Marvellous Maps

The archive contains many fascinating maps of Bath and of Somerset. The earliest dating from the 16th century, these maps show how the city and wider area have evolved over time. Many of the maps are works of art as well as documents of the past.

One of the most famous is Gilmore's map made in 1694. Showing Bath before the big Georgian expansion, it has illustrations of 36 public buildings around its border. Many of these buildings are lodging houses, there because the map was sold in London and elsewhere, encouraging visitors to the city.