Talks & Tours
Visits and talks for groups
What we offer
The John Moore Museum offers talks and tours relating to the museum and its collections, ideal for groups such as the WI, Probus, U3A, local history and civic groups. The talks help promote our museum and its collections. We charge a competitive rate with all money made going back into the museum.
We can present at your group’s meeting place or arrange to give talks at the museum.
Let us come to you
- Talks lasts approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A
- All talks include items from our collections
- Our needs are simple! A table and for some of our talks, a socket for the projector (we have our own projector and screen if required) plus somewhere close by to park
- £55 fee plus travel expenses (45p per mile). Our mileage radius is 20 miles from Tewkesbury, unless further afield is agreed upon. Destinations outside of our mile radius does come with an additional charge.
- It is often possible to adjust the length, content and depth of the talk to suit your group’s interests.
- Talks are given by Heritage Manager Kirstie Mitchell, Museum Assistant Angela Dunsby.
- We ask that our speakers get to speak first at the beginning of meetings.
- According to museum policy, members of staff cannot travel during weather warnings – talks will need to be delivered via Zoom or rescheduled.
- Talks can be booked either by telephone: 01684 297174 or by email: education@johnmooremuseum.org or admin@johnmooremuseum.org
Zoom Talks
We offer our brilliant range of talks virtually on the video conferencing platform Zoom. This will allow members of your group to have an entertaining evening from the comfort of their own homes.
These 45 minute talks (plus time for Q&A) are ideal for small and large groups
Our Talks
To download a copy of our Talks Summary, please click on the link:
John Moore Museum Talks Summary
A Portrait of John Moore: His life and books.
John Moore is one of Gloucestershire’s most well-known writers writing novels including ‘A Portrait of Elmbury’ a thinly disguised portrait of Tewkesbury and its most notorious inhabitants.
The Work of the John Moore Museum, Tewkesbury – Natural History – Heritage – Living Voices
Kirstie Bingham will discuss her role as Heritage Manager including the restoration, preservation and conservation of the Museum’s historic buildings and collections.
Museum Curiosity Session
An informal and fully tactile experience with the museum’s collection. The session can be themed or a complete surprise. What will you discover? Will it be the brush of fur and feathers or even the weight of heavy armour? There is always so much to discuss and experience. The sessions typically last between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
‘A Bloody Business’ – Taxidermy in Museums.
Using items from the museum’s extensive Natural History collection, Simon will explain everything you have ever wanted to know about taxidermy (but were too afraid to ask!) from the fascinating history of taxidermy to the ‘stuffing’ process to the problems of pest control with Natural History collections.
Making the invisible, visible: the story of the Old Baptist Chapel, a 17th century Baptist meeting house.
From domestic origins to clandestine use by early Nonconformists to its later restoration, this enigmatic building has a rich and varied history. This talk will cover the building’s history, the challenges of research, and the ongoing Old Baptist Chapel Project, 2015 – 2018, to restore and develop the chapel as a new heritage attraction.
Restoring Tewkesbury’s Past
Discover the fascinating history of the development and restoration of the Abbey Lawn Cottages in Church Street Tewkesbury. Recently discovered to date from 1410, this unique row of timber-framed houses was built as a commercial venture by the Benedictine monks of Tewkesbury Abbey, and restored between 1967 and 1973 by local buildings’ preservation charity, the Abbey Lawn Trust.
Tasting the Tudors: Food and drink from the Tudor Era
Why shouldn’t you put your elbows on the table? Who had a better diet, the rich or the poor? Why might rotten teeth get you a husband? Find out about table etiquette in the past, what the Tudors ate and what this tells us about society at the time, why the Tudors drank only alcohol and why drunkenness was tolerated.
Schools, Scholars and Scolding: Tudor Education
This talk will cover how education changed during the 16th century, the difference in educating boys and girls, rich and the poor, the experience of attending a Tudor grammar school, leisure activities and corporal punishment. Angela will be bringing her birch stick so you’d better behave!
Unusual Cures and Blood Galore! Tudor and Stuart Medicine
This talk explores the wonderful world of Tudor and Stuart medicine, looking at the role of apothecaries to barber surgeons. Are you ready to face the surgeon’s saw? How about swallowing spiders bathed in butter for your cough?
Midwife, herbalist, surgeon…witch! Women & medicine in Tudor England
This talk discusses the role of women in medicine with a particular focus on pregnancy, birth and superstitions in the Tudor period.
Tudor swearing, sex & loos! The naughty bits not seen in historical dramas
This talk has been developed from whispered questions following other talks: ‘What did women do at ‘that time of the month’?’ ‘What were Tudor attitudes to sex?’ ‘Were the toilets really that awful?’ ‘Were they smelly?’ and so many more. A light-hearted talk answering all those questions you wanted to ask at school but were too afraid to ask!
Scandal and Sex: Medieval Lust and Sexuality
Delve beneath the Medieval bedsheets to learn all about lust and sexuality. What was the ideal beauty? How did you tempt your partner? All your naughty questions will be answered!
If you loved Tudor Swearing, Sex and Loos, then this is a perfect talk for you!
Whores, Toffers and 3 Penny Uprights - Coming July 2025
For centuries people have paid for the pleasures of the night. Join us as we go curb crawling down Cock Alley and gain some insight into the lives and lays of prostitutes in England throughout history.
Deciphering the Hidden Symbols in Elizabethan Art
Can you decode a painting like a Tudor courtier? Discover the layers of meaning in iconic Tudor Art, such as why would you include a pelican, ermine or sun.
A Tudor Christmas
Deck the halls and roast that turkey! How were the Tudors, from the King to the common man, enjoying the festive period?
The Arcane, Bizarre and darn right Witchy!
Delve into the weird and wonderful history of witchcraft and superstition, as you learn about familiars, mischief following anger, witch bottles and so much more! This talk will reveal some of Britain’s most famous witch cases as well as teaching how best to spot a witch!
Did you know there was even a suspected witch living in Tewkesbury in the 17th century?
History's Deadliest Deaths
Our ancestors were fascinated by a gory execution or two, the more brutal and painful the better! Join us on a gruesome journey, as we reveal some of the most ghastly ways to die in history, from a classic beheading to the Brazen Bull.
The Darker Side of Nursery Rhymes
Join us as we delve a little deeper, and reveal the shockingly sinister backstories to some of our favourite nursery rhymes from across the world, such as Rock-A-Bye Baby and The Muffin Man.
Tea & Talk
Why not visit us? With three beautiful historic buildings and close proximity to Tewkesbury Abbey, parking, shops, cafes and restaurants, the museum is a great place to visit.
Groups are welcome to visit at any time, Tuesday to Saturday, all year round. Groups need to book in advance.
There are special terms available for group visits including tour/s of one or more of the buildings. This is undertaken by one of our expert members of staff and can be tailored to suit your interests.
Tea, coffee and catering can be provided at an additional cost.
The newly renovated Old Baptist Chapel is ideally set up for group visits. Located opposite the museum and abbey, the chapel has new facilities including a loo, plenty of seating and a kitchenette. It makes a welcoming base from which to explore historic Tewkesbury.
The chapel can also be hired out for commercial bookings. Separate hire costs and terms apply.
Should you wish to find out more, please contact us on 01684 297174 or email curator@johnmooremuseum.org
Kirstie Mitchell, Heritage Manager
Kirstie obtained her History degree from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2014. After which, she has worked in several heritage sites across the United Kingdom, from Culzean Castle to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire, Scotland. Kirstie is passionate about history, and teaching others the fascinating facts about our ancestors. Her position revolves around education, both for children and adults, by delivering adult interest talks and school workshops.
Angela Dunsby, Museum Assistant
Angela has been with the John Moore Museum since 2019.Angela is interested in the quirky side of history and her talks reflect this with their unconventional themes. Angela is involved in many aspects of the museum: from living history tours, as her alter ego- Agnes Hughes- a Tudor merchant’s wife; school workshops; blogs for the museum website, and much more.