IN MEMORY OF THE 417 PERSONS KILLED IN THE WORLD WAR II BAEDEKER RAIDS OF 1942
In 1936. Bath City Council demolished 1-3 James Street West in order to build its much-needed council department building, a brand new Labour Exchange. From this building the council assisted those seeking employment and paid out subsistence money ("the dole") to those in need from 1937 onwards. When World War II broke out in 1939 its function was extended to include civil defence.

On 26th April 1942, in the early hours of the morning a 250kg bomb hit the Holy Trinity Church just 40 metres west of this site. Shrapnel from the wrecked church caused minor damage to the outside of the Labour Exchange. At approximately the same time the next morning another bomb landed on the edge of the pavement on the north side of James Street West, opposite the Kingsmead North junction.

Wartime records show that the new Labour Exchange was badly damaged by this second blast. The building was immediately evacuated and the fire service worked through the night, using more than ten pumps, to make the area safe. Despite their efforts the fire in the roof spread and burned out the whole of the top floor.

It was recorded that the stone of the building was left severely pitted by shrapnel and machine gun fire, and this damage can still be seen on the retained façade of the building.

Despite the building being severely damaged. the functions carried out there were still badly needed. The floor of the upper storey was hastily sealed to make a temporary roof and the hole in the outside wall patched with cement. Thus the Labour Exchange continued to operate from the stump of the original building, providing essential support for those bombed out of their homes and ensuring that the war effort had sufficient manpower.

This became even more important when wartime emergency legislation made it compulsory for all unmarried women to be employed on functions that assisted the war effort and the Labour Exchange had to Help them find suitable jobs.

For a long period after the war the Labour Exchange was used solely for storage but in 2002 it was designated as a Grade Il listed building because it was one of the last surviving examples of the "make do and mend" necessities of wartime when manpower and materials were both in very short supply.

[illustrations]
THE BUILDING IN 2014

ORIGINAL ARCHITECTS DRAWING 1936

Commemorative plaque for the victims of the attack "Baedeker Blitz" A series of German air attacks in the Second World War, from April to June 1942, which targeted cities with historical or cultural heritage, including Bath, York and others.

The house on which the sign is located, on which you can clearly see the holes left by the shells and machine guns, which were left for preservation in the renovated building, was photographed that day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

The illustrations on the sign appear here enlarged:
Click for a larger image - the building in 2014
Click for a larger image - the building in 1936