Learn more about the former Abbey of St Edmund at free exhibition

A special free exhibition entitled “The Abbey of St Edmund: Artisan and Pilgrimage in the Liberty of St Edmund” has opened at Moyse’s Hall Museum.

This exhibition, which is part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations, will showcase the beauty and gravitas of St Edmunds’ Abbey, as well as explore the people that travelled great distances to see the tomb of the martyred king.

An evening lecture programme will invite some of the best historians in their fields of study from across the UK, to explore the rich history and artisan work within the Abbey and beyond.

Free craft workshops for younger explorers will run throughout the summer holidays, along with sensory tours, and hands-on activities.

The exhibition was made possible due to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and West Suffolk Council.

Jo Rayner, cabinet member for Leisure and Culture at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are very proud of our unique history and heritage here in West Suffolk and so we are delighted, with thanks also to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to be able to put on this free exhibition. We hope that lots of people will come along and learn more about our rich history and celebrate 1,000 years of the Abbey of St Edmund.”

The exhibition offers a visual reference to the lost history of the Abbey ruins and beyond. From stunning stained glass to lost souvenirs of pilgrimage, it gives a glimpse at what people would have seen all those years ago.

The exhibition is supported by a series of subsidised lectures and free events, including family workshops, which can be booked through the Moyse’s Hall website at www.moyseshall.org

Updates and listing can also be seen on the Moyse’s Hall Museum Facebook page at /moyseshall

For all other areas of the museum, standard admission applies.

It runs from Friday, July 1, to Friday, September 30, and entry times are Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm); Sundays, noon to 4pm (last entry 3pm).