A medieval house, a prison 1583-1828, then a shoe factory. It opened in the 1920's as the Museum of the Trades & Industries of Norwich, the first such museum in the country. It had an important collection well displayed of all the diverse industries in Norwich.  Sadly a recent major re-display, to create a Museum of Norwich, has removed many objects from public view. Some major industries of Norwich are now no longer covered by the displays, for others just a few token objects can be seen.  The tools of the trade are often absent, whilst colourful displays give a somewhat distorted impression of the products of what was a major industrial city full of innovative entrepreneurs.

Bridewell Alley, Norwich - Norfolk Joint Museums Service (01603-667228)

St Nicholas's Ironworks was the home of Burrells, the traction engine builders. It houses an collection of engines, as well as patterns and other items used in the works.

Minstergate, Thetford

Telephone 01842-751166 for opening details.

Museum does not have its own website.

Housed North of Norwich Airport, a large collection of aircraft including a Vulcan Bomber. Also many exhibits in the museum buildings/

Denver MillDenver Windmill was built in 1835 and continued to grind corn using windpower for over one hundred years. The windmill stopped work in 1941 when the sails were struck by lightning.

It was restored to full working order with new facilities for visitors to enjoy. Once again flour is being milled using the power of the wind.

Sadly recent damage to the sails has brought about temporary closure.  See windmills link for opening details.

Diss Museum is housed in the historic Shambles building on Diss Market place.  A small but perfectly-formed museum, it hosts changing exhibitions about Diss and nearby villages, packed with local interest

Has a good collection on local industries, including brush making and weaving matting.

Fakenham museum of Gas and Local History has the last surviving small town gasworks in England, dating from 1846. Good collection of associated equipment, including early gas cookers and other domestic equipment. Also gas measuring and testing equipment.

In addition it displays material relating to local history. A fascinating museum, run by volunteers and with free admission (but donations requested). Allow at least 2 hours for your visit.

Hempton, Fakenham (01328-863150)

The museum where the static steam engines that used to power so many aspects of our lives are treasured and brought back to working life by steam rather than compressed air. Highlights include two great engines that raised Tower Bridge and powered the pumps providing water for Dover.

See site for opening times

Neolithic flint mines, comprising over 300 pits and shafts. Visitors can descend one excavated shaft. Flint-knapping sometimes demonstrated.

Perhaps our oldest industrial site, but well worth visiting.

7 miles northwest of Thetford

English Heritage, now open only in summer.

Important early 19th Century water powered sawmill, for the Gunton Estate. Thatched building with water wheels and saw frame. Shown on open days as a working exhibit. Additional displays.  Usually open last Sunday of Month, May to September - 2pm to 4pm

Former workhouse now a large Museum of rural industries etc. Large and extensive displays, including steam engines, farm machinery,  tradesmans workshops, bygone shops, traditional country cottages and a large costume collection. Georgian workhouse trail. There is also a working farm complete with horses and rare Norfolk breeds.

Open: April to October

Just off B1145, 3 miles northwest of East Dereham - Norfolk Joint Museums Service (01362-860563)

In the attractive village of Letheringsett is a fully functional water powered Flour Mill generally accepted to the only producing one in Norfolk. One can visit this outstanding part of working Norfolk History.  The Norfolk red brick Mill was built in 1802 on a Doomsday site.

The village of Letheringsett has other industrial buildings including a large maltings and brewery remains, including a rare tun room, which have recently been converted into housing.

NIAS has published a book on the industrial history of the village, usually available to purchase from the Mill.

This heritage railway takes passengers on an eleven mile trip through unspoilt Norfolk countryside, passing well-preserved signal boxes and pretty village stations. Mid Norfolk Railway runs heritage diesel trains and there are regular visits from guest steam trains. Dereham station is a fine example of a mid-Victorian station and has been restored to the 1950s period

Named after Muckleburgh Hill at the foot of which the military camp is situated, the Muckleburgh collection is the UK's largest privately owned military museum. The site was an important army camp in both World Wars due to invasion fears as there is deep water just off the beach.

The museum collection has grown to over 120 vehicles, tanks and guns with a back-up of 2,500 other exhibits. Many of the Collection's vehicles have undergone complete restoration in the workshops as conservation is a very important factor in the work of the Museum.

 Situated at historic Stalham Staithe the Museum of the Broads gives you a fabulous insight into the history, landscape, people, industry, wildlife and of course the boats of the Broads. The stories are told via interactive displays and there is always something new to see. There is plenty to keep the children occupied and they even have a playboat. Falcon their Victorian Steam launch gives visitors a unique way to see the Broads first hand. Open March - October. Check out their website for prices, opening times and Falcon running. www.museumofthebroads.org.uk

Also on display are tools from the traditional Broads industries, thatching, sail and rope making, eel catching, reed cutting, boat building, mill wrighting. Among the craft are a period river commissioners launch, the Steam launch "Falcon", the only concrete dinghy ever constructed and many other craft, Old outboard and inboard engines, gun punts complete with mighty guns and an ice yacht.

A preservation steam line, running steam on a 10.5 mile round trip by steam train (vintage diesel trains on some journeys) through a delightful area of North Norfolk designated as being of outstanding natural beauty. You can break your journey to look around the stations and displays. Links the towns of Sherringham and Holt.

The museum, which is located on the site of the world’s longest continuously operating radar site, provides a unique window into the history of radar and is a great day out in Norfolk, for all the family. The museum is located at Neatishead, close to Horning and the Broads. The museum has twenty exhibition rooms and as part of the visit offers a free guided tour with presentations on the Battle of Britain, Development of Radar through World War Two and the Cold War.

A large private museum of steam. with 26 steam engines, traction engines, fairground engines, road rollers etc. A 100-ton working Beam Engine, Narrow Gauge Railway, 1930's Fairground Ark, Mechanical Organs and Memorabilia. A tractor collection, and many similar items/

Renowned annual rally.

We are a small, independent social history museum for Swaffham and the surrounding villages.

Covers the local industries well.

A Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, housed in a converted Victorian herring curing works, and still with the smell of the smokehouse. This museum covers Great Yarmouth's fascinating history, its rich maritime and fishing heritage and some of the colourful characters who made their living from the sea. It also covers the development of the holiday industry.  Frequent special exhibitions.  An excellent value café

True’s Yard Museum is a social history Museum in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. It is an independent Museum run almost entirely by volunteers and depicts the story of the old North End fishing quarter of King’s Lynn.

A number of watermills and windmills in Norfolk are preserved, and some are open to the public. Many are owned by the Norfolk Windmills Trust, which has also provided financial assistance for some privately owned mills.

Many of the Mills are open for National Mills Day. Some mills are open on a regular basis.

Gunton Mill is opened by Volunteers on the last Sunday of  May to September.

This site gives the location and other details of a number of mills.

The longest 10¼" narrow gauge steam railway in the world and see the unique Garrett locomotive "Norfolk Hero" which was especially built for this line. Runs from end March to End October

This excellent local museum housed in the former bridewell prison is especially strong in its display on the local brush-making industry. Many other local industries are also covered. Extensive collections.

An excellent tea room. Run by volunteers, a short distance from the town centre.