Community directory

Moot Hall Museum (Elstow)

Immediately south of the busy town of Bedford is one of Britain's beautiful villages - Elstow, home of the 17th century writer John Bunyan. Dating back at least to Saxon times, Elstow village centre is now a conservation area, containing some interesting examples of timber-framed medieval buildings. In the centre of the village is a prime example - Moot Hall, a beautiful building, standing on Elstow's peaceful village green, beside the Abbey Church, with its separate bell tower.

Moot Hall was originally a medieval market house, built for the nuns of Elstow Abbey, which was at that time the third largest Abbey in England. The downstairs had four bays (later extended to six) for shops which were let out during the Abbey's annual May Fair. During the rest of the year, these bays were used for storing the stalls for the fairs. The upstairs served as the manor courtroom.

After the dissolution of the monasteries, Moot Hall continued to be used for annual fairs and in the 19th century, the upstairs was used as a school and as a chapel for the Elstow Bunyan Meeting. After that, it was used by the Whitbread family for storage.

In 1950, Samuel Whitbread gave Moot Hall and Elstow Green to Bedfordshire County Council, who restored it to it's original medieval form for the Festival of Britain in 1951, opening it as a museum of the 17th century life.

Although small, Moot Hall Museum houses several exhibitions; There is of course the building itself, whilst inside, are displays about John Bunyan and his works, the restoration of the building, Elstow Abbey. The upstairs meeting room of Moot Hall takes most visitors by surprise, for it is like stepping back 300 years; though the leaded lights one can see the historic Abbey and Green, whilst inside, standing on the gently undulating polished wooden floor is a lovingly maintained collection of 17th century furniture.

Costs: Adult £1.00; Children 50p; Concessions 50p.