Bath Record Office Display of Health and Medicine Texts
5 January – 13 February
To coincide with ReBalance Bath – Festival of Wellbeing 2026, the Bath Record Office has curated a display from its rare books and archive collections on ‘Health, Spa Waters and Medicine in Bath’.
The display case in the south wing of the Guildhall features a rare copy of William Turner’s ‘Herbal’ (1562) and a small 16th century pocket sized book offering advice on how to analyse urine. Also on display is one of only two surviving 18th century case books from the ‘Min’ Hospital in its earliest days. The attending physician, William Oliver, has written his initials ‘W.O.’ on several of the cases written in the book. You can also see a rare surviving manuscript doctor’s prescription (1675) and two early photos taken of Bath Spa water treatments from the early 20th century.
The display case is located at the entrance to the Bath Record Office in the south wing of the Guildhall, accessible via the main entrance.
You may view the case from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday.
If you would like more information on the display or any items at the Bath Record Office, please go to their website at batharchives.co.uk or email at archives@bathnes.gov.uk.
The Bath Record Office is appointment only, so do email if you would like to visit. The team would be delighted to help you with your research or simply explain more about the special collections and archives they care for in the Guildhall.
