John Moore Museum

About the museum

The John Moore Museum was founded in 1980 by the Abbey Lawn Trust in memory of John Moore (1907-1967), the Tewkesbury-born writer and naturalist who became one of Gloucestershire's best-known authors. It occupies a row of historic timber-framed buildings on Church Street, close to Tewkesbury Abbey.

The museum is best known for its natural history collection of mammals and birds that live in the woodlands, wetlands, gardens and farmland of the area. The displays also explain the local countryside, including the flooding of the River Severn across the Severn Ham meadows.

A few doors away, the Merchant's House has been restored and furnished to show how a 16th-century shop and dwelling was built and lived in. The museum has also renovated the Old Baptist Chapel, a late medieval hall house that was later converted into a Nonconformist meeting house; its Baptist Minute Book, which covers the years 1655 to 1808, can be viewed online. The chapel can be hired for concerts, exhibitions and other events.

The museum is run as a small charity. Its programme includes live animal shows, living history tours, talks and holiday activities for children, and it runs a long-standing education programme for schools.

Highlights

• Natural history collection of local birds and mammals
• Restored 16th-century Merchant's House
• Old Baptist Chapel, a late medieval hall house
• Living history tours and live animal shows
• Education programme covering the Tudors and Stuarts

Permanent exhibitions

• Natural History Collection – Mounted mammals and birds from the woodlands, wetlands, gardens and farms of the area, with displays on the local countryside and the flooding River Severn.
• The Merchant's House – A restored and furnished two-storey building showing how a 16th-century shop and dwelling was constructed.
• Old Baptist Chapel – A late medieval hall house later used as a Nonconformist meeting house, with the story of the congregation and its Baptist Minute Book.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Abbey Lawn Trust

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Old Baptist Chapel has an accessible toilet. The museum does not publish step-free access details for the main buildings, so visitors with mobility needs should call ahead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Holiday activities for children, live animal shows and living history tours are part of the events programme. The museum has an award-winning education programme for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Church Street, close to Tewkesbury Abbey, and the Merchant's House is a few doors away.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 80 guests.

The Old Baptist Chapel can be hired for concerts, exhibitions, events and workshops. It seats 80 and has a screen and projector, a kitchenette, an accessible toilet and a gallery-quality hanging system.

Plan your visit