Business Details
Swaffham Museum: Your Local History Hub in Norfolk
Swaffham Museum is a small independent social history museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich heritage of Swaffham and its surrounding villages in Norfolk. Established to document local history from the Stone Age to the modern era, we house five specialized galleries including the Carter Centenary Gallery, which explores Howard Carter's connection to Swaffham and his discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.Our volunteer-run institution offers educational programs, archive research facilities, and community engagement initiatives, supported by a registered charity. We provide accessible visitor experiences with free entry periods and collaborate with local organizations to enhance historical understanding through exhibitions, guided walks, and special events.
Services
Carter Centenary Gallery
Conflict & Consequences Gallery
Archaeology Exhibits
Educational Programs
Archive Research
Group Visits
Museum Shop
Visitor Information
Local History Walks
WWII Exhibits
Highlights and features
- We offer free entry during specific periods to ensure accessibility for all visitors
- Our volunteer team includes local history experts with decades of combined experience
- We provide unique educational programs aligned with national curriculum requirements
- Our Carter Centenary Gallery features exclusive artefacts on loan from the British Museum
- We offer personalized archive research services by appointment
What people say
Friendly knowledgeable staff
Interesting exhibition
Enjoyable visit
Well-maintained museum
Excellent historical insights
Services
Carter Centenary Gallery
Explore Howard Carter's Swaffham connections and his discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. This gallery features authentic Egyptian artefacts on loan from the British Museum, interactive displays, and original diary recordings. Ideal for history enthusiasts and educational groups seeking insights into archaeology and ancient civilizations.
Conflict & Consequences Gallery
Discover Swaffham's wartime experiences from the English Civil War to WWII and modern conflicts. The gallery includes personal testimonies, historical artefacts, and a special exhibition on local WWII prisoners of war. Perfect for visitors interested in military history and community resilience.
Educational Programs
We offer curriculum-linked educational sessions for primary and secondary students. Our programs cover local history, archaeology, and wartime studies with hands-on activities and guided gallery exploration. Designed to enhance classroom learning through immersive historical experiences.
Archive Research
Access our extensive local history archives by appointment. Researchers can explore maps, newspaper clippings, photographs, and documents dating back centuries. Our volunteer archivists provide assistance for family history research and academic projects.
Group Visits
Book guided group visits with specialized talks on Swaffham's history, architecture, and notable residents. We accommodate coach parties and offer themed tours focusing on different historical periods and local figures.
Questions
What are Swaffham Museum's opening hours?
We're open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-1pm. Closed Sundays and Christmas/New Year bank holidays.
Is there an admission charge?
Entry is free from February 15 to March 31. Donations are welcome to support our volunteer-run museum.
What special exhibitions are currently available?
Our Carter Centenary Gallery showcases Howard Carter's Swaffham connections, while the Conflict & Consequences Gallery explores wartime history.
Can I access archive materials?
Yes, by appointment. Our archives include maps, photographs, and documents for historical research and family history.
Are group visits available?
Yes, we offer guided group visits with specialized talks on local history and themed exhibitions.
How accessible is the museum?
Ground floor galleries are fully accessible. First floor access limited due to historic building constraints.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Alex Begg
Nov 02, 2020
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Interesting and well put together interpretation of local social history. Exceptional value for 3. We would go again.
Margaret Evans
Sep 19, 2020
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Small but lots packed in. We all found it interesting and the children particularly enjoyed viewing the Egyptian artifacts.
Stephen Clutton
Dec 28, 2019
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Brilliant little museum with friendly knowledgeable staff. Exhibition on Howard Carter who discovered Tutankhamen's tomb was particularly interesting and enjoyable
Jacqui Clutton
Oct 20, 2019
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This museum is a little gem with an eclectic range of artefacts related to the local area as well as an Egyptian room dedicated to one time resident Howard Carter. Organised into themed rooms there are photographs, exhibits as well as hands on pieces for children and the young at heart to get stuck into. The museum staff are great, really enthusiastic and clearly work closely with the local community both with schools who visit to do workshops and with adults who are asked to contribute their memories to help expand information about the town. Our 8 and 10 year olds really engaged with the activities
Debbie Stemp
Aug 02, 2019
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Quaint museum, lots of information , very friendly and informed staff, veronica and Helen are the 1st you see and very pleasant and knowledgeable.
Thomas Boatright
Aug 19, 2018
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It's been a while since I have been here, but the woman that was running it back then had a section of military buttons and insignia that she personally found with a metal detector. She was very nice and loved to share about everything in the museum. Definitely worth the stop if you are spending some time in Swaffham.
Paul Lucas
Jan 09, 2018
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Small town museum,also housing Tourist Information Centre. Also sells collectibles,second hand books and other momentos of museum. Has specialised collection of Howard Carter and Egyptology .
