Moyse's Hall Museum

About Moyse's Hall Museum

This beautiful medieval museum in the heart of Bury St Edmunds houses rich and eclectic collections and changing exhibitions, and hosts events ranging from themed craft workshops for all the family to historical talks and lectures. 

Steeped in history, Moyse's Hall has looked out over Bury St Edmunds market place for almost 900 years.

The landmark 12th century building rich and varied past has included serving as the town Bridewell, workhouse and police station, first opening as a museum in 1899.

Today the museum offers a fascinating view into the past with collections that document the foundation of the early town - from the creation and dissolution of the Abbey of St Edmund to prison paraphernalia, plus remarkable collections relating to the notorious Red Barn Murder and fascinating insights into local superstitions and witchcraft. 

It has a gallery dedicated to the Suffolk Regiment. From Ireland to India and from Afghanistan to the Normandy beaches ... the battles, traditions and stories of the Suffolks (1685-1959) are told here. The gallery gives a glimpse into a much larger collection located just outside the town centre at the Suffolk Regiment Museum.

Moyse's Hall Museum is also known as home to a world class collection of exquisite collections of clocks and timepieces including rare items bequeathed by musician and clock collector Frederic Greshom-Parkington and fine art by Sir Peter Lely, Angelica Kauffman, James Tissot, and England's first professional female painter Mary Beale. 

Every October, the museum hosts the Bury St Edmunds Science Fiction and Action Festival, bringing a taste of Hollywood to the region with screen-used props, screen accurate replicas, original artwork and much more from the world of Sci-Fi & Action including Dr Who, Marvel, DC comics and others!