Wymondham Heritage Museum

Wymondham was once a renowned centre for woodturning and this evolved into brush-making becoming a major industry in the town.

Discover the history of brush-making in the town from its beginnings in the woodturning trade to its height when two major companies, The Briton Brush Company and The Cooperative Brush Company, had operating factories in the town and the reasons for its eventual decline.

The display contains numerous tools that were used in the manaufacture of brushes through the ages and also has an operating 1890s Cane brush filling machine.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Admission is included in the museum's normal admission prices.

Website

http://www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=brushmaking

This display charts the growth of Wymondham pointing to the events and factors which made the town what it is today. About 1100 the d’Albinis came looking for land and power but gave the town an abbey which is still a striking symbol of Wymondham today.

The aftermath of the 1615 fire gave the town the market cross one of only three of this design in the country, but did not change the medieval street pattern still enjoyed by visitors today.

Though little troubled by dramatic events in the Civil War and religious turmoil in the 17th century, a strong Puritan tradition in the town, gave Wymondham one of the first Independent churches in Norfolk (the Fairland Church ) and the Quakers.

The need for better communications resulted in Sir Edwin Rich giving £200 to improve the road between Wymondham and Attleborough, leading to the first turnpike in Norfolk and the second in the country.

The Enclosure Act of 1801 settled the problem of rights to common land. Some claims are hard to identify on the map but the pubs of Cann’s brewery, so prominent in the 1800s, can be easily be recognised,

By the early 1900s Wymondham had become an important ‘shopping town’ - you could buy anything along the high street.

Between 1920 and the 1940s there was a council house building bonanza in many parts of the town. The late 1960s saw the start of the first modern housing estates around the King’s Head meadow.

What’s next ? Come along and see.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Included in normal admission prices

Visit this exhibition which uses maps, photos and memories to illustrate village life over the centuries.

In 1732 the lady of the manor gave money to teach poor children in Morley to read. It got its first purpose built school in 1845, given by another lady, Miss Maria Morse of Norwich. Extracts from the school log back dating to the 1870s describe farming life, the weather, social life and serious illness.

Photos of the early 1900s taken by the Headmaster, a keen amateur photographer, portray school life before the national curriculum.

Follow the stories of the three country houses – Morley Old Hall with its Saxon origins, Morley manor whose owner Mr Hobart had fences he had put round common land, pulled down by peasantry at the start of Kett’s Rebellion, and the unique story of Morley Hall Estate and its sport loving owner with his bowling green, cricket pitch and golf club. The estate played its part on the international scene as a World War Two American army hospital, later a teachers training college and then a state boarding school.

Copies of the 1629 and 1845 maps will be available for viewing.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Admission is included in the museum's normal admission prices.

Website

http://www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=portrait.of.a.norfolk.village

Kett's Rebellion was the most serious outbreak of unrest during the reign of Edward VI. What was the reason for these revolts in the 1540s and why did Robert Kett, a wealthy yeoman farmer and tanner, become the leader of this rebellion? This display will help to answer these questions.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Admission is included in the museum's normal admission prices.

Website

http://www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=story.of.robert.kett

The Wymondham Bridewell was a model prison (1785) based on the ideas of the great prison reformer John Howard.

Below ground, see the re-created dungeon and the eight steps that Howard went down to inspect the dungeon. You can also handle the ankle chains from the original dungeon and view a display about the model prison.

Suitable for

• 5-6
• 7-10
• 14-15
• 11-13
• 16-17
• 18+

Admission

Admission is included in the museum's normal admission prices.

Website

http://www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=wymondham.bridewell

This display looks at the life and career of a woman who was a pioneer figure in the story of women in politics in Norfolk and especially in the story of the Labour Party. She was the first woman councillor in the town and the first to chair the Wymondham Urban District Council.

The display includes references to her husband Edwin Gooch who became President of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, Labour MP for N. Norfolk and chairman of the Labour Party.

It reveals much about the political and social life of Wymondham & Norfolk in the first half of the 20th century

There are many photographs of family, social and public life from her early years to 1950.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Admission is included in the museum's normal admission prices.

Website

http://www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=wymondhams.first.lady