'Reconnecting the Rooms' project gains support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Trust has received initial support* from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Reconnecting the Rooms. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to bring people together to reduce loneliness, improve connection with the city’s heritage, and widen skills development opportunities. 

Development funding of £237,234 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help Bath Assembly Rooms progress their plans for Reconnecting the Rooms to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £902,740 at a later date. 

Reconnecting the Rooms will take place alongside, and complement, an ambitious £17million redevelopment of the historic Assembly Rooms that will reduce the carbon footprint of the building, make it more accessible, and create a new interactive experience that will transport visitors back to Georgian Bath.  

The National Lottery Heritage funding will support a significant outreach programme, taking the Rooms histories on the road whilst the building is closed for redevelopment. The programme will build greater understanding of what heritage, assembly, and connection means to people in Bath.  

Research into the undiscovered social history of Bath Assembly Rooms, including its activism and colonial links, is a core part of Reconnecting the Rooms. A new social curator will be recruited to lead and develop this research. These inclusive histories will inform what diverse assembly looks like when the new visitor experience opens. The research will help to inform future developments of the Georgian experience. 

Helen Jeffrey, Community & Participation Consultant at the National Trust, said: “We’re so excited to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Reconnecting the Rooms is all about working with and for local communities. We are looking forward to reviving the social ethos of the Assembly Rooms through collaborating with community groups and organisations to bring people together. We will be testing ideas for collective creativity, celebrating individual everyday heritage and building new ways for people to get involved in our work and the city’s history.” 

The project will also explore ways in which key exterior spaces could be transformed into green living rooms, and develop a plan for proposed internal spaces to be used for a programme of activities that aim to reduce loneliness and serve the diverse community that remain integral to Bath’s heritage.

Tom Boden, National Trust General Manager for the Bath portfolio, commented: "This is a great opportunity for us to reconnect Bath Assembly Rooms with the heritage of the city. Our aim is to create a place for 21^st century that serves a more diverse audience whilst celebrating and honouring communities from all backgrounds. The National Lottery Heritage Fund will help us to develop these plans ready for the next grant application.” 

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to give our initial support to the National Trust to explore ‘Reconnecting the Rooms’ at the Bath Assembly Rooms. In a city renowned for its world-class heritage attractions, this project will seek to improve the connection of local communities to their heritage through an ambitious series of outreach activities. It will also explore what ‘assembly’ might look like when the building reopens, ensuring relevance to a diverse 21^st century audience. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”  

For more details about the plans for Bath Assembly Rooms visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bath-assembly-rooms or follow Instagram @ntbathassemblyrooms.