Visiting Moot Hall and Elstow
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Step into the world of John Bunyan when you visit the delightful village of Elstow.
Wander on to the village green and discover Moot Hall - a registered Ancient Monument. This delightful 15th century timber-framed building is unique, being the only known combined manor courthouse & market hall to have been built in Britain by a nunnery. The nuns of Elstow Abbey were very enterprising - it was they who ordered the building of all the timber-framed properties that comprise old Elstow. In 1950, Moot Hall was restored and opened in 1951 as a museum of 17th century life, dedicated to local author John Bunyan. Bunyan’s book - “The Pilgrim’s Progress” - has been the best-selling, single-authored, book, worldwide, for about 350 years |
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As well as Bunyan-related items, Moot Hall houses a collection of 17th century furniture and various small exhibitions, including beautiful Bedfordshire lace-making. (Which you can purchase here.)
Bring the family, perhaps have a picnic on the green, then: take a look at: the beautiful interior of Moot Hal. Follow that with a stroll around the ancient timber-framed buildings on Elstow's High Street and the Abbey church and ruins of the former Benedictine nunnery. Then round off your visit with a cuppa at Elstow Tea Garden.
Some pictures of our visitors - May Festival Saturday 7th May 2022
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You can download our Publicity leaflet here ➡ To view it in other languages: 1. download the PDF file; 2. go to; Google translate; 3. click on 'Documents'; 4. upload this file and google will translate it. |
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Admission. There is no admission fee for individuals and families. Instead, we invite you to leave a donation, at the end of your visit, for whatever amount you feel your visit was worth. Please note that we do not have an electronic payment system so can only accept cash - sorry!.
Talks. If sufficient volunteer staff are available, you will be offered a short talk about the history of Elstow. We can tailor the content to suit your interests.
Children are very welcome to visit, provided that they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Open Days & Times
1. Saturday Afternoons From the beginning of April until the end of October - 1pm to 4pm. (On May Festival, from 12noon to 4pm)
2. Bank Holiday Monday afternoons: 1pm to 4pm
3. Weekdays afternoons; The curator lives nearby and will, if he is available, happily open Moot Hall on request - see the directions on Moot Hall's notice board. To avoid possible disappointment, it is advisable to email the curator in advance to make an appointment.
Groups - Are welcome to visit by appointment, on any day of the week, at almost any time of the year - provided one of our volunteer curators is available. There is a charge for group visits; Adults £4, children £1 - payable in cash, or we can invoice you.
Schools; School groups are very welcome at Moot provided that teachers bring relevant structured work for their students. Teachers may arrange a pre-visit with the curator to help them decide what to prepare.
Suggested educational themes: John Bunyan; The Pilgrims Progress; Tudor Buildings; 17th century life; lace-making; local history; Henry VIII, abolition of the monasteries. There is lots of information about John Bunyan on the Elstow Village website and some video teaching materials on the Bunyan's Bedford website.
There is no charge for Bedford Borough schools. Other schools; £1 per child, teachers free.
Please contact the curator to book an appointment.
Talks. If sufficient volunteer staff are available, you will be offered a short talk about the history of Elstow. We can tailor the content to suit your interests.
Children are very welcome to visit, provided that they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Open Days & Times
1. Saturday Afternoons From the beginning of April until the end of October - 1pm to 4pm. (On May Festival, from 12noon to 4pm)
2. Bank Holiday Monday afternoons: 1pm to 4pm
3. Weekdays afternoons; The curator lives nearby and will, if he is available, happily open Moot Hall on request - see the directions on Moot Hall's notice board. To avoid possible disappointment, it is advisable to email the curator in advance to make an appointment.
Groups - Are welcome to visit by appointment, on any day of the week, at almost any time of the year - provided one of our volunteer curators is available. There is a charge for group visits; Adults £4, children £1 - payable in cash, or we can invoice you.
Schools; School groups are very welcome at Moot provided that teachers bring relevant structured work for their students. Teachers may arrange a pre-visit with the curator to help them decide what to prepare.
Suggested educational themes: John Bunyan; The Pilgrims Progress; Tudor Buildings; 17th century life; lace-making; local history; Henry VIII, abolition of the monasteries. There is lots of information about John Bunyan on the Elstow Village website and some video teaching materials on the Bunyan's Bedford website.
There is no charge for Bedford Borough schools. Other schools; £1 per child, teachers free.
Please contact the curator to book an appointment.
Facilities
Car Park
There is a small private car park adjacent to Moot Hall, which is accessible from Church End. Parking is permitted only for people visiting the museum or attending events there.
Disabled access.
There is one parking space exclusively reserved for .Blue Badge Holders.
Access to the upper floor of Moot Hall is via a flight of fairly steep stairs but there is a chair-lift.
There are some slightly raised beams in the downstairs floor which you will need to step over and one small area may not be accessable to wider wheelchairs. Sorry, but Moot is, after all, an authentic medieval building!
Shop.
We have a small shop where you can purchase postcards, Elstow lace, books, tea-towels etc. ££££ NOTE; Sorry, but we are currently only able to accept payments by card - only in cash. ££££
Toilets
Moot's toilets are located on the north side of the green,. These are for use by Moot hall visitors only and you will need to ask the duty curator for the key. There is paved wheelchair access from West End. or, if you don't mind the bumps, by going across the green.
Toilets are also available (during normal pub opening hours) at the Red Lion public house on High Street. Also, when it is open (Friday to Monday, Spring to end of Autumn) at Elstow Tea Garden.
Car Park
There is a small private car park adjacent to Moot Hall, which is accessible from Church End. Parking is permitted only for people visiting the museum or attending events there.
Disabled access.
There is one parking space exclusively reserved for .Blue Badge Holders.
Access to the upper floor of Moot Hall is via a flight of fairly steep stairs but there is a chair-lift.
There are some slightly raised beams in the downstairs floor which you will need to step over and one small area may not be accessable to wider wheelchairs. Sorry, but Moot is, after all, an authentic medieval building!
Shop.
We have a small shop where you can purchase postcards, Elstow lace, books, tea-towels etc. ££££ NOTE; Sorry, but we are currently only able to accept payments by card - only in cash. ££££
Toilets
Moot's toilets are located on the north side of the green,. These are for use by Moot hall visitors only and you will need to ask the duty curator for the key. There is paved wheelchair access from West End. or, if you don't mind the bumps, by going across the green.
Toilets are also available (during normal pub opening hours) at the Red Lion public house on High Street. Also, when it is open (Friday to Monday, Spring to end of Autumn) at Elstow Tea Garden.
Exhibits
To preview some of Moot Hall's exhibits, go to the Moot Hall Exhibits page (on the Elstow Village website)
History
Download our "Brief History of Moot Hall" leaflet.
There is more historical information, pictures and videos about Moot Hall, the Abbey and Elstow village, on the Elstow Village website.
There is more historical information, pictures and videos about Moot Hall, the Abbey and Elstow village, on the Elstow Village website.
John Bunyan
For more Bunyan-related locations, visit the John Bunyan's Bedford website.
For more Bunyan family history, go to; Elstow Village History Archive
To view Bunyan pictures, go to; Elstow Picture Archive
For more Bunyan family history, go to; Elstow Village History Archive
To view Bunyan pictures, go to; Elstow Picture Archive
