About
The Museum – A Unique Setting Just Beyond the City
The American Museum & Gardens is set in an extraordinary location on the Claverton Manor estate, just 4 miles from the centre of Bath. Nestled in 120 acres of historic woodland, parkland and gardens, the Museum offers panoramic views across the Limpley Stoke Valley, part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This semi-rural setting provides a rare combination: the tranquillity and space of the countryside, with all the cultural, educational, and professional advantages of Bath just minutes away. The Museum’s grounds include beautifully maintained gardens, woodland walks, and an award-winning children’s play area, making it a destination for families and visitors of all ages.
For those relocating, the surrounding villages—such as Claverton, Bathampton, and Monkton Combe—offer a peaceful lifestyle with strong community spirit, excellent local schools, and easy access to both Bath and the wider region. The area is also well connected to Bristol, Chippenham, and Frome, offering a range of living options from rural to urban.
The American Museum & Gardens (AM&G) is entering a pivotal phase in its evolution, marked by bold ambitions for growth, sustainability, and transatlantic engagement. As the only museum of Americana outside the United States, AM&G offers a captivating and unique platform for cultural exchange, storytelling, and public engagement. The Director will lead this next chapter with a clear vision, passion for the organisation and credibility, shaping a future-ready institution that deepens its relevance, expands its reach, and enhances its impact across both UK and US audiences. This is a rare opportunity to guide a Museum of huge opportunity and significance through strategic transformation, capital development, and growth.
Our story
The American Museum in Britain opened to the public in 1961. It was the achievement of Dr. Dallas Pratt (an American psychiatrist and collector) and John Judkyn (a British-born antiques dealer, who had become a United States citizen). They were an Anglo/American couple, partners in both their personal and collecting lives, and were supported by Nick Bell Knight (a furniture restorer employed at nearby Freshford Manor, Judkyn’s business base in Britain), and Ian McCallum, the Museum’s first Director.
It was a transatlantic alliance. Dallas Pratt and John Judkyn considered establishing a Museum of Americana in Britain as early as 1956, after visiting several historic houses and ‘living history’ museums in the United States.
Collecting for this began in earnest in 1958, facilitated by Judkyn’s business contacts – each piece testifying to the artistry of Americans and how these people had lived in the past. Paneling and floors were also shipped over to Britain, enabling period rooms from demolished buildings in America to be reconstructed within the spacious interiors of Claverton Manor.
Many decades on, the American Museum remains the only museum outside the United States to showcase the decorative arts of America. The institution was relaunched as the American Museum & Gardens in 2018, with the opening of the New American Garden.
What we do
We are a unique institution, being the only museum devoted to American decorative art and cultural history outside the boundaries of the United States. Our mission statement, vision, and values can be found online: Mission – American Museum & Gardens
Our main elements are:
- The Period Rooms and Folk Art Gallery within the Manor House
- The Exhibition Gallery with its temporary shows
- The extensive gardens and grounds
- Events for members and visitors
- Our learning programme
- The American Garden Deli, exhibition gallery shop and herb shop
The City of Bath
Bath is a city that blends history, beauty, and modern living in a way few places can. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is renowned for its Georgian architecture, Roman Baths, and sweeping crescents, offering a visually stunning and historically rich environment to live and work in.
The city boasts a thriving cultural scene, including the Theatre Royal, Bath Abbey, and over 15 museums and galleries, such as the Holburne Museum. It also plays host to internationally recognised festivals, including the Bath Festival and Bath Children’s Literature Festival.
For families, Bath offers an exceptional quality of life. There are outstanding schools in both the state and independent sectors, including King Edward’s School, Prior Park College, and Ralph Allen School. The city is also home to two universities—University of Bath and Bath Spa University—which contribute to a vibrant intellectual and creative community.
Bath is compact and walkable, with beautiful parks and green spaces such as Royal Victoria Park, Alexandra Park, and the Bath Skyline Walk, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The nearby countryside, including the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provides further scope for walking, cycling, and exploring.
The city also has a strong sporting identity—Bath Rugby recently won the Premiership—and a wide range of leisure facilities, from independent shops and restaurants to spas and wellness centres.
Connectivity is excellent: Bath Spa station offers direct trains to London Paddington in around 75 minutes and Bristol in just 15 minutes. The M4 motorway is easily accessible via Junction 18, approximately 10 miles north, making travel by car straightforward.
Whether you’re drawn by the cultural life, the educational opportunities, or the sheer beauty of the city, Bath offers a truly exceptional setting in which to live and lead.