A new Georgian wardrobe or “Georgrobe” opens to the public tomorrow, 1st April 2023, at No.1 Royal Crescent, featuring a bespoke floor-to-ceiling wall mural, a cabinet display of satirical prints about the fashions of the period, plus racks of historic costumes, wigs and hats for adults and children to dress up in. The Georgrobe is free with museum entry, or free to non-museum visitors with a voluntary donation for those who feel able to make one.
The Georgrobe, which is sponsored by Bath’s leading independent letting agent HomeLets, provides an opportunity for people to fulfil their Bridgerton dreams by dressing up in Regency-style costumes and accessories. Visitors can pose against a newly-created bespoke pop-art style mural of the city of Bath – designed by local artists Jason Dorley-Brown and Emma Taylor at Jet Pictures, and printed and installed by Minuteman Bath – to create the perfect reel or TikTok.
The quirky, colourful and detailed mural incorporates some of Bath’s most iconic spots and characters including the Herschels stargazing on one of the roofs, Jane Austen and Ralph Allen in a hot air balloon, the Royal Crescent, the Cross Bath and Beckford’s Tower. Even Alfie the cat – one of Bath’s most photographed feline residents – made the final cut, appearing in the design peering out of one of the windows of No.1 Royal Crescent! The wall mural presents a unique vision of Bath in a stylistic blend of “old and new” that reflects the architectural development of the city itself over time, celebrating the city in all its permutations and appealing to both long-time residents of Bath and new visitors to the city.
Claire Dixon, Director of Museums for Bath Preservation Trust says: “Experiential leisure is a huge ongoing trend in our sector, and our new Georgrobe at No.1 Royal Crescent taps into this, giving visitors the chance to physically engage with the fashions and architecture of historic Bath, whilst also shining a spotlight on local artists and businesses. The mural provides the perfect backdrop for people to have their photo taken against so they can document their experience on Instagram and TikTok. It is great to see the gallery being used to explore an innovative experience like this and we hope to bring new audiences into the museum so it is particularly special to be able to offer free entry to the space.”
Mary Stringer, Marketing and Communications Manager for Bath Preservation Trust says: “Bath is stunning from every angle, but we’ve never seen it like this before! The mural is a perfect blend of reality and fantasy, and the more one looks at it the more one discovers – even the Crescent’s resident cat has made it into the design! And who wouldn’t want to see Jane Austen and Ralph Allen in a hot air balloon? I am most grateful to our sponsor HomeLets for making the Georgrobe possible, and to Jason and Emma for creating such a special and timeless visual celebration of our beautiful city.”
Emma Taylor of Jet Pictures said: “As local artists and residents of Bath, Emma and Jason and I are incredibly proud to have been asked to create this bespoke mural. It has been such a pleasure working with No.1 Royal Crescent and the sponsor of this creation HomeLets.”
For more information about the Georgrobe, plus other events and activities at No.1 Royal, Crescent, visit: www.no1royalcresecent.org.uk and follow @No1museum on Twitter, @no1royalcrescent on Instagram, @No1RoyalCrescent on Facebook and No.1 Royal Crescent on Tripadvisor.