Here at the John Moore we take care of two buildings set into one of the finest rows of 15th century dwellings in the country.
The larger of the two is the John Moore and is home to an extensive Natural History collection featuring specimens of the mammals and birds native to our countryside, especially farmlands, woodlands and wetlands.
The smaller museum is the Merchant's House, just a few doors down the street. Here you will find a fully restored shop and home, giving unique access to the fabric of the building.
The John Moore is the perfect place to introduce yourself to the wonders of the British countryside.
We wonder if...
You have ever seen a pygmy shrew?
You know just how big a badger is?
You have felt how soft a fox's brush is?
We have many of our shyest and most elusive creatures - seldom seen by most of us - on display, with plenty of information on their habitat and lifecycles. Some of them you can touch, so you really can find out how soft a fox's tail is!
We also have a small collection of agricultural hand tools and other countryside objects, from model Romany wagons to a wicker eel trap and a man trap!
Our displays are made up of modern taxidermy specimens and, in case you were wondering (as many do), all our furred and feathered guests died of natural causes or from misadventure. If you want to know more about taxidermy or how we get our unfortunate specimens to travel...go to our interesting facts page.
We also have a range of John Moore's books, including his biography, on sale in our foyer. For younger visitors we have plenty of pocket money treats and posters.