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Saturday 27 June 2026 - Saturday 17 October 2026

Monday - Saturday. 10am - 4pm.
Closed Bank Holidays.

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Home Exhibitions The Angels of Mons

Discover a Great War legend in which frontline soldiers were believed to receive divine aid from St George and his ghostly archers.  

One of the most remarkable supernatural phenomena of World War I is said to have occurred in 1914 during the Battle of Mons in Belgium. The tale describes a miraculous vision appearing to British troops in their moment of greatest need. 

The legend of the Angels of Mons, inspired by a short story by writer Arthur Machen, quickly captured the imagination of the British public. At a time when people were searching for hope and meaning, many came to believe that divine forces had intervened. Accounts vary, but often describe Saint George leading phantom bowmen or angels dressed in white. 

Presented in partnership with Mons Memorial Museum, this exhibition explores why such beliefs took hold during wartime. It examines the connections between religion, propaganda, and the culture of war, and considers why angels became such powerful symbols of comfort and protection. 

Visitors are invited to reflect on the many different realities of war and how people cope in times of crisis. 

Sefton has been twinned with Mons in Belgium since 1964 and this exhibition builds on this important relationship and shared history. 

Delivered in partnership with Mons Memorial Museum. 

 

 

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Mons Memorial Museum

A museum of social history, a place for reflection, an opportunity for questioning… The Mons Memorial Museum is all these things and more.

This museum space invites visitors of all ages to think about the multiple, complex realities of warfare. A huge permanent exhibition presents visitors with the military history of the Mons region, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The displays are centred on the events of the two world wars. Through the destiny of individual men and women, visitors are immersed in the daily lives of soldiers and civilians in wartime. Their stories form a guiding thread for the museum tour and bring to life the hundreds of objects on display. Letters, notebooks and interviews throw sensitive light on the events covered at the Mons Memorial Museum.

Every year, the museum offers a range of temporary exhibitions associated with the themes addressed in the permanent exhibition or the museum’s philosophy.

Find out more: www.visitmons.be

Sefton & Mons

Sefton has been twinned with Mons in Belgium since 1964.

The Twinning link with Mons began in June 1964 when the Head Teacher of Bootle Grammar School, Jean Berbiers (who was born in Belgium) encouraged the former Bootle County Borough Council to enter into a formal twinning agreement with the City of Mons.

The principal connection between the two areas centred on the Battle of Mons in 1914, when the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) fought alongside other British regiments against the invading German forces. The year 1964, therefore, marked the 50th anniversary of the battle.

The formal twinning agreement was signed on 20 June 1964 following a Council Meeting at Bootle Town Hall and a return visit was arranged in September of that year. Some of the ex servicemen who had fought in World War One made the pilgrimage.

Find out more: www.sefton.gov.uk

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Saturday 28 March 2026 -
Saturday 30 May 2026

The Sefton Open 2026

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