communicate to life. The session will kick off with a fun ‘give it a go’ language learning activity, where everyone will try out common expressions in a second language, such as Mandarin. Next, the participants will engage in the Chatty Classroom Competition. They will earn poker chips for their active contribution to the discussion. This is the opportunity to showcase what they have just learnt. Translanguaging is welcome. Participants can use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate. The session will end with some collective reflection on the value of student participation, the opportunities and challenges in co-constructing an energetic, dialogic learning environment, as well as other forms of contributions in the classroom.
Date: 20 June 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 3 – 4pm
Venue: The Hetling Pump Room, Bath Medical Museum
Speaker: Vienne Lin, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Education, University of Bath
Biography: Vienne Lin is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. Her research focuses on willingness to communicate and class participation. Her work emphasises the creation of a constructive and inclusive learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds and advocates for understanding students’ struggles with class participation from the perspective of willingness to communicate.
The collaborative workshop with the University of Bath has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
The Age-friendly VIP is organising an interactive gardening session that aims to foster intergenerational connections by bringing together older and younger adults. Participants will engage in a handcraft activity, such as the delightful art of painting mini terracotta pots, at the Bath Medical Museum.
The event has come to an end, and we thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made it a huge success.
400+ visitors crowded into The Guildhall on Sunday 21st April when Trustees and Volunteers staffed a BMM stand advertising the work of The Museum as part of Bath World Heritage Day.
It was very successful. The BMM included the ‘virtual’ model of The 1942 RNHRD Building, a pill making machine, rocks and explanation of the Bath Landscape in the context of ‘the healing waters’, a table top ‘zen garden’ for relaxation and well being, a quiz based around the famous painting of Dr ‘biscuit’ Oliver’s consultation with 3 patients, activities for families along with a small collection of Tibetan ‘wellbeing’ devices, an opportunity for children to colour in ‘microbiomes’ and learn about hygiene, and several medical devices including a ‘fleam’ for bloodletting and a prosthetic hip.
Notable visitors to the stand included The Mayor, The Chair of Directors of Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, citizens from Italy, France, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xian, India and well as friends form Bath itself. It was great fun and BMM is very very grateful to the volunteers who made the day possible by working hard and engaging with all the members of the public who visited us. One of the BMM trustees Richard Meunier was supervising his own stand which illustrated the work of the Bath Archives and friends from the BRLSI who recently supported us in our exhibition about Bishop John and Adelard were our immediate neighbours. It was a very successful day thanks to the volunteers who helped.
Walking Trails
>> A free ‘Bath Inventors’ self-guided walking trail produced in conjunction with 44AD Artspace and the Museum of Bath at Work is now available at The Hetling Pump Room. It is part of our joint Festival of Inventions and the 2014 Bath Young Inventor of the Year Award, which is free to enter and open to anyone irrespective of where you live. There are three categories: 11 and under, 12 to 18, and a third category to devise an aid for the disabled.
>> Three original Bath Medical Trails by BMM are now available! Download BMM Bath Medical Trail.
>> Try this Biscuit Oliver Trail designed by Bath Medical Museum below, that visits key locations associated with the life and work of Dr William Oliver FRS.
Thank you for your generous support and contribution, which have made the exhibition a huge success.
The two exhibitions during half term, “The Bath Beazer Garden Maze as a Wellbeing Tool” and “Dissecting Victorian Medicine”, have come to an end. Below are some of the cherished moments during the event.
For more information, visit the BMM website at bathmedicalmuseum.org.