Combe Down Stone Legacy Trust

Who we are

Combe Down lies on a plateau capped by Great Oolite limestone.
Popularised by the Georgians, the stone was enthusiastically harvested above and below ground to the extent that, by the latter part of the 20thC, over 80% of the stone supporting Combe Down had been removed leaving the village in an inadequately supported state!
An ambitious and costly stabilisation scheme was agreed, funded and carried out. Starting in 1999 and, taking a little over 10 years, the voids were filled.

A condition of the funding was that the heritage of the mines and Combe Down be preserved and a visitors’ centre be established to display the heritage and educate the public about Combe Down and its stone.
The Combe Down Stone Legacy Trust was registered as a charity in 2012 and the museum opened in 2014 to fulfil this condition.

The Museum of Bath Stone aims to be a world class museum that reveals the history of the people of Combe Down and the stone that built the World Heritage City of Bath.

Its mission  is to preserve and display the heritage of Combe Down and its stone in a way that is accessible to visitors of all ages, abilities and interests.
The museum will be a quality environment with information accessible in a range of levels suitable for all visitors from casual browser to in-depth researcher, toddler to mature citizen.
It will inform and inspire, entice and challenge, intrigue and entertain.
The airy building also provides a space for the local community to use for their own activities and amusements.

The trust has begun an aplication for Arts Council museum Accreditation.