A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects

A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects celebrates the museum's fascinating and eclectic collection - from a 100,000-year-old hand axe to a 1990s Skid Lid bike helmet, and anything and everything in between!

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)

Kickstarting a year of celebrations as the museum marks the centenary of its opening on 11 December 1924, this engaging exhibition has been curated by local school and community groups, working with the museum's curators.

Each group has chosen ten items which came into the museum collection during each decade the museum has been open, from the 1920s to the 2020s. Delving into the museum archives, the community curators researched hundreds of objects to come up with their final shortlists to go on display.

Their intriguing and unusual selections include Thomas Paine's death mask, a famous hoard of Roman silver coins, personal items such as wig curlers and dress pins and objects from people's working lives across the centuries like an ancient quern stone and a set of postal scales. The public life of the town is revealed in items such as a poster for Town Hall entertainments (featuring a 'laughing horse' no less!) and a Coronation Medal of Edward VII.

Uniting this huge range of objects is the sense that they are all, in their own way, 'treasure'.

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

The exhibition also tells the fascinating story of Ancient House's origins as a museum and its development over the past century into the much-loved community hub it is today.

Enjoy a fun visit finding out the stories behind the choice of objects and join in the celebrations as our 100th birthday year begins!

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This exhibition is included in general admission.

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