From Bombs to Bellbottoms

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What was Holst Victorian House like before it was a museum? To celebrate 50 years since it opened its doors to the public, the museum will host a new temporary exhibition, From Bombs to Bellbottoms, which will see two of its 19th-century spaces turned into 20th-century room sets. Through these rooms, carefully curated to tell the stories of past inhabitants, visitors will gain a fascinating insight into the house's domestic life during the past century.

Wander into a 1940s sitting room inspired by the Doxey family, who lived in the house from 1935 until 1956. Retired coachbuilder Andrew, his wife Annie and children Evelyn, Harold, Hilda and Jack lived in the building alongside several lodgers throughout the 1930s and 40s. Discover their lives, together with histories of Cheltenham during WWII, including the bombing raids in nearby Gloucester Road and St Paul's.