£0
Raised in 2026
17
All Donations
9
All fundraisers
In 2012 the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases opened a small museum to showcase their collection. With the closure of the hospital in the centre of Bath, our museum became an independent charity. Our mission is to preserve and promote the history and importance of medicine in the city of Bath, with a focus on the importance of its thermal waters in treatment, therapy and wellbeing; and to advocate the benefits of education, health and wellbeing for all. The museum acts as part custodian of the RNHRD Collection, now owned by the RUH, which includes records dating back to the 1740s, artefacts, paintings and other pieces of art from around the Hospital, memorabilia, and photographs relating to rheumatology, medicine and pharmacy.
Why the community needs us
Our vision is that the museum will engage and educate diverse audiences through a variety of traditional and modern methods such as exhibitions, digital content, guided tours and events. The museum tells the story of how the spa influenced the development of medical practice in Bath, both through the history of one of the first specialist hospitals in the country, the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, as well as the varied general medical practice across the city.
Our impact on the community
We have recently been welcomed into new premises in order to continue our work, making these unique stories available to the local community and inspiring the next generation of medical, museum, and educational practitioners and making available what could have become lost history. However, we now have increased financial costs and rely entirely on volunteers, from our Trustees and Senior Management to our Events, Learning and Museum Guide volunteers. We need your help!
Our details
c/o The Pulteney Practice, 35 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4BY