Bath Record Office is currently closed but we are planning a safe reopening. Although we are closed for research appointments, we are able to respond to enquiries by email, phone or post.
Explore Bath's world heritage
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One of the best preserved Roman remains in the world.
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A world-class collection of contemporary and historical dress.
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Bath's public art museum housing paintings, sculpture and decorative arts.
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Stunning and historic venues for hire in the heart of a World Heritage city.
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Collecting and keeping safe historical records relating to Bath.
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The City of Bath is designated with UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
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Promoting and assisting film-making in Bath & North East Somerset.
Welcome to this section of our website, where we showcase some of the fascinating documents in our care.
Here you can find full-size images of documents, as well as transcripts - exact copies of documents. Most of these transcripts have been made by volunteers, and we are pleased to be able to present the results of their work online.
1819 letter to Thomas Aspinwall with advice about visiting Bath
A unique glimpse into Bath's tourist attractions is revealed in this letter. Dating from the time of Jane Austen, it was written by a Bath holiday-maker to the Americal consul, Thomas Aspinwall. (Reference 1020)
A letter from the Bath Blitz
Read a fascinating first-hand account of the bombing raids on Bath in 1942, written by a mother expecting her fifth child.(Reference 0963)
Theatre Royal playbills 1781-1782
Rare eighteenth-century playbills from Bath's Theatre Royal (ref. 1033).
Transcript of the Regulations for Beating the Bounds of Bathwick parish
Find out how the parishioners of Bathwick celebrated 'beating the bounds' of the parish in 1832 - and see the amazing illustration which headed the document. (Reference 0951)
Transcripts of the Langton family papers
A wonderful series of letters between Bath and war-torn Spain, 1809-1817. The letters deal with the war, the family inheritance, politics, life in Bath and much more. (Reference 0770)
Transcript of the diary of William Winckworth
William Winckworth was appointed as schoolmaster in Bath workhouse in January 1856. This diary chronicles his first year there. (Reference 0685)
Transcript of the diary of Edmund Rack
Edmund Rack was the founder of both the Bath and West of England Society and the first Bath Philosophical Society. His Journal provides a fascinating insight into life in Bath from December 1779 to March 1780.
Abstracts of Bath Town Clerks' In-letter books relating to public health matters
Bath City Council, as the Urban Sanitary Authority for the city, was responsible for a range of public health matters. These letters, sent to the Clerk and filed in volumes, reflect the range of the sanitary authority work of the Council.
Ancient Deeds - a window into the distant past
Find out about our collection of 550 "Ancient Deeds" and glimpse the lives of people living in Bath over 700 years ago.
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