Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life
Located just north of East Dereham in central Norfolk the Gressenhall Rural Life Museum is located in an old workhouse or 'House of Industry' as they were called.
A Norfolk Museums site, it owes its existence and much of its structure and collections to Bridget Yates the first Curator here, against much lack of interest and minimal funding Bridget fought hard and succeeded in making this one of the areas most interesting 'official' museums.
With old farm machinery and tools, reconstructed shops of all types, a blacksmith and wheelwrights where there are occasional live demonstrations, a chapel and typical farm workers cottage, the museum hosts live seasonal events, It also has a working farm home to several rare breeds.
It also houses some stationary steam engines.
Oldest is the only other known steaming Riches and Watts, this being a single cylinder horizontal of around 10" bore x 18" stroke, works number 159 of 1872, which worked in the Bishop Bridge Gas Works and fortunately survived into preservation and can be run under steam.
Of similar size is a Marshall MP class horizontal single cylinder of around 30 HP- do not be fooled by the 'Bradford' nameplate, it worked in a Norwich laundry and Bradford were suppliers of laundry equipment who 're badged' engines. This is also steamed occasionally.
An E R & F Turner horizontal single cylinder 'John Bull' engine of about 6" bore x 10" stroke which once powered the laundry at Pulham Market workhouse is on display
A Dodman - Hindley enclosed vertical engine direct coupled to a generator is on display but not currently steaming - this engine once provided standby power in a Wisbeach waterworks.
A tiny Tidman Horizontal single cylinder engine mounted on a cart with vertical boiler completes the steam collection, this was probably built for fairground use.
There are a number of Infernal combustion engines, some of which can be run.
Telephone 01362 860563