For centuries, builders and homeowners secreted spiritual middens, such as shoes, bones and witch bottles, in the walls, fireplaces and under the floors in order to protect their property, their kin and themselves from the forces of witchcraft. Using some rarely displayed objects from our own collection, we are exploring the customs and traditions that guarded Cambridgeshire homes against evil intent.
Cambridge textile artist Jenny Langley explores how working with recycled materials feeds her creativity and inspires her to try new and different ideas
Ever seen a peregrine falcon or a tawny owl up close? Well now is your chance, because we have invited some of these magnificent birds, along with their keepers, to visit the Museum for the afternoon. Raptors are predatory birds
The violence arising from the witch mania that consumed the country is well known, but the steps taken by individuals to protect their homes, their kin and themselves are often overlooked. There was so much that could be done to stop a witch from causing harm and all that was needed was a single, worn shoe…
If your curiosity is piqued by the extraordinary, then we have quite a tale to tell you.
Come visit and discover more about the remarkable Elizabeth Woodcock, a resident of the village of Impington who survived for nearly eight days in a cave of snow after a fall from her horse on a tempestuous evening in February 1799
"Cambridge had called me to it and I love the place" The works of Mary Charlotte Greene capture the streetscapes, buildings, inns, yards, and courts of Cambridge, many of which were demolished in the first half of the 20th century. Join us from 30 March to view her drawings, watercolours, prints and oil paintings and explore a unique record of the history and development of our city.