The Moot Hall & Village Green
Step into the world of John Bunyan
when you visit this delightful 15th century timber-framed
market hall, set on the village green, in the centre of the
delightful village of Elstow.
Elstow Green is a delightful place
for a picnic on a summer's day and access is free all year
round.
The Moot Hall was originally built
to serve Elstow Abbey as a
market house but is now a museum. It contains beautiful period
furniture and has exhibits illustrating the life and traditions of
17th century England.
So why not bring the family, have a
picnic on the green, take a look at the beautiful interior of Moot
Hall and the Abbey Church (the
remains of a once much-larger Abbey) and the ancient timber-framed
buildings on Elstow's High Street.
Elstow's Traditional May
Festival.
This event will be held on Saturday 8th May between 12 noon –
4pm, with the May queen's procession at 2pm. There will be
Maypole dancing, fairground rides and a fire engine for the kids.
There will also be a brass band.
Moot Hall Open Days: Moot Hall is open to the
public from 1 to 4pm on Sundays, from Easter (or the beginning of
April) to the end of September. It is also open on Elstow Mayday
and all Bank Holidays, including Good Friday.
Admission to Moot Hall: There is a small charge
for admission.
Group Bookings: Groups are welcome to
visit by appointment, at any time of the year. Please contact the
curator for details.
Hiring Moot Hall and/or Elstow
Green: Moot Hall is available to hire for small private
functions, training sessions and meetings. The Green may also be
hired for some larger functions. Both are available for hire for
corporate events and as film locations. Contact the curator for
current rates.
Disabled access:
Access to the upper floor is by stairs or stair-lift. There are
ancient timbers set into the ground floor, making some areas
difficult to access for wheelchair users.
Contact Details:
Moot Hall
Church End
Elstow
Bedford, MK42 9XT
Email: moot.hall@bedford.gov.uk
Tel: (01234) 266889 Please note; Moot Hall's
telephone is only manned when the museum is open.
Directions: Elstow is located south
of Bedford and is signposted from the A421 and A6.
Click
here for Location map
Buses - Stagecoach and
Grant Palmer operate bus services which stop in Elstow
High Street.
To see more
pictures of Elstow, Moot Hall and some of our exhibits, click
here.
Other websites which may be of interest;
Bunyan
Museum
Elstow Abbey
Hidden
Britain
Record Office, Elstow pages
Wikipedia, Elstow
page