March
2010
Refurbishment of Microfiche Room
The microfiche room has been painted and new flooring has been
laid.
December 2009
Contributions to TV Programmes
Among our many users are programme-makers from
television, and this year we have enjoyed the challenge of finding
documents for BBC researchers. “Saving Britain’s Past”,
broadcast in September, devoted its first
programme to Bath’s preservationists and campaigners over the
past sixty years. We provided documentary evidence and helped
organize interviews with local residents and experts.
This summer’s visit to the Assembly Rooms by BBC “Antiques
Roadshow” also involved Record Office staff providing historical
information on the Rooms, and documents were filmed for possible
screening. The family history series “Who Do You Think You
Are?” may also use evidence we provided for a mystery
celebrity.
October 2009
Additions to our collections
Our collections have grown this year with a
fascinating variety of new additions donated, purchased, or loaned
to the archive. These include
- business and estate papers of the Langton family of Bath and
Cadiz 1750-1810
- an unidentified Bath physician’s commonplace and remedy book of
c.1730
- advertising and customer records of Payne & Sons,
bootmakers of Broad Street, Bath 1880s-1920s
- Bath views by local amateur photographer John Stamp from the
1940s to the 1970s
Searchroom Refurbishment
Regular users of the Record Office will have
noticed a cleaner,
brighter Searchroom resulting from
redecoration and new lighting in August. Working conditions
behind-the-scenes are also much improved, following
a three-month conservation-cleaning programme by
outside specialist contractors. The work involved taking
every item off its shelf for cleaning and inspection for evidence
mould-growth or other deterioration. Quite an achievement
with over 3 kilometres of shelving in the archive!