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Museums long ago ceased to be stuffy
rooms full of glass cases containing bits of old pottery
and fossilised bones.
Today even most conventional
museums including displays which change but over recent
years there has been a growth in industrial and "living"
museums.
Here you can learn about local heritage, get a
feel for how people lived and worked, the hardships they
endured...
Galleries listed include not just civic
galleries displaying publicly owned artworks, but also
privately owned galleries with items for sale.
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Not all the
museums and galleries in the Bedfordshire area are listed.
Please provide details of any we have missed
here.
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JOHN BUNYAN MUSEUM
Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU
Tel: 01234 213722
Web:
www.bedfordmuseum.org/johnbunyanmuseum
Museum Open: Tuesday to Saturday
11:00am - 4:00pm from March to October (Closed
Good Friday). Admission free. Groups/School
parties welcome by prior arrangement.
Church Open: Tuesdays – Saturdays’
10:00am – 4:00pm. Sunday Services: 11:00am &
6:30pm
The new John Bunyan
Museum opened in 1998. The church with its
magnificent bronze entrance doors, and 20th and
21st century stained glass depicting scenes from
The Pilgrim's Progress, should be included in
your visit. Visitors will recognise the window
made famous by the postcard sent to Terry Waite
during the time he was held hostage in Beirut.
The church where John
Bunyan was once the minister is now known as the
Bunyan Meeting Free Church. It occupies the site
of the barn which the congregation purchased in
1672 and used as a place of worship. The present
church is the second purpose-built church on the
site and was built in 1849. The Bunyan Meeting
today is a thriving, growing fellowship. The
congregation is drawn from many denominational
backgrounds and is thoroughly ecumenical in
outlook.
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Bedford Museum
Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD
Tel: 01234 353323
E-mail:
bmuseum@bedford.gov.uk
Web:
www.bedfordmuseum.org
Housed in the former Higgins and Sons Brewery,
Bedford Museum is situated within the
picturesque castle gardens, beside the Great
Ouse. Here, you may embark on a fascinating
journey through the human and natural history of
north Bedfordshire, pausing briefly to glimpse
at wonders from more distant lands. Go back in
time to visit the delightful rural room sets and
the old school museum, where Blackboard's Sword,
''Old Billy'' the record breaking longest -
lived horse and numerous other treasures can be
found.
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306TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP
MUSEUM
Bedford Autodrome, Thurleigh Airfield Business
Park, MK44 2YP
Tel: 01234 708715
E-mail:
306museum@nscmh.fsnet.co.uk
Web:
www.306bg.co.uk
Opening times March - October. Every weekend
and Bank Holiday, 10.30am - 4.00pm. Other
times by prior appointment.
A visit to the museum
will transport you back in time with many
fascinating themed displays. The large
collection of 306th memorabilia includes the
famous Norden Bomb Site, and the first Medal of
Honour awarded to an enlisted man.
There are displays on the
RAF, British Army, and Home Front. Visit the
wartime home and the Village Pub. GI Brides are
featured in original 1940s dresses. Genuine
period artifacts and clothing are used
throughout, and a large collection of
photographs supplement the displays.
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Cecil Higgins Museum & Art
Gallery
Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3RP
Tel: 01234 211222
E-mail:
chag@bedford.gov.uk
Web:
www.cecilhigginsartgallery.org
Victorian Mansion - a recreation of an 1880s
home including Gothic room containing works by
William Burges. Watercolours, Prints, Drawings -
changing exhibitions from the gallery's
extensive collections. Watercolour artists such
as Gainsborough, Cotman, Constable, Turner,
Burne-Jones, Piper and Frued. The print
collection features international artists
including Durer, Rembrandt, Whistler, Picasso
and Warhol. Decorative Art Gallery - featuring
ceramics, glass, silver and textiles from the
17th to 20th centuries. Lace - comprehensive
collection of East Midlands and international
lace including the Thomas Lester Collection of
Bedfordshire Maltese Lace.
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Elstow Moot Hall
Church End, Elstow, Bedford, MK42 9XT
Tel: 01234 266889
Web:
www.bedford.gov.uk
Elstow Moot Hall, a timber framed market house
exhibiting translations, illustrations and
artefacts associated with John Bunyan who lived
nearby.
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Luton Museum & Art Gallery
Wardown Park, Old Bedford Road, Luton, LU2 7HA
Tel: 01582 546739
E-mail:
museum.gallery@luton.gov.uk
Web:
www.luton.gov.uk
Luton Museum is an ideal place to visit if you
are interested in brushing up on your history.
The Museum houses an impressive collection of
art, ancient artefacts, local and natural
history exhibits and also important examples of
the lace and hat industry of which Luton was a
major centre for in Victorian times. The variety
of displays on offer at Luton Museum prove for
an enjoyable and interesting visit.
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Shuttleworth Old Warden
Park
Old Warden Park, Old Warden, Biggleswade, SG18
9EA
Tel: 01767 627288
E-mail:
collection@shuttleworth.org
Web:
www.shuttleworth.org
A fabulous collection of historic aircraft and
motor vehicles, presented to the public within
huge aircraft hangars. Flying displays and
events take place throughout the season.
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Stockwood Crafts & Mossman
Collection
Stockwood Park, Farley Hill, Luton, LU1 4BH
Tel: 01582 738714
E-mail:
museum.gallery@luton.gov.uk
Web:
www.luton.gov.uk
In the award winning Stockwood Craft Museum,
discover what life was like in rural
Bedfordshire. The lives and trades of people who
lived and worked in this area in the 19th
century. The Museum has a wide range of displays
showing how the 19th century residents of this
area went about their work and daily lives.
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The Eagle Gallery
101 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP
Tel: 07908 036666 (10:00am to
5:30pm Tuesday to Saturday).
E-mail:
info@eaglegalleryartists.co.uk
Web:
www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk
The Eagle Gallery is run by a non-profit making
cooperative of over 30 like-minded artists. The
gallery is dedicated to exhibiting and selling
original artwork by Bedfordshire artists at
reasonable prices. The Eagle Gallery Artists
produce work in a wide variety of mediums,
including 2D and 3D work, sculptures, pottery,
jewellery, stained glass, collage and
photography. The gallery intends to be dynamic –
displays will be changed on a monthly basis and
there will be themed exhibitions throughout the
year. The gallery will provide space for work
from all members of the cooperative. In addition
to the hanging space, there is a garden to the
rear. This will be used for outdoor workshops
during the summer months and also as an
entertaining space for preview evenings.
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