History of Bath Research Group

Welcome to the

History of Bath Research Group

The History of Bath Research Group was founded in 1986 with the objective of bringing together historians who were actively engaged in research in the Bath area. Over the years many have published on different aspects of local history (including studies in the journal Bath History) and have given talks at our meetings. We also welcome those who simply wish to learn more about Bath's history and to support us in the work that we do, to attend our regular talks and visits, or to follow us through this website.

Our Latest Project, in Conjunction with the Historic Towns Trust

A New Historical Map of Bath Now Published
Available through book and map sellers & at our meetings

Additionally, our new website, launched on the 8th October 2024:
Bath Historical Maps

Publications

We Also Produce and Publish

Bath Historical Directories 1790s-1930s

Latest Publications & Reviews Available from Our Website:

Next Meeting - 13 April 2026

AGM and Exploring the Mapping and Gazetteer of Bath from the 17th to the 19th Centuries

Speaker: Richard Williams

                                       Our annual AGM, which starts at 6:30 with refreshments provided and is followed by the following talk:
In October 2024 we, in collaboration with the Historic Towns Trust, we launched the New Historical Map of Bath.  This included the work on Elizabeth Holland and Mike Chapman who produced an accurate map of the city in 1641 based on deeds found in the Bath Record Office.  The printed map was accompanied by a new website, BathHistoricalMaps.  Since then the website has continued to be updated with the addition of Roman, Georgian maps and the introduction of a 1951 background layer.  
Parallel with the development of the web based map, Mike Arnold, who worked with Elizabeth Holland for many years until her death last year, has begun work on The Bath Gazetteer. The Gazetteer takes the considerable amount of material that Miss Holland collected from the 17th Century onwards and details the development of the city from 1641 to 1851.  Although the final version of the Gazetteer is at least a year away, this meeting will reveal the extent of the work carried out by Mike and how this links with the maps on the BathHistoricalMaps website.

St Mary's Bathwick Church Hall
[Click to view in Google Maps]

13-Apr-2026

06:30 PM

N.B. Our meeting are normally held at St. Mary's Church Hall, Bathwick Hill, and we welcome both our members and visitors to the meetings. We are exploring the possibility of videoing our meetings so that those who are unable to attend may view our talks online after the event. If you wish to know more about the meeting please contact our secretary, using the Enquiries form