2025 / 2026 Lecture Programme
Talks are free with Friends’ membership and members are encouraged to bring guests.
For guests we currently operate an honesty policy and ask for a donation of £10 cash at the door or £8.00 min via our JustGiving web page.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
Next Lecture
Natalie Doig, from the award winning podcast 'Weird in the Wade', on Mary and Mother Sutton, the 'Witches' of Milton Ernest
Bedfordshire 1612. A mother and daughter accused of the terrible crimes, of murdering infants, of inflicting disease on others, and of monstrous animal cruelty. A village gripped with fear and panic. A new trial by water was performed for the first time in England. A King on the throne who is obsessed with rooting out the pernicious evil of witches from his Kingdom.
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Nat Doig from the award-winning podcast Weird in the Wade takes us back to the early 17th century and to the pretty village of Milton Ernest, to uncover the truth behind this shocking tale. Who were the mother and daughter accused of such horrible crimes? What made the village turn on them? How can we comprehend and reckon with the damage done to older, marginalised women (and some men) during the “witch craze.”? Nat, will place this story in the context of the wider history of witchcraft in Bedfordshire, from the first recorded account to more recent developments.
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***Special offer for guests and visitors. Free entry to the talk if you take out Friends’ membership running from now to September 2026.***​
7.30pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Kimbolton Road
Generously sponsored by Lady Whitbread
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Bernard O'Connor on Jasper Maskelyne, the illusionist who hid Tempsford Airfield
7.30pm Zoom lecture
Generously Sponsored by W&H Peacock Auctioneers
Tuesday 17th February 2026
Mark Lewis on Graham Sutherland
7.30pm Zoom lecture
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Perry Staker on Women in the Civil War
7.30pm Zoom Lecture
Generously sponsored by Marion Maule.
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Dr Helen Langdon on Salvator Rosa
7.30pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Kimbolton Road
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Perry Staker on Norman Hartnell
7.30pm Zoom lecture
Generously sponsored by Marion Maule
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Professor Paul Coldwell on Woodcuts, his new book
7.30pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Kimbolton Road
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Sarah Flynn on The Neiger Brothers and Egyptian Revival Jewellery
7.30pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Kimbolton Road
Generously sponsored by Barovic Jewellers
Tuesday 28th April 2026
Jane Ewart on An American Aristocrat and His Remarkable Collection of English Silver:
Lord Fairhaven’s silver at Anglesey Abbey
7.30pm at Venue to be confirmed
Events at The Higgins Bedford
The Friends organisation plays an important part in the life of the art gallery and museum, and individual members enjoy an excellent range of benefits; joining the Friends will put you at the heart of The Higgins Bedford.
6 February 2026 and 24 April 2026
Noel Carrington - Exhibition Tours
Join Victoria , the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
12–12.30pm
Tickets £3.60 per person, concessions £3.05 Book your ticket here.
27th February 2026
Lunchtime Lecture
Joe Pearson on Noel Carrington.
Join exhibition curator Joe Pearson to learn more about the amazing career of Noel Carrington and the artists he championed.
Joe is an established collector and writer on mid-century lithography. In 2015 he founded Design for Today, a press and publisher, with the aim of working with designers and illustrators to create limited edition books and cards.
2-3-pm
Tickets FREE! Book your ticket here.
