Bath Fashion Museum is set to return to the city centre after securing a £7.2m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The funding will support the conversion of the grade II listed old post office on New Bond Street into a new, purpose-built home for the museum, which has been closed since 2023.
From glove factory to city centre revival
The museum was forced to close when the National Trust reclaimed its former premises at the Assembly Rooms. For the past three years, its internationally renowned collection, spanning four centuries of fashion history, has been stored in a glove factory in Wiltshire. Now, Bath and North East Somerset Council plans to transform the historic building into a modern museum space, expected to attract around 250,000 visitors annually once it opens.
Stuart McLeod, director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, described the project as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity" that will restore an historic building and create a world-class home for one of the UK's most significant fashion collections. He added: "Thanks to National Lottery players, this investment will not only restore an historic building in the heart of Bath but create a world-class home for one of the most significant fashion collections in the UK."
Council leader hails 'transformational moment'
Council leader Kevin Guy welcomed the grant as a "transformational moment" for Bath, coming shortly after planning permission for the new museum was secured. He said: "At a time when many places are scaling back ambition, Bath is investing in its future - combining heritage, culture, economic growth and public realm improvements to create a more vibrant, inclusive and prosperous city."
The plans, approved by the council's planning committee in May, include purpose-built galleries on the upper floors and a foyer with a cafe and shop at street level. The project is linked to a broader scheme to create a new public square at the bottom of Broad Street, which would feature outdoor seating for the museum's cafe.
Timeline and economic impact
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2027, with the museum aiming to reopen its doors in 2030. Once operational, it is projected to generate £100m annually in economic benefits to the area through increased visitor spending, job creation, and improved health and wellbeing. Like the Roman Baths, which the council also operates, the museum will offer free entry to Bath and North East Somerset residents holding a discovery card.
The collection boasts treasures such as the silver tissue dress, a rare matching bodice and skirt from the 1660s, alongside contemporary pieces by designers like Alexander McQueen. The lottery grant brings the total secured funding for the £39.5m refurbishment to three-quarters, with additional contributions from the council and the West of England Combined Authority. The council has previously stated it would borrow £20m for the project, with museum profits expected to cover £17m of that borrowing.
A historic building with a new purpose
The old post office on New Bond Street is one of the few 20th-century buildings in Bath's historic centre to be grade II listed. It should not be confused with the city's other "old post office" near the opposite end of Broad Street, which recently became a Wetherspoons pub.
