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Time and Tide; A museum of Great Yarmouth life, was opened on the 14 July 2004, and has seen many visitors pass through its doors, so we decided to take a look for ourselves to see if it was worth spending your hard earned cash on. . . . . |
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Situated within the old Tower Curing Works on Blackfriars Road, which has been completely restored and refurbished to house this unique (for Great Yarmouth) attraction, it tells the story of Great Yarmouth; from its beginnings to the twentieth century.
Tickets cost £5.45 for Adults, £4.90 for Concessions, and £3.50 for children with various other discount rates for groups available. The museum is open daily 10am - 5pm until 31 October 2004, and then times change from 1 Nov - 31 March 2005 see the Norfolk Museum website for details. We would suggest that unless you want to rush through the exhibits or come back another time (which you can do so for half price if you keep your receipt!), then you will definately have to enter at 10am as we only just managed to get through eveything in 6 hours! |
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After being given your handset at reception and using the first exhibit (about the Coopers) next to the desk to learn how to use it, you start to wander through the museum to the first major area, an Old Yarmouth Row. By keying in the numbers that appear in the windows of the houses on your handset, you can hear all about the everyday folk that used to live in such buildings.
TIP: If you pick up one of the booklets in the previous room, you can also find out more about the items in each of the Row Houses. Traversing back down 'the row' and out through the curved sliding doors, you come to the main courtyard area, with a few pieces of play equipment for the little-ones, and the 'Silver-Darlings' cafe. |
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Entering the main works building through the doors in the corner of the courtyard, you come to the main exhibits explaining all about Great Yarmouth's fishing industry and how the Tower Curing works functioned.
There are many information boards to read through, and short video clips to watch . . . |
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Off the main exhibition space, adjacent to the recreation of a trawler cabin with its video wall which looks very much like a 3d computer game (perhaps it would have been a good idea if it actually was!), are the main full-height smoke rooms.
This is where the herring used to be hung up to be 'smoked'. In one of these rooms are some stencils for children and adults alike to colour in. (Although at the time of our visit the crayons where blunt and too thick to fit through the small areas of the metal stencils. Perhaps brass-rubbing equipment might have been more advantageous)
Once finised downstairs, it is onwards and upwards to the first floor (a lift is available), where artefacts from archaeological digs in and around Great Yarmouth are displayed, as well as the story of the bands of men who used to save lives from ships in distress off the Yarmouth coast. |
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The next (small) area of the museum is dedicated to the development of the tourist industry (which sounds extremely like the history of Great Yarmouth as can be read on this website!)
In the room beyond are exhibts of items which have been brought back from lands afar by ancient mariners, and items which they used to make in their spare time. Great Yarmouth during the war years is the next area encountered, which explains how the town was the first to be bombed via the 'Zeppelins' In the last section of the museum, some of the towns major employers are talked about, along with the 1953 floods (we think this section could have been twice the size!), and famous people of Great Yarmouth. | |
Our Verdict? | |
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This museum is what Great Yarmouth has been waiting for, for a very long time, as other towns within the British Isles have had such attractions for almost 15 years. However, this could have been even better with some animatronics and more interactive displays, as most of the attraction is in the usual museum style of reading facts off large information boards. Sure the audio handset helps by relieving the eyes every now and again, but we would say that this place is not very 'kid' friendly.
But is it worth visiting? The answer to this is most definately YES! With lots to listen to, and plenty of things to look at, it is definately worth its weight in the admission price.
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The Facts | |
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Addresss: Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3BX. Just follow the brown (and yellow AA) signs. Car Parking is free Telephone: 01493 743930 Website: Norfolk Museum website |
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