Peter in the Garden

May 15th, 2025

A short piece by volunteer and local author Adrian

Blog

A Few of our Favourite Things

May 8th, 2025

Part 2 : Figures playing croquet on the lawn by John Coghill

Blog

Rationing during WW1 and WW2 in the UK

March 17th, 2025

Infographics made by volunteers Charlie and Madalina

Blog

Come on: feel the Silence

March 1st, 2025

Volunteer Adrian reflects on 'Interior Lives'

Blog

A Few of our Favourite Things

February 22nd, 2025

Part 1 : the Wireless Room. A series of blogs about our favourite objects and places around the Museum

Blog

Santa Claus, St Nicholas & Father Christmas

November 30th, 2024

Why 'Santa Claus' and not 'Father Christmas'

Blog

A Class Apart

November 5th, 2024

The Barltrops and their neighbours by volunteer Derek

Blog

A Week at the Panacea Museum

July 6th, 2024

Work experience student Abi tells us about her time here

Blog

Sunday Afternoons with Alice

June 23rd, 2024

One of the Society's most vocal supporters- by Volunteer Adrian

Blog

Vote for Octavia

April 11th, 2024

An exploration of Octavia's political beliefs, by volunteer Adrian

Blog

Mrs Shepstone and Mrs Fox

January 18th, 2024

The letters of Helen Shepstone to Rachel Fox

Blog

From Wilderness to Eternity

December 8th, 2023

The 'wilderness people' vs. Sealed Members, by volunteer Adrian

Blog

Recreation at the Panacea Society

November 24th, 2023

The Panacea Society's pastimes by volunteer Victoria C

Blog

'The Book of Octavia'

November 11th, 2023

A creative piece written by volunteer Adrian

Blog

The Sons of Octavia

July 7th, 2023

Student volunteers Precious and Jenny explore the stories of Mabel Barltrop's sons

Blog

On Charity: Paying It Forward

June 24th, 2023

Volunteer Adrian shares his thoughts on the nature of Giving and the work of the Panacea Society

Blog

Octavia, Sir Jack Daw and the Smallest of Corvids

May 17th, 2023

On 14th February 1924 a jackdaw appeared at Octavia’s bedroom window...

Blog

Panacea Linen

April 11th, 2023

A window into the domestic life of the Panacea Society

Blog

Devotion vs. Perception

March 31st, 2023

Student volunteers Rachel and Esme explore Panacean beliefs

Blog

Printing, Promotion and Art

March 12th, 2023

Various uses and the history behind our 1857 press. Plus your chance to see it in action!

Blog

The Bread of Life- Panaceans and Communion

October 14th, 2022

An exploration of the meanings of bread and the Panacea Society- written by the Museum Director

Blog

Servants at the Panacea Society

July 26th, 2022

A blog centered on our current temporary exhibition, written by Museum Blogger Charlotte

Blog

The Last Woman Standing

April 22nd, 2022

The story of the Panacea Society's last Member, by Museum Blogger Charlotte

Blog

Who was Edgar Peissart?

June 18th, 2021

This month, all over the world, people are celebrating Pride month.

Blog

Letters from The British West Indies

October 23rd, 2020

The Panacea Society’s healing ministry had a global reach. The Society received nearly 35,000 applications from Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

Blog

Mabel ‘Octavia’ Barltrop 11th January 1866 – 16th October 1934

October 16th, 2020

Octavia died 86 years ago today, at her home- number 12 Albany Road. She had been feeling unwell but nothing that seemed out of the ordinary.

Blog

This is the Box

April 30th, 2020

An exploration of the origins of Joanna Southcott's Box, by Museum Officer Victoria Kahl.

Blog

Coronavirus and the Panaceans

April 21st, 2020

How would the Panaceans have coped with the Coronavirus if it had happened in their era? Imaginings by volunteer Adrian Bean.

Blog

A Religious Community of Women

April 8th, 2020

Volunteer Alison Smythe explores some of the roots of the Panacea Society, including the teachings of Joanna Southcott.

Blog

International Women's Day

March 8th, 2020

On International Women’s Day we are championing women’s rights and celebrating women’s achievements and their history.

Blog

Lillies for Dilys

January 29th, 2020

A personal reflection on Dilys Barltrop by Museum volunteer Adrian Bean. Devotees of all things Panacean will probably have immensely kind feelings about Mabel’s daughter, who is buried in Bedford Cemetery close to her mother.

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In Sure and Certain Hope of a Better Resurrection

October 12th, 2019

They didn’t believe they would truly die but if they did, then come the Day of Revelation they would live again. Written by Museum volunteer Adrian Bean.

Blog

Servants to the Servants of the Lord

September 18th, 2019

Joining as a Domestic Servant was the only way working-class women could become resident members of the Panacea Society. From the founding in 1919 until the end of the Society, domestic servants kept the community’s houses running smoothly.

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Yggdrasil and a Squirrel

July 27th, 2019

In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is the world-tree, the Tree of Knowledge at the centre of the Universe. The Panacea Society Members believed that this Pagan symbolism was very relevant to their Twentieth Century Garden of Eden.

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Joanna's Prophetic Sampler- by Victoria Ward

February 9th, 2019

An exploration of Joanna Southcott's sampler written by Volunteer Victoria Ward

Blog

I Meet the Daughter of God

November 16th, 2018

An extract from the fiction book 'Imagining Eden' by Adrian Bean

Blog

Hats Off to 'Woman Shall Inherit the Earth'

August 2nd, 2018

Just as one exhibition ends.....another one comes along to the Panacea Museum to puzzle, delight and occupy the curious.

Blog

Volunteering- by Adrian Bean

March 31st, 2018

How does someone end up volunteering in the Garden of Eden?

Blog

Stopping Time: Creating the Future with the Panacea Society

December 21st, 2017

Volunteer Thomas Vaughan on how the remarkable women of The Panacea Society created a suspended reality to support their unique theology, in 12 Albany Road, Bedford

Blog

Build It and They Will Come- Visitors at the Panacea Museum

November 10th, 2017

Visitors at the Panacea Museum- a 2017 review by Volunteer Adrian Bean

Blog

Thinking Inside the Box: Looking Outward Whilst Turning Inward with the Panacea Society

October 27th, 2017

Thinking Inside the Box: Looking Outward Whilst Turning Inward with the Panacea Society Volunteer Thomas Vaughan on the Panacea’s newest installation…

Peter in the Garden

A Few of our Favourite Things

Rationing during WW1 and WW2 in the UK

Come on: feel the Silence

A Few of our Favourite Things

Santa Claus, St Nicholas & Father Christmas

A Class Apart

A Week at the Panacea Museum

Sunday Afternoons with Alice

Vote for Octavia

Mrs Shepstone and Mrs Fox

From Wilderness to Eternity

Recreation at the Panacea Society

'The Book of Octavia'

The Sons of Octavia

On Charity: Paying It Forward

Octavia, Sir Jack Daw and the Smallest of Corvids

Panacea Linen

Devotion vs. Perception

Printing, Promotion and Art

The Bread of Life- Panaceans and Communion

Servants at the Panacea Society

The Last Woman Standing

Who was Edgar Peissart?

​Letters from The British West Indies

Mabel ‘Octavia’ Barltrop 11th January 1866 – 16th October 1934

This is the Box

Coronavirus and the Panaceans

A Religious Community of Women

International Women's Day

Lillies for Dilys

In Sure and Certain Hope of a Better Resurrection

Servants to the Servants of the Lord

Yggdrasil and a Squirrel

Joanna's Prophetic Sampler- by Victoria Ward

I Meet the Daughter of God

Hats Off to 'Woman Shall Inherit the Earth'

Volunteering- by Adrian Bean

Stopping Time: Creating the Future with the Panacea Society

Build It and They Will Come- Visitors at the Panacea Museum

Thinking Inside the Box: Looking Outward Whilst Turning Inward with the Panacea Society

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Letters from The British West Indies