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 temporary exhibition, From Bombs to Bellbottoms, which will see two of its 19th-century spaces turned into 20th-century room sets. 

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 on Gloucester Road and St Paul’s nearby.

In 1956, Violet and Reginald Garlick moved into the house with their two adopted children, one of whom, Peter, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and became an accompanist for actress and singer Diana Dors.

Like the Doxeys, the Garlicks also rented out their surplus rooms, this time to students from the local college – now the University of Gloucestershire. As part of the exhibition, explore a 1970s fashion student’s bedroom based on the memories of a student who lived in a similar Pittville house.

In addition to the room sets, there will be a 1950s oven and a 1960s fridge and washing machine, models which the Garlick family would have been familiar with. 

A specially designed newspaper will help guide visitors around these exciting spaces, supplementing the Victorian Room Guide for the other rooms.