The Panacea Museum to reopen for 2026

Following a characteristically busy closed season, the Panacea Museum is getting ready to welcome visitors back again for this year. Behind the scenes, the museum and maintenance team has been hard at work, undertaking conservation cleaning of objects, varnishing floors, painting walls, planning exhibitions, and conducting research in the Archives.

The museum, located in the heart of Bedford, tells the absorbing story of the Panacea Society, a religious group founded in 1919. The Society created their own ‘Garden of Eden,’ with a unique Christian community centred around neighbouring Victorian houses on Newnham Road and Albany Road.

‘The Haven’ is now the main entrance for the Museum, with ‘Castleside’ next door and Mabel ‘Octavia’ Barltrop’s home also on the site.

Surrounded by well-kept gardens, the museum's outdoor areas are starting to show signs of Spring, adding to the sense of renewal, as the Museum commences another year of events and exhibitions.

The Garden Press

This new exhibition opens on 5th February and runs until 24th May.

The Panacea Society printed leaflets, posters, books and magazines, sharing their Healing offer, and encouraging the public to support the opening of Joanna Southcott's Box. They called both the publishing company and the building it housed ‘The Garden Press’.

There will be associated talks and events along with the exhibition, with details on the Museum's website.

The museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am- 4pm, 5th February to 28th March, and moves to summer hours from 3rd April.

Last entry to the museum is 3.30pm. Entry to the museum and exhibition is free.

Find out about our programme of exhibitions and events here: panaceamuseum.org/events