Last Chance to See...

'Paved with Gold': Bedford's Windrush Generation

Closes Sunday 24th March
Free Entry

Discover the incredible stories of Bedford’s Windrush Generation. Explore the memories, challenges and the contributions of the people who settled in Britain in 1948 and after.

Here's what some of our visitors said:

"Absolutely fascinating display. Nice to see pictures and hear stories of some familiar faces of Bedford. I am proud that my Grandparents and parents are part of this generation"

"Very informative and gave a clear insight into the lives of the people during the Windrush era - it is important to show the next generation their history".

"Everything was sooooo.... good. You should have seen the grip!! They even had a little television!!".

Click here for more information about the exhibition.

We Are Five: The Higgins Art Collection Favourites Chosen by the People of Bedford

Closes Sunday 24th March
Free Entry

View paintings and prints chosen by the people of Bedford to celebrate the reopening of The Higgins following redevelopment work five years ago. A great chance to see works that have not been on display since the museum reopened.

Here's what some of our visitors said:

 "A wonderful eclectic special exhibition - full of surprises. I especially enjoyed reading why people had chosen works. Very thought provoking".

"So many gems in one small room. Also really worthwhile to read the reasons for peoples selections".

"One of the best exhibitions I’ve seen here for quite a while. Lots of great art works that I have not seen before. I really enjoyed the reasons people chose the works – very thoughtful and honest individual views that made me think a lot".

Click here for more information about the exhibition.

Hair, Skin and Wellbeing Symposium

Sunday 17th March

2pm - 4:30pm, Free

Enjoy hair and beauty stalls, topical discussions, debates, demonstrations and refreshments at The Higgins Bedford. 

Advice and information will be available including, the scientific and spiritual elements to Afro hair, the best products to use on Afro hair and skin, mixed heritage hair care, and prostate awareness.

Click here for more information. 

BedPop Science Lab 2019

Saturday 9th March
10am - 5pm, Free

Celebrate British Science Week with a variety of free activities and demonstrations at The Higgins Bedford.

Activities to enjoy on the day will include creating pedal-powered art or rocket powered cars, experimenting with exploding cola bottles or screaming jelly babies, visiting the mobile petting farm, testing your skills against the clock to get out of the escape room and much more.

This event is hosted by BedPop Science Labs to bring Science, Tech and Engineering to the community.

Click here to find out more about the activities or to book places.

Objects from our Collections and Other Tales

'Witches Apprehended..., 1613' . Credit: Wellcome Collection. CC BY The Sutton Witches From woodcut prints to the writing of Arthur Miller, witchcraft and the fear of it has always played a part in our collective imagination. During the 1500’s, paranoia had spread from mainland Europe to the British Isles. This then lead to Bedford’s first recorded case of witchcraft in 1612. For more than 20 years, Mother and Mary Sutton had lived well-respected lives in the village of Milton Ernest. With the help of Mary’s three sons, they tended to the village’s pigs, horses and cattle. Sadly, this harmony was disrupted when the Sutton women became the subject of disagreement with a local landowner. Master Enger had grown suspicious of the two women after a number of horses had mysteriously died and a handful of pigs were driven mad. It didn’t take long for gossip to swirl and when Mary’s son, Henry, was caught throwing stones into the Mill Dam, Master Enger’s servants apprehended the boy. After learning what had happened, both Sutton women swore to bring the landowner to ruin by any means necessary. Events spiralled as hearsay ran rife in the small village. Mary was confronted and accused of witchcraft when a servant of Master Enger claimed that she had climbed into his room late at night and had cursed him with a persisting illness. Mary furiously denied this accusation but was still carried brutally to his room where she was made to bleed by his bedside. This was in the hope that it would break the power she supposedly held over him. This unfortunately, was not enough to repair the strained relationships in the village. Mislead by local gossip, Master Enger’s seven-year old son was seen throwing stones at Mother Sutton whilst calling her a witch. Shortly after, he fell ill and tragically died. This devastating loss seemed to spur Master Enger on as he spearheaded a campaign against Mary Sutton. After discussing matters with a friend visiting from up North, he decided to organise a swimming test for her. Master Enger and several men beat and dragged Mary Sutton to the Mill Dam, where she was tied up and thrown into the water. Spectators watched to witness her fate and saw that she sunk about two feet before floating on top. With this outcome, she was pulled out of the water and a congregation of women were ordered to search her body for any witches’ marks. Upon finding one, Mary was swum again – this time, however, she apparently spun as if inside a whirlpool and could not be drowned. This was the first case of water being used to test a witch in Britain and as such, its methods were published in the 1613 pamphlet Witches Apprehended, Examined and Executed. It helped to spread the practice to other areas and the woodcut print that accompanies the story has since became one of the most popular images of Britain’s witch trials. After Mary had protested her innocence, a surprising accusation was to finally seal her fate. Henry Sutton, her eldest son, recalled hearing both his mother and grandmother conspiring to torment Master Enger. He said that they had even planned to kill his son. With this betrayal out in the open, Mary broke down and confessed everything she had plotted with her mother. Both Mother and Mary Sutton were arrested, imprisoned and put on trial in Bedford Gaol. They were both found guilty of witchcraft and were hanged on 7th April 1612. References: Burns, W. (2003). Witch Hunts in Europe and America: An Encyclopedia. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. Gibson, M. (2000). Early Modern Witches: Witchcraft Cases in Contemporary Writing. Routledge. Winsham, W. (2016). Accused: British Witches Throughout History. London: Pen & Sword History. Written by Curatorial Volunteer Bronte