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Museum · Poperinge, West Flanders
Talbot House
House where, from 1915, a club for British soldiers of any rank operated. Today it is a museum about life behind the front and still hosts guests.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Talbot House
Talbot House opened on 11 December 1915 in a house on Gasthuisstraat in central Poperinge. Chaplains Neville Talbot and Philip Clayton, known as Tubby, established a club there for soldiers in which rank did not matter. The name honours Gilbert Talbot, Neville's brother, who was killed that same year.
For more than three years the house provided tea, reading, music and a quiet place a few kilometres from the front. In the attic, the chapel called the Upper Room held masses and services. Soldiers abbreviated the house's name to Toc H, as in the Army signal code, and the name later became a social movement.
Today the visit includes the old house, the garden and the former hop greenhouse, which was converted into a concert hall during the war. A permanent exhibition tells the story of life behind the lines and explains why many soldiers called Poperinge "Little Paris."
The house remains in use. There is a piano in the old canteen, tea is served to visitors and there are rooms for those who want to stay the night.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 1h30 to 2 hours for the museum, the house and the garden.
Best time
The garden is nicest from May to September. Out of season the short days in December and January reduce usable afternoon light. Check opening days in advance.
How to get there
It is in central Poperinge on Gasthuisstraat, a short walk from the train station and the Grote Markt.
Tip
Go up to the chapel in the attic: it is the room soldiers most often mentioned in their letters. Those wanting the full experience can book a room and stay in the house.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Talbot House
What does Toc H mean?
It's the abbreviation for Talbot House in the British Army's signals alphabet of the time, in which the letter T was spoken as "Toc." The nickname became the name of a social movement after the war.
Is the house the original?
Yes. It's the same house used as a club from 1915, preserved and adapted as a museum, with the chapel in the attic and the garden.
How long does the visit take?
Between an hour and a half and two hours, at a leisurely pace. Allow more time if you want to have tea in the old canteen.