🏡A FREE MUSEUM IN BEDFORD- The Panacea, a beautiful Victorian House.
Discover the amazing story of the unique religious community that created its own Garden of Eden in the centre of Bedford. The museum has beautiful gardens to walk around.

⭐OPEN:
Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm
(last admission 3.30pm)

📖 SOME INTERESTING HISTORY
The Panacea Society was originally called ‘The Community of the Holy Ghost’, and was made up mostly of women. Its leader was Mabel Barltrop – the widow of an English clergyman, and mother of four children– whose followers called her ‘Octavia’.

Octavia. The founder of the Panacea Society.

During the 1920s, followers of the Panacea Society moved to Bedford to live near Octavia. Eventually, the community was able to combine the gardens of several properties to form ‘the campus’ – a private space between the community houses, with a chapel at its centre.

From this headquarters, the Society operated a religious organisation which reached across the world. Over two thousand people became members of the Panacea Society, in Europe, North America and many parts of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

From its beginning, the Panacea Society expected the end of the world. Society members were convinced that God would soon act to bring about a new age – a period of peace and happiness called ‘the Millennium’.

The Panacea Society was part of a wider religious movement of groups concerned with prophecy. The Panaceans believed that God was speaking to them through Octavia, but her followers did not believe she was the only modern prophet. Rather, they accepted a lineage of seven prophetic voices since the late 1700s – a tradition they called ‘the Visitation’.

🧒 FOR CHILDREN
Children trails, colouring sheets and wooden toys in the activity space in the main museum building 'Castleside'.

☕ FOOD AND DRINK
Tea room serving refreshments, hot & cold snacks with indoor & outdoor seating

🚼 TOILET INFORMATION
Baby changing can be found in a toilet that is big enough to fit a pushchair in

🅿️ PARKING
No parking is available at the Museum, however there is pay and display parking nearby.

♿🅿️ ACCESSIBILITY (Partly accessible)
Accessible info and blue badge holders, click here: https://panaceamuseum.org/visiting/access

CONTACT DETAILS
☎️ Tel: 01234 353178
📧 museum@panaceatrust.org