Life in Victorian Britain
Life in Victorian
Britain
October 2010
Life in Victorian Britain is the subject of a
new, free exhibition which will run at Bath & North East
Somerset Council-run Victoria Art Gallery in Bath from November 27
– February 2.
Although more famous for its Roman and
Georgian history, plenty happened in Bath during the Victorian
period and this new exhibition offers visitors the chance to
take an in-depth look at the city's social history.
It will encompass everything from the
rejuvenation of the spa and the discovery of Roman remains right
through to the harsh realities of life for the poor.
There will be paintings, drawings and prints
from the gallery's collection, including a four-metre long panorama
of Bath and images of long-gone Victorian buildings, such as the
plush Grand Pump Room Hotel.
There will also a slide show of over 100
photographs of Victorian Bath, and lots of fabulous objects on loan
from other collections. These will include one of the famous
Bath Chairs once used for transporting invalids to the baths for
their medical treatments; equipment from the luxurious Victorian
spa, and even leg irons and truncheons used by Bath police in their
attempts to uphold law and order.
Leader of Bath & North East Somerset
Council, Councillor Francine Haeberling said: “Bath & North
East Somerset Council is delighted to be hosting this exhibition
which will feature a remarkable assortment of objects, guaranteed
to intrigue anyone interested in the history of our city. The
Victorian era was an important time for the city, not least because
of the discovery of the Roman Baths in the 1880s. These, of course,
have subsequently become one of the top tourist attractions in the
UK.”
Exhibition organiser Katharine Wall, keeper of
collections at the Victoria Art Gallery, said: “When people think
of Bath they think of Jane Austen, the Romans, hot spring water and
the Georgians. The Victorian era is, in contrast, almost
forgotten.
“But Bath was still a busy, growing city.
Industries such as crane building, cabinet making and wool weaving
prospered here; new suburbs were built and the railway came. Bath
faced the same issues as cities up and down the country, and became
notorious for political radicalism, with residents vociferously
campaigning for the vote.”
Free tour of the exhibition with the
organiser, Katharine Wall, will take place on Wednesday December 8,
from 1pm – 1.45pm.
There will also be free guided walks of
Victorian Bath with the Honorary Mayor's Guides on Thursdays
December 2 and January 13, from 10.15 – 11.30am, starting from the
gallery.
-Ends-