What’s on?
The Jenner Jog - March 2nd 2025
We are delighted to host the New Berkeley Harriers in delivering the inaugural ‘Jenner Jog’.
This is a brand new UK Athletics measured 10k chip-timed road event starting here at the Museum. The run is along fairly flat country lanes and through the heart of Berkeley town, with a bespoke event medal included.
The Jenner Jog will return next year - 1st March 2026!
‘But Why Think? Why not Try the Experiment?’ - April - September
An exhibition showing work inspired by Edward Jenner by local sculptors from the Cotswold Sculptors Association
13.04.25—13.09.25 - Free admission with Museum entry
Local members of the Cotswold Sculptors Association are pleased to present their first site specific group exhibition, set in the historic garden of Dr Jenner’s House in Berkeley.
The inspiration was an exhortation to Edward Jenner by fellow scientist, John Hunter, to stop thinking ‘What If?’, and to just go ahead, experiment and find out. So we invited artists to be inspired by Edward Jenner and his myriad of interests, respond to the historic home and gardens and take up the opportunity and platform to try something different, and most importantly to experiment!
18 sculptors have risen to the challenge and have been inspired to experiment, explore and push themselves just as Edward Jenner did. We hope that visitors will be inspired to think differently about sculpture and enjoy the experience of looking at Jenner’s interests and achievements through an artists lens.
VE80 - Soldiers in the Attic. A temporary exhibition open from Sunday 4th May to Wednesday 7th May
In honour of VE Day 80, Dr Jenner’s House is opening our attic for an exclusive look into the lives of those who lived and served here in Berkeley.
Come along to experience an untouched piece of history at The Chantry and see what our servicemen left behind when the war ended.
Shrapnel Boys: Life on the Home Front Museum Trail (May Half Term)
From Wednesday 21st May, join us for the Shrapnel Boys: Life on the Home Front Museum Trail, organised by Kids in Museums and Usborne. This national family trail is inspired by Shrapnel Boys, a forthcoming novel by award-winning children’s author Jenny Pearson.
Shrapnel Boys is a novel about the friendship and courage of a group of young boys living through the Second World War. When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning.
But for Ronnie, the battles aren’t just in the sky and on the streets. They’re at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie’s worried he’s getting himself into big trouble. Ronnie’s desperate to help his little brother. But he isn’t expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war…
Pick up a free activity sheet to join in at Dr Jenner’s House. Explore what life was like for children on the home front and search for hidden objects around the museum. Complete the spotter trail and receive a free sticker!
Children can also design their own VE Day bunting. One winning design will receive:
A signed copy of Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson
A National Art Pass (plus kids) courtesy of Art Fund – giving one adult plus children under 16 free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries, and historic houses across the UK, plus 50% off major exhibitions!
Full competition terms and conditions: https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/museum-trails/shrapnel-boys-competition/
Dr Jenner’s House Creative Retreat and Summer Readings
Wednesday 2 July 2025 (13:00 - 20:00)
Dialect is an inclusive literary development platform for rural and edgeland writers. Our home is in Gloucestershire but we reach rural writers all over the UK and beyond. Dialect is here to nurture talent, connect with communities and offer rural writers opportunities to share their work.
Join us for an afternoon of quiet, structured creative time in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, in the beautiful eighteenth century home of physician and naturalist Dr Edward Jenner.
Get your words on the page and meet other writers in the Old Cyder House, overlooking Dr Jenner’s historic garden and Temple of Vaccinia.
Then, from 6pm , we will host a summer evening social, with readings of poetry and prose from participants and others from the Dialect writing community.
Wifi, charging outlets and refreshments provided - half price tickets for Dialect members.
The evening social and readings are open to everyone on a donations only basis (6-8pm).
Midsummer Gloucestershire magic in a truly unique setting. Grab your space!
Tickets available here: Dr Jenner's House Creative Retreat - £25.00
‘POX’ - An open air production with the Cotswold Players - August 14-16
The extraordinary story of a pioneering Gloucestershire doctor, Edward Jenner, and his ongoing legacy of vaccination. A story told through Jenner’s relationships with his family, his staff, the locals and Fellows of The Royal Society.
This world premiere of a play written by Janet Bolam, has all the elements that will educate and entertain; drama, comedy and heartbreak. Set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries – the era of Jane Austin.
This outdoor production is to be performed by the Cotswold Players in the very place where the discovery that changed the world happened.
Make a full evening of it by arriving early and having an exclusive out of hours view of Dr Jenner’s House and an opportunity to picnic in his Georgian garden, which will open from 4pm each day, all included in the ticket price. Alternatively enjoy a special pre-play meal in the beautiful Kitchen Garden restaurant at Berkely Castle, just next door to the museum. A refreshment bar will be on site throughout the performances.
The Jenner Trust, the charity who care for Dr Jenner’s House, are delighted to be working with the Cotswolds players to bring the story of this remarkable man and his world changing discovery to life. The Trust rely entirely on donations to survive and keep the museum open.
Performances start at 7pm. Tickets available here
An Evening of Ghost Stories by M.R. James - A one-man performance by Toby Burchell
"Yet, in all this quiet, there was an acute, an acrid consciousness of a restrained hostility very near to us, like a dog on a leash that might be let go at any moment."
Settle into spooky season with Behind the Door Productions for a very special event, ‘An Evening of 'Ghost Stories by M. R. James' at Dr Jenner’s House.
21st October: In 'Whistle and I'll Come to You', a young professor, whilst walking in an English coastal village, stumbles upon a strange whistle. When blown, this sets in motion a chain of unexpected events.
22nd October: In 'A Warning to the curious' we follow Paxton, an archaeologist who inadvertently comes upon one of the three holy crowns of East Anglia. What he uncovers leads to something far more sinister...
This is a candlelit performance with a small audience that will take place in the preserved historic setting of Dr Jenner's Attic, the top floor of The Chantry. In this one-man performance, Toby Burchell performs some of the most chilling tales by the finest writer of the ghost story genre, M. R. James. Originally narrated by James himself as entertainment for friends, these performances are the best way to experience his traditional ghost stories as he intended.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - A one-man performance by Toby Burchell
Marley was dead: to begin with.’ On a snowy Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by a series of ghosts determined to show him how his cruel actions have affected the lives of others. Will Scrooge repent and accept the error of his ways or continue down his dark path?
This festive season, join Behind the Door Productions at Dr Jenner’s House for a one-man performance of this Christmas classic. This highly immersive and atmospheric production of A Christmas Carol captures the joy, humour and darkness of the traditional piece. A true festive classic, told as Dickens did to friends and family at Christmastime, this one-man performance is not to be missed.
This is a candlelit performance taking place in the attic of Dr Jenner’s House. The price includes a mince pie and a festive drink.
We are pleased that the 2025 season will provide visitors with an opportunity to explore our refreshed galleries and event spaces, thanks to support from:
Tim Miller