A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects

A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects commemorates the centenary of Ancient House as a museum. Community Curators have selected 100 objects from the museum's collection of over 7,000 to give a snapshot of how the collection has evolved since 1924.

Opening times, admission and location

Opening times

Visit this exhibition during our normal opening hours. Until 29 November 2025

Admission prices

This exhibition is included with the general admission price

Where we are

Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life, White Hart Street, Thetford, IP24 1AA

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About A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects exhibition

Purse, given to Master Francis Baldero Manley Sims as a young boy, by E H Barker, his grandfather Credit: Norfolk Museums Service (Ancient House)

Lace Pillow Credit: Norfolk Museums Service (Ancient House)

Examples include the death mask of Thomas Paine - possibly Thetford's most famous son - appearing alongside a humble 16th century clay cooking pot from a chalk mine on Station Road. A famous hoard of Roman silver coins discovered by a detectorist from Thetford bypass excavations in 1989. It is complemented by a hand-made nail which caught the attention of one community curator because it's bent and had a 'hard life'.

Items like wig curlers, lace bobbins and dress pins and tools like an ancient quern stone or postal scales reveal details of people's everyday personal and working lives, while the public life of the town is revealed in objects such as a poster for Town Hall entertainments (featuring a 'laughing horse' and 'the Wonderful Whistler'!) or a Coronation Medal of Edward VII.

The range of objects on display provides a snapshot of how the museum's collections have developed over the past hundred years, whether through the generous efforts of local donors like George Wild Staniforth, purchases supported by the Museum Friends and others, or in more modern times, through fundraising to acquire important items.

Happy 100th Birthday Ancient House Credit: Norfolk Museums Service (Ancient House)

The history of the collections is also a history of the museum's development, a story the exhibition also tells alongside the displays of objects - from its origins as a gift to the town from Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, its expansion through the dedication of curators and volunteers, to the major redevelopment in 2004-2006 and the vibrant community museum Ancient House is today.

A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the museum's collections and history as we look forward to the next hundred years and imagine what might enter the collections in the future.

The ten community curator groups:

Home Educators group (1920s)
Ancient House History Club (1930s)
Members of the Breckland Society (1940s)
Friends of Ancient House Museum (1950s)
Ancient House Knit and Knatter Group(1960s)
Drake Primary School (1970s)
The Pinetree School and Ancient House Art Group (1980s)
Norfolk Museums Service Teaching Museum Trainees (1990s)
Norwich Road School (2000s)
Ancient House THC Youth Group (2010s)

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This exhibition is included in general admission.

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