The exterior of the museum building with mural of the Buttercross and bottle kicking barrels painted by Ivan Morison.

In 2003 Hallaton Museum was awarded a major lottery grant to create an exhibition featuring the story of the hare pie scrambling and bottle kicking for which Hallaton is famous. On the 11th July 2004 villagers of Hallaton and Medbourne gathered together at the Buttercross where they were joined by Dean Richards, the Leicester and England rugby personality for the formal opening ceremony.

The exhibition includes:

• An account of the history of the ritual from its roots more than three hundred years ago (and perhaps more than 1000 years).
• Photographs and other material from bottle kicking 100 years ago.
• Two short films of bottle kicking from 70 to 80 years ago.
• Coverage of the modern event, including pictures.
• An edited version of a video made especially for the exhibition.
• Costumes and artefacts from bottle kicking today and in the past.
• A multimedia installation allowing exploration of several issues in depth.
• A striking life-size statue of bottle kickers.

The display intended to give an exciting and definitive introduction to one of the oldest surviving customs of rural England. The exhibition is aimed at local people, at some of the three thousand people who visit Hallaton each year for the bottle kicking and at tourists who may or may not be aware of the custom.

The exhibition received the award for Best Exhibition in the 2005 Leicestershire Heritage Awards and this website gives a virtual tour to all those interested in ancient customs throughout the world.

Parade in High Steet

Bottle kickers on the buttercross 1900
Photograph by F C Hawke

Bottle kickers taking the barrel over the Hallaton brook.

Bottle Kicking Exhibition

Bottle Kicking Exhibition

Bottle Kicking Exhibition

Bottle Kicking Exhibition

Bottle Kicking Exhibition

Bottle Kicking Exhibition