A wide and varied programme of events has been organised to help celebrate this important anniversary. Details can be found on this page, along with details of how to book. Numbers are restricted, so please avoid disappointment and book early.

Transatlantic Acorns
Two of John Wood’s original stone acorns from the King’s Circus have been shipped from the USA to Bath in time for The Building of Bath Museum’s forthcoming exhibition “Obsession, John Wood and the Creation of Georgian Bath.” They were delivered to the Museum on Thursday 15th July by London based fine art transporters, Jayhawk www.jayhawk.ltd.uk

The acorns were taken from Bath in 1962 when extensive repairs were being carried out on the King’s Circus. Brown Morton III, an American architectural student who was staying in Bath, spotted builders removing the acorns from the parapet and then loading them into a lorry.

The two workers would not sell them as it was ‘more than their jobs worth’ but suggested that if the architect were to follow them, they could not help it if he saw where the acorns were being dumped.

Brown took the salvaged acorns back to where he was staying in Brock Street. When he returned to America he gave them to his friend, Jane Plante, who was then living in Hampstead, London.

They remained with the Plante’s in London until 1981, when the family returned to South Carolina. Jane’s first husband died and when she met her second husband she moved to a smaller house and the newlyweds decided to donate the acorns back to Bath and significantly to The Building of Bath Museum in time for the anniversary celebrations.

Cathryn Spence, Director of the museum, unwraps the 250-year old acorns

Study Breaks at the University of Bath
Obsession: John Wood and the Creation of Georgian Bath study break 15th –17th October 2004. Taught by Amy Frost and Cathryn Spence, curators of the exhibition.
The University is offering other study breaks that concentrate on aspects of Georgian Bath, its architecture, interiors and social history.

Sponsored Cycle Ride
On Sunday, 5th September 2004, David and Tim rode triumphant in to Queen Square, Bath. After an exceptional week of fine weather, amazing cycling, phenomenal architecture and the delight of the English countryside. The pair were on schedule and looking fit and happy.

David Workman, one of the Building of Bath Museum’s volunteer guides took up the challenge to raise more funds for the Wood celebrations by combining two of his obsessions – cycling and architecture. David and fellow cyclist Tim Spenlove-Brown rode from Queen’s House, Greenwich to John Wood’s Queen Square in Bath visiting some of this country’s most splendid examples of English classical architecture in the years to 1728. Along the way they met up with fellow cyclists who accompanied them for parts of the journey. The whole trip took eight days and covered 230 miles. A total of seven cyclists joined David and Tim for the last leg of the ride from Frome to Bath and colleagues from the museum, friends, family and local journalists were there to meet them.

Sponsors have been extremely generous and the cycle ride has already raised £800 with more sponsorship money arriving at the museum every day.

Publications

A publication, detailing the route, filled with colour photographs and including information about the architecture is available from the Building of Bath Museum. "The Queen’s House to Queen Square: From Inigo Jones to John Wood, a Journey from Greenwich to Bath across a century of Classical Building in England" is priced at £3.00 (plus p&p). Please contact the museum for more details (01225 333895 or enquiries@bathmuseum.co.uk).

Click here to DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE ILLUSTRATED FAMILY TRAIL (530Kb PDF file)

Take a walk
With a porker
Take a jog
With a hog.
King Bladud
Yo John Wood
The Hog knows the score
And a whole lot more!

There is a playhouse, dressing-up costumes, colouring, interactive computer and many other activities for children at the museum.