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5 Things to Spot at Moyse's Hall Museum
Moyse's Hall Museum is a must visit in Bury St Edmunnds with its Terrible Tales and abbey exhibits, special clock collection and local military history gallery. We pick out 5 things to find during your visit!
1. Gibbet Cage
See the gibbet cage that held John Nichols, who was executed in 1794 alongside his son Nathan for the murder of his daughter Sarah.
Gibbeting saw criminals locked in human-shaped cages and hung up for display in public areas as a warning to others.
You can even step inside a gibbet cage, but don't worry the museum team won't leave you there ... for long!
2. William Corder's Death Mask
The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Polstead, Suffolk, England in 1827. A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover William Corder. The two had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, a local landmark, before eloping to Ipswich.
Corder was hanged at Bury St Edmunds in 1828. Several copies of Corder's death mask were made and a replica of one is still held at Moyse's Hall Museum, along with a book on the murder bound in his skin!
3. Windows of the Abbey
A wonderful mosaic is displayed on the ground floor of the museum which has been beautifully restored and back lit. It contains stained glass from the original Abbey of St Edmund.
A real piece of the Abbey's history and a colourful delight!
4. Mary Tudor's Hair
A locket containing a lock of hair from Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, can be found on display at the town’s Moyse’s Hall Museum.
Mary was originally buried in the Abbey of St Edmund and her funeral was one of the last events held at the Abbey. When the Abbey was dissolved, her remains were reburied at St Mary's Church.
5. The Edmund Jewel
The ornate gold Edmund Jewel, which may have even been used by Saint Edmund himself, was discovered by someone metal detecting in a field in Drinkstone in 2014.
It is believed to be an aestal, a 9th century pointer used by people in high status for reading at a time when the majority of people were illiterate.
Find out more about Moyse's Hall Museum at https://www.moyseshall.org/
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