The area is well served by local museums in each of the main towns. The districts heritage is also celebrated by the Sailors Reading Room overlooking the sea in Southwold and Flint house in Lowestoft. Flint House is a heritage workshop centre and offers an insight into the local history and the people who created Lowestoft.
Town Museums:
Beccles & District Museum
Leman House
Ballygate
Beccles
NR34 9ND
Tel: 01502 715722
Info: Local history museum housed in a 16th century Grade 1 listed building, specialising in local history, local trades and Victoriana, including a large scale model of Beccles in 1841. There is a gift shop and disabled access to all parts including the toilets. Opening times: Tue-Sun, April-October, 2.30-5pm plus BH Mondays.
Bungay Castle Visitor Centre
Tel: 01986 896156
Bungay Museum
Tel: 01986 893276
Halesworth and District Museum
The Railway Station
Station Road, Halesworth IP19 8BZ
Tel: 01986 875351
Web: www.halesworth.blythweb.co.uk
Info: In the town's station building and alongside unique movable platforms, the museum has geological and archaeological evidence of the area's local history. Information about the railway and important residents including de Argentein, Sir Benjamin Durban, Sir William Hooker and his son Joseph, the first two directors of Kew Gardens.
Lowestoft Museum
Broad House, Nicholas Everitt Park
Oulton Broad, Lowestoft NR33 9JR
Tel: 01502 511457
Info: One of the world's largest collection of Lowestoft porcelain, all the area's local history and archaeology - costume, trade and industry, domestic bygones, Lowestoft at War, civic regalia, fishing, agriculture, stone and bronze ages and a two foot ammonite 160 million years old. Free admission, free guide, groups welcome.
The Southwold Museum
Tel: 01502 726097 (Curator)
Specialist museums:
The Amber Museum
15 Market Place
Southwold IP18 6EA
Tel: 01502 723394
E-mail: sales@ambershop.co.uk
Web: www.ambershop.co.uk
Info: The only purpose built museum dedicated to the story and history of amber has been created by the amber shop at Southwold-Great Britain's largest and oldest amber retailer. Admission Free. Open Sundays - please check times. No visitor to East-Anglia should miss this attraction.
East Anglia Transport Museum
Chapel Road, Carlton Colville,
Lowestoft NR33 8BL
Tel: 01502 518459
Info: A working transport museum reviving memories of the past, where visitors can ride on trams, trolleybusses and narrow gauge trains. Many other types of historic vehicle - steam, electric and petrol - are on show. Cafe; souvenir shop; picnic areas; free carpark.
Heritage Workshop Centre
The Old Schoolhouse
Wilde's Score
80a High Street
Lowestoft
E-mail: ics1@btinternet.com
Info: Situated in the most historic part of Lowestoft. Offers visitors an insight into the local heritage and the people who created Lowestoft.
Lowestoft Maritime Museum
Sparrows Nest Gardens
Whapload Road
Lowestoft
NR32 1XG
Tel: 01502 561963
Info: Tells the story of the Lowestoft fishing fleets from rail to steam and diesel. Models of fishing and commercial ships old and new. Shipwrights tools, fishing gear, lifeboat display, picture gallery, steam drifter cabin and lots more.
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
The Street
Flixton
Bungay
Suffolk
NR35 1NZ
Tel: 01986 896644
E-mail: nsam.flixton@virgin.net or lcurtis@aviationmuseum.net
Web: www.aviationmuseum.net
Info: East Anglias Aviation Heritage Centre incorporating RAF Bomber Command, 446th Bomb Group, Royal Observer Corps and Air Sea Rescue Museums. Over 30 historic air craft, indoor exhibitions both civil and military from the pioneer years, through World War 1 to the present day. Admission free. Refreshment shop. Free parking.
Royal Naval Patrol Service Association Museum
Tel: 01502 564344/586250
Web: www.rnps.lowestoft.org.uk
Sailors Reading Room, Southwold
East Cliff Southwold
Info: A building of character where retired seamen have a social club and reading room. There are maritime exhibits and local history.
Heritage Vessels
The following are moored in Lowestoft or Southwold for all or part of the year:
The 'Excelsior' - Lowestoft
Tel: 01502 585302
The 'Lydia Eva' - Lowestoft
Tel: 01502 565234
Info: The world's last steam drifter
The 'Mincarlo' - Lowestoft
Tel: 01502 565234
Info: The last Lowestoft-built side-fishing
trawler
The 'Alfred Corry' - Southwold
Tel: 01502 722103
Additional Resources
A Book For All Reasons
Web: www.abfar.co.uk
Info: Collectible and out-of-print books
on various subjects including the Royal Naval Patrol Service and local
history.
Record Office
Lowestoft Record Office
Central Library, Clapham Road,
Suffolk NR32 1DR
Tel: 01502 405357
E-mail: lowestoft.ro@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Web: www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/sro
Based in Lowestoft, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, the Suffolk Record Office, holds an amazing range of information about the history of Suffolk and its people. Lowestoft Record Office specialises in material reflecting life in the Waveney District, including its towns Lowestoft, Southwold, Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth and the surrounding villages. Some documents go back to the 12th century, but not everything is old. You'll find items from recent times relating to individuals and a wide range of organisations, such as local authorities, churches, chapels, estates, schools, hospitals, businesses, families, clubs and societies. These are all preserved, from parchments to CD-ROMS - and they are kept safe for when you want to see them. Whatever you want to discover about Suffolk, your family or property history, the Lowestoft Record Office will be able to get you under way to help you further your research.
