Arrive when the Smithy or any of our huge engines are at work and you could easily think you are in the industrial heart of England. East Anglian firms such as Garretts, Burrells, Boby, Smyth and Fison are represented in evocative displays. These firms made a wide range of products to support agriculture; including agricultural machinery, malting equipment, bricks and fertiliser. Burrells and Garretts are so important they have their own museums; visit Thetford’s Burrell Museum or Leiston Long Shop Museum to discover even more about their inspiring stories.
 
A special highlight of our museum is the impressive 210 year history of Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries Engineering Company. The New William Bone Building sets out the story of this world-class leader and displays its varied production, from early lawnmowers to massive steam engines. There is also a special children’s quiz to ensure there is something for all ages to enjoy.

Individual craft workshops in the Boby building are displayed as if their owners are about to return and occasional live demonstrations are always very popular. The recreated bioscope cinema on the upper floor of the Boby building regularly plays videos showing workers explaining their craft. These videos and others from the East Anglian Film Archive, are some of the most popular items on sale in the museum shop.

For the steam and engineering enthusiast, the museum’s range of five working engines is impressive. ‘The Empress of Britain’ 1912 Burrell steam traction engine has just been fully refurbished by local experts and volunteers. A Whitmore & Binyon single-cylinder horizontal steam engine, the oldest matched pair of steam ploughing engines, and a pair of Walsh & Clark paraffin steam engines complete the line-up. At least one steam engine will be working every second Sunday in the month during the season.

Now  these engines are housed in the historic Mortlock Buiding.  Read about it here.

We also have a wonderful collection of Samplers.  Click here to find out about them.