A soldiers' club from 1915 ...
During World War I, Poperinge is part of the small patch of unoccupied Belgium. Away from the martial noise of the Ypres front region, the town grows into the nerve centre of the British sector. In the middle of that busy town, chaplains Neville Talbot and Philip "Tubby" Clayton open a clubhouse in December 1915. Without distinction of rank or station, soldiers and nurses could go there for three years for a rare moment of rest and relaxation away from the war. Today, as then, the House offers an equally warm and authentic welcome, a peaceful stop along Flanders Fields filled with stories and anecdotes.
...a living museum today
Feel free to take a look for yourself in this virtual tour of what awaits you. For children, there is the virtual kid's cat quiz. A museum visit to Talbot House usually starts in the former hop warehouse on Pottestraat. During the war it served, among other things, as a concert hall, today you can visit our newly renovated permanent exhibition on Talbot House's 100-year history. In 'A House of People', 500 never-before-seen objects from our archive will take you through the story. On the first floor, the Happy Hoppers have a real show in store for you.
"The Old House" is still busy and in use. Using an interactive tablet tour, you will get a personal tour of this authentic club. Not only will you learn about its wartime past, you can also have a chat with the mostly British caretakers. In the 'Dining Room', you can play a tune on the original piano and unwind with a cup of tea in the beautiful English landscape garden. You might even want to spend the night there in one of the guest rooms. This is precisely what makes Talbot House so special. It's not just another war museum. It is still the same "Every Man's Club" as it was a century ago.
Address
Pottestraat 5
8970 Poperinge
Belgium