As we accelerate towards spring, the pace picks up at Wymondham Heritage Museum. The museum opens for the new season on Monday March 10th, then daily until Saturday November 2nd. Last year, almost 3000 visitors came to the Bridewell to discover the history of the town and its people. Plans are in place to provide an even better visitor experience in 2025.
The popular Masters of the Air display featuring “The Friendly Invasion” (this was when Americans came to the town for their social lives’ benefit) is to be expanded with new material added.
The war will be a feature of the museum’s new season. A 1940’s weekend is planned including wartime activities, information, crafts, authentic food and costumed characters.
Later in the year, the museum will commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day. The exhibition will include a tapestry made in 1984 by Robert Kett Middle School pupils aged 11 and 12, inspired by the Portsmouth D-Day Museum’s Operation Overlord Tapestry.
VJ Day will commemorate the Far East Prisoners of War and include special stories, photos and memorabilia of a Wymondham Royal Marine, who was taken prisoner by the Japanese at Christmas 1941 and not released until September 1945.
Among the regular events will be Mother’s and Father’s Day trails, the Easter trail with crafts and activities, and of course the spooky Halloween trail.
Last year’s Christmas Past event, where more than 50 children came to The Bridewell to see Father Christmas, proved a resounding success. So, although Christmas may be a long way off, plans are already afoot to stage an extra special event to celebrate this year’s festive season.
Would you like to be involved and help the museum? Currently, more than 100 volunteers are working as stewards and helping in the Tearoom. Stewards open the museum or close it at the end of the day, depending on their shift. They welcome visitors, take admission payments, answer questions, sell shop items and generally be available to help visitors. You can volunteer for just three hours per month, or more if you can do an extra duty.
Over in the Tearoom, volunteers welcome visitors, serving them with drinks and light refreshments. The hardest part of the role is not giving in to the temptation of all the delicious homemade cakes and scones! Again, you can volunteer for three hours per month or more if you can spare the time.
Full training is given for both roles. To volunteer as a steward, email volunteers@thewhm.org.uk. For the Tearoom, it’s tearoom@thewhm.org.uk. For more information about the museum and the events, go to thewhm.org.uk.
