About

Visitors can discover the history of Combe Down during free open days this December. The Museum of Bath Stone presents the story of Combe Down stone, exploring its geology, archaeology, social history, ecology (including important bat populations), and engineering.

Bath owes much of its character and architectural harmony to Bath Stone, the material from which the city is built. This stone has been quarried since Roman times, reaching its peak in the 18th century. The nearby village of Combe Down was a significant source of this stone, originally deposited in the Jurassic period in warm tropical shallow seas. The city’s buildings were crafted from this stone, hewn by hand using axes, saws (frigbobs and razzers), picks, and candlelight. As a freestone, Bath Stone can be carved from any side, allowing some buildings to feature highly intricate decorations.

Numerous iconic buildings across the UK also showcase Bath Stone, including Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and the Brighton Royal Pavilion, as well as many abbeys and cathedrals. The stone was transported worldwide and has been recognized as a World Heritage Stone. In effect, Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage city constructed from a UNESCO World Heritage Stone.

The Museum of Bath Stone was established in 2014 to continue the legacy of the Combe Down Stone Mines Stabilisation Project. Quarrying had left the area at risk, and the project filled the disused stone mines under Combe Down with foamed concrete over a period of ten years. The museum’s exhibits allow visitors to explore the process and impact of this extensive stabilisation work.