Meetings Programme

10-Oct-2022

07:30 PM

Speaker: Peter Davenport

14-Nov-2022

07:30 PM

Speaker: Drew Westerman

Synopsis: A Potted History of the Bath City Waterworks: As seen through the Bath City Waterworks records held at the Bath Record Office. From 2018-2020 the Bath Record Office, with funding from the Wellcome Trust, catalogued historic records relating to the Bath City Waterworks, dating from 1772-1974. Nearly 3700 items were sorted, identified and listed, with the resulting catalogue of waterworks records being made available publicly for the first time. This talk will provide a potted history of the Waterworks as revealed by the records, or as much of one as time allows, with examples of the many varied and fascinating documents that can be found therein.

12-Dec-2022

07:30 PM

Speaker: Cathryn Spence

Synopsis: Thomas Robins the Elder (1716–1770) recorded the country estates of the Georgian gentry—their orchards, Rococo gardens, and potagers—like no other, with both topographical accuracy and delightful artistry, often bordering his gouaches with entrancing tendrils, shells, leaves, and birds. Robins's skill was honed by the delicacy required for his early career as a fan painter and is shown too in his exquisite paintings of butterflies, flowers, and birds. Cathryn will introduce the work of Robins through his paintings of gardens at Honington and Painswick alongside his extraordinary record of Bath as it was transformed by architect John Wood the Elder. She will also discuss the significant connections Robins made in Dorset and how this circle of friends and patrons was part of an international exchange of exotic butterfly and plant specimens, which included the Duchess of Portland and Sir Joseph Banks. Copies of Cathryn’s lavish study, long listed for the William MB Berger prize, will be available to buy after the talk. If you are interested in purchasing a copy please email Cathryn on thomasrobinselder@gmail.com. Priced at £40, Cathryn will bring your copy to the talk.

09-Jan-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Richard Williams

Synopsis: Following on from Oldfield Park and continuing the study of Bath's industrial suburbs in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. The westerly expansion of Bath north of the river saw the development of Lower Weston, Locksbrook and Newbridge. This talk looks at the development of this suburb, some of the industries that supported its growth, and the people who lived in the new housing.

13-Feb-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Paul Hyland

13-Mar-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Dr Giles Mercer

17-Apr-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Bruce Land

15-May-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Nick Mould

12-Jun-2023

07:30 PM

Speaker: Kirsten Elliot