The Museum of the Broads, Stalham, Norfolk

One of the things Norfolk is most famous for is the Broads. This National Park covers more than 125 miles of navigable lock-free waterways, situated in the lovely countryside between Norfolk and Suffolk. The waterways were originally formed from peat workings but came to be an important part of Norfolk culture and transportation and are now a mainstay for leisure boating in the area.

The Museum of the Broads

The Museum of the Broads is a collection of boats, artefacts and documents that tell the history of the region and explain how the people lived and thrived on the waterways. We visited on a lovely summers day with scorching weather. The dogs were welcome too, and along with the children we spent a pleasant few hours looking around.

The Museum has four buildings: the Barton Building, the Surlingham Building, Wroxham Building and the Oulton Boat Shed. Outside, in Friends’ Way, are more Broads boats, and the steam launch, Falcon, is moored at quayside.

There is such a lot to see and do.

What We Saw

As we walked between the buildings there seemed to be something for everyone. There was a fully restored Indian Chief motorcycle (a la ‘World’s Fastest Indian’, the film starring Anthony Hopkins).

The fastest yacht on the broads during the 1800’s, ‘The Maria’, that was never defeated in a race. And also, a fascinating ‘Broads during WW2’ exhibition. There were so many boats a, skiffs and engine parts it was difficult to take it all in.

We were helped by large number of volunteers around the museum who show visitors around and answer questions. We even saw the evolution of boat toilets exhibit …

… Toby followed the instructions and learned some new knots …

… and there was even a special personal paddle bike that was used to make deliveries to houses on the Broads.

The Boat Trip

A big draw to the Museum is the fully working impressive steam launch Falcon.

We had a lovely trip along some the Broads and were able to see some otters, swans, grebes and waterfowl. The kids and the dogs loved the boat trip. It was incredibly hot though, and we got the occasional spit of boiling water from the boiler!

I was a mite worried that the steam engine wouldn’t make it around the route but for an antique built in the 1800’s it performed admirably and probably will for another couple of hundred years. The power and mystique of steam. I have been on steam trains before but never a steam launch. It was fabulous.

At the end of the tour there is a gift shop and a small café selling cold drinks (thank goodness as it was very hot). If you are interested in the general history of the area this museum gives a real flavour of what it was like to live on the Broads through the generations.