Swaffham Museum Swaffham
Swaffham Museum are a small, independent social history museum for Swaffham and the surrounding villages. Swaffham Museum has annual exhibitions plus displays from the Stone Age to the modern age. Swaffham Museum is home of the Symonds collection of figures based on characters from literature and history. Local heroes include Howard Carter the archaeologist, Admiral Sir Knyvet Wilson, Jem Mace, W E Johns and the Swaffham Pedlar. Howard Carter [of Tutankhamun fame] spent much of his childhood in Swaffham and we have on loan from the British Museum artefacts and you can also hear him reading from his diary.
The year 2019 saw the opening of Swaffham Museum’s new ‘Conflict and Consequences’ Gallery, full of information about Swaffham’s involvement in wars and conflicts. Small does not mean insignificant – the Swaffham Museum featured on Antiques Road Trip on January 23 2018 when Raj Bisram visited to explore the Carter connection. This programme is available on YouTube. We have children’s activities throughout the museum. Why not explore our history. Walk the town trail. On an appointment basis, We offer personal and group research facilities in our Archive Room using maps, newspaper clippings and other documentation and artefacts. We love schools and our voluntary organisations! To round off a great day you have to visit our gift shop for souvenirs, local maps, craftwork and collectables. This also houses the Tourist Information Centre.
Information on Swaffham
Swaffham Museum Opening Times and Ticket Prices
Swaffham Museum Opening times as we are open again – Mondays – Fridays between 10am to 4pm (last entry to Museum 3.30pm) – Saturday mornings from 10am to 1pm (last entry 12.30pm) – Open on all Bank Holidays during the open season EXCEPT Good Friday when we close. We will close on Dec 24 2020 and the Museum will not reopen until February 13 2021.
Swaffham Museum ticket prices to the Museum are: Adults £3 – Young person under 18 yrs £1 – Family Group of four £7. Carers are admitted without charge. We are offering donation entry on the first Saturday of each month. Groups – other than family groups – are asked to check in advance to ensure we have no other groups booked in. This may be done via our Contact page. Museum Shop and Tourist Information are open as for Museum with some additional Friday & Saturday openings in January and February.
We are Open
Swaffham Tourist Information CentreThe Swaffham Tourist Information Centre is in the Swaffham Museum Shop. Here you will find a wealth of information about the area, covering around 50 mile radius, with a large selection of leaflets on the visitor attractions. We also have bus timetables and a good selection of maps. Our lists of visitor accommodation and websites for walks can be downloaded below. Earlier this year, we updated our stands and now have everything well displayed and easily accessible. The opening hours are as for the Museum Shop – 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays, apart from Good Friday when we close. Contact us: email – [email protected] or Tel. 01760 721230 during opening hours
Swaffham Museum Galleries
Swaffham Museum are proud to house six galleries offer a great insight into the life of Swaffham and surrounding area:.
The Ben Emmerson Room
has many artefacts to explain some of the social history of Swaffham.
Wonderful Galleries
The Monique Slaven Room
displays a fascinating array of archaeological finds from the Swaffham area.
The David Butters Room
in 2019 hosts a photographic competition ‘Capture Swaffham’.
Room 5 –
A new display ‘Conflict and Consequences’ exploring the effects of war and conflict on our market town.
The Carter Room
celebrates our link with Tutankhamun via Howard Carter.
The Carr Clock Restoration
In 2015 we acquired a 19th Century longcase clock made by John Carr and Son of Swaffham. It stands 7’5″ high and has an eight day striking movement.
Clock restoration
Swaffham History Group.
We have The Swaffham History Group that meets monthly at the Museum. The Swaffham history Group was formed in 2008 as a non-profit making group to undertake original research into aspects of Swaffham’s history and also to work with other organisations and individuals with similar aspirations, and where appropriate, in liaison with Swaffham Museum. We will shortly be publishing our 25th booklet on aspects of Swaffham’s history, this time on the subject of weather. Our 24th booklet was recently added, on The Pedlar of Swaffham, exploring myths and legends from all over the world with a similar theme. Previous booklets have been 14 on the town’s old pubs and inns, 1 on the Brewery, 4 on local charities, and 4 on public services – fire, water, police and Post Office. All are available from the Museum shop.
Swaffham Museum WW1 Project.
The Project is grant aided by Breckland District Council and The Friends of Swaffham Museum. This project aims to tell the story of the town and its people between 1914 and 1919. It collects information from a variety of sources and will be updated as new material becomes available. Read more…
WW 1 Project
The Friends of Swaffham Heritage
Swaffham Interactive Display S.I.D.
Swaffham Museum Gift ShopWe all hope to see you soon. Covid 19 measures are now relaxing and we hope to see you soon.