The second part of our exploration of the Panacea Society is here! In part 1 we learned about the lives of Mabel Barltrop and Joanna Southcott, and now it’s time to hear all about the lives of the Panaceans in their community in Albany Road, Bedford. Their somewhat unorthodox beliefs included the conviction that Octavia’s breath could cure all disease, that their gardens were in fact the location of the original Garden of Eden, and that it was very important to use the correct crockery and cutlery for each social occasion. And the cry goes up - open the box!

For more musings on the Society, and some photographs from my visit to the Panacea Museum in Bedford, head over to the Blog page and have a read.