Visiting Moot Hall and Elstow
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 over 300 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.) Moot Hall is run by a small team of volunteers, all of whom are knowledgeable about its history, so don't hesitate to ask them questions.
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 the delightful Elstow Tea Garden or at Elstow Post Office's Cottage Tea Room or the Red Lion Pub
Some pictures of our visitors - May Festival Saturday 7th May 2022
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, we can only accept cash. (This is a truly medieval place!)
Talks. If sufficient staff are available, you will normally be offered a short talk about the history of Elstow/. We can tailor the content and length of our talks to suit your interests and the time you have available.
Children are very welcome, 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 fay, from 12noon to 4pm)
2. Bank Holiday Monday afternoons: 1pm to 4pm
3. Weekdays afternoons; The curator lives next door and, if he is available, will happily open Moot Hall on request - see the directions on Moot Hall's notice board. However, as he isn't always around, it is advisable to email him in advance, to make an appointment.
Group Visits - Groups are welcome to visit - by appointment only - on almost any day of the week, any time of the year (provided, of course, that one of our volunteer curators is available.) There is an entry charge for opening up for group visits; Adults £4pp children £1 pp - payable in cash. (or we can invoice you). To arrange a group visit, click HERE to contact the curator.
Schools - School groups are very welcome at Moot - provided that teachers bring relevant structured work for their students. Visits must be booked in advance, via the curator and teachers may also Contact the curator to arrange a pre-visit, to help them decide what work to prepare for their students. 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 a wealth of information about John Bunyan on the Elstow Village website, some video teaching materials on the Bunyan's Bedford website and the animated film version of The Pilgrim's Progress is available to view on youtube.
There is no admission charge for Bedford Borough school children but, for all other schools; there is a charge of £1 per child. Teachers' admission is free.
To arrange a date for your visit, (or pre-visit) click here to Contact the curator.
Moot Hall School Visit Risk Assessment form;
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Facilities
Car Park
There is a small 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 raised beams in the downstairs floor which you will need to be able to step over and one bay may not be accessible 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.
Please Note; we are currently unable to accept payments by card or cheque - we can only accept good old-fashioned cash.
Refreshments
You can get refreshments at: Elstow Tea Garden. (in Church End) or; in Elstow High Street:
at the Cottage tearoom or; the Red Lion public house.
Toilets
Moot Hall's toilets are only available when the Hall is open - ask the duty curator for the key. There is a paved wheelchair access pathway from West End. or, if you don't mind a few bumps, by going direct from Moot across the green.
Toilets are also available at:
the Red Lion public house (during normal pub opening hours) and;
at Elstow Tea Garden. only when it is open (Friday to Monday, Spring to end of Autumn)
Car Park
There is a small 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 raised beams in the downstairs floor which you will need to be able to step over and one bay may not be accessible 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.
Please Note; we are currently unable to accept payments by card or cheque - we can only accept good old-fashioned cash.
Refreshments
You can get refreshments at: Elstow Tea Garden. (in Church End) or; in Elstow High Street:
at the Cottage tearoom or; the Red Lion public house.
Toilets
Moot Hall's toilets are only available when the Hall is open - ask the duty curator for the key. There is a paved wheelchair access pathway from West End. or, if you don't mind a few bumps, by going direct from Moot across the green.
Toilets are also available at:
the Red Lion public house (during normal pub opening hours) and;
at Elstow Tea Garden. only when it is open (Friday to Monday, Spring to end of Autumn)
Exhibits
To preview some of Moot Hall's exhibits, go to the Moot Hall Exhibits page (on the Elstow Village website)
HistoryThere is much, much more historical information, pictures and videos about Moot Hall, the Abbey and Elstow village, on the Elstow Village website.
Also on the Bedfordshire Archives website. |
Download our "Brief History of Moot Hall" leaflet; |
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John Bunyan
Family history, facts about The Pilgrims Progress (including the film); Elstow Village History Archive
To view Bunyan - related pictures; Elstow Picture Archive
For Bunyan - related locations and the Bunyan Trail, please visit the Bunyan's Bedford website.
To view Bunyan - related pictures; Elstow Picture Archive
For Bunyan - related locations and the Bunyan Trail, please visit the Bunyan's Bedford website.