The Breckland Area Museums Committee meeting on 17 June 2024 focused on updates and activities at the Ancient House Museum and Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse Museum, including funding awards, community engagement initiatives, and upcoming events.

Ancient House Museum Report

Oliver Bone, Curator of Kings Lynn and Thetford Museums, presented the report on activities at the Ancient House, Museum of Thetford Life, covering the period from November 2023 to March 2024. The museum faced operational disruptions due to ongoing work at the former King’s Head pub, a listed building next door. However, Party Wall notices had been issued, and temporary measures to prevent rainwater ingress had improved conditions.

The museum celebrated its centenary year with a £198,059 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding will be used to explore the history of its founding patron, Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, and to offer new exhibits and activities. The schools programme continued to deliver workshops on various historical topics, and the museum hosted a successful Victorian Christmas Murder Mystery event attended by 310 people.

The museum also received funding from Breckland District Council and Norfolk County Council’s ‘Love Your Market Town’ initiative to run traditional craft workshops, which were well attended. Social media engagement grew, with active Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

The museum's Teaching Museum programme, funded by Arts Council England, continued to offer paid traineeships. In April 2024, Anna Heffron joined the team. The museum also collaborated with the Department of Work and Pensions on the ‘Joy at the Job Centre’ initiative, hosting workshops for job seekers.

Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse Report

Andrew Smith, Operations Manager for East & West, presented the report on Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse Museum, covering December 2023 to March 2024. The museum's events programme included Special Event Days, Days with a Difference, and Norfolk School Holiday Activities, all of which received positive feedback.

The Victorian Family Christmas Fair and Mother’s Day events were particularly successful. The museum also participated in the Norwich Science Festival, engaging with 863 members of the public. Easter activities focused on eco-friendly themes and included craft activities and trails.

Ticketed events like the Festive Wreath Making workshop and Apple Tree Pruning Workshop were popular, with plans for additional sessions. The museum received grants from Norfolk Gardens Trust and the Costume & Textile Association to support various projects.

A new temporary exhibition, Making the Rounds, opened in March 2024, highlighting the work of workhouse nurses before the creation of the NHS. Online versions of previous exhibitions were available on the Google Arts and Culture platform.

The museum completed a deep clean of the Collections Gallery and addressed a mould outbreak in the textile store. The Friends of Gressenhall pledged £20,000 for the Village Row displays refresh. Forestry Commission-approved tree felling was completed in Centenary Wood to support biodiversity.

The Community Tree Nursery continued to support Norfolk County Council’s ambition to plant a million trees. The museum also worked on the Wendling Beck 30 exemplar project, focusing on wetland management, regenerative farming, and public access improvements.

Volunteers remained active, contributing to exhibitions and research. The museum continued to support work-based placements for adults with learning difficulties and participated in the Kick the Dust project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, to support young people’s skills development.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 17 June 2024, at the Ancient House Museum.

For more details, you can refer to the Minutes of Previous Meeting and the Public reports pack.