Elstow
Moot Hall

Places > Elstow > Halls

A 16th century half-timbered building on the village green. It now contains various exhibits, illustrations and other artefacts relating to 17th century Bedfordshire life and John Bunyan who is reputed to have preached here.  The Moot Hall is open to the public at certain times.

The Moot Hall was probably built to house stalls and other equipment from the fairs held on the Green and as a Manor Court to hear and settle trading disputes and mete out local justice. The building was also used for village purposes and nonconformist worship.

After the Second World War the Moot Hall was in need of extensive restoration so Major Simon Whitbread gave, by Deed of Gift, the building to Bedfordshire County Council so that necessary repairs could be carried out in the Festival of Britain year 1951.

The medieval roof was found to be largely intact but much work was needed on the ground and upper floors. Some of the timber was badly decayed and oak from Essex was used in the restoration. The Moot Hall was re-opened on the 31st May 1951.

Sources

• Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library
• HART, M.  Portrait of Elstow.  2000.

Moot Hall, Elstow by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2011

Page last updated: 28th January 2014