Bury St Edmunds Moyses Hall

This evening we went to see The Descendants with George Clooney. It is a good film and probably one of the best performances he has given. Going across the Market at 8pm in the evening is beautiful as it is absolutely deserted and it gives you time to take in the charm of the town and also to do a little window shopping - not too much though as it was very chilly. But with five ladies all together it could only be fun especially after a tasty meal at Carluccio's.

Moyse's Hall was built in about 1180. In 1626 it was sold to the Guildhall Feoffment Trust. This Trust was a charity, originally established by the medieval Candlemas Guild, which administered a number of charitable bequests made to the town. The Feoffees used Moyse's Hall as the town gaol, the workhouse and the bridewell, or house of correction. It housed both poor people and offenders.

By the 1730s, the workhouse was moved elsewhere. After this Moyse's Hall was generally referred to as the Bridwell. In 1836 a police force was established in Bury St Edmunds, and Moyse's Hall became the police station. Even then, part of it was still used to house offenders. In 1791 a proposal was made to erect a turret clock with a cupola on the top of Moyse's Hall.
In 1892, the police station moved and in 1894 the Guildhall Feoffees transferred both Moyse's Hall and the Guildhall to the borough council. In 1899, the museum was officially opened by Lord John Hervey. It is a really interesting museum to visit especially for children and there are frequent exhibitions held there. http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/moyses-history.cfm