One of the more unusual groups which were active in the 20th Century was the Panacea Society, which has been based in Bedford since 1920. The main belief of the society was the imminence of the end of the world about which messages were received from God via Joanna Southcott. Mrs Southcott sealed some of her prophecies into a box which would be opened only in a time of national danger in the presence of 24 bishops of the Church of England. However, it remains unopened.

We combined this visit with the Higgins also in Bedford. This museum and art gallery has a collection of fossils but also a range of artefacts illustrating the history of Bedford.