Ancient House
With a National Art Pass you get
Charting the rich history of the town of Thetford, this East Anglian Tudor townhouse is both a museum and beautifully preserved time capsule.
A fine example of an early Tudor townhouse in East Anglia, the charming black and white cottage of Ancient House was opened as a museum in 1924, following the support of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh who lived in the village of Thetford.
Now a principal Thetford-attraction, the museum is home to a various spaces and collections that chart the local history of the town and surrounding area. The Collector's Room is packed to the rafters with troves of treasure and retains many of its quirky features that give an insight into how it could have been used in the past, including an original slanting window.
There is also an authentic 1901 kitchen displaying life as it would have been at Ancient House at the turn of the century, and the Householder's Room examines the life of four former Ancient House residents: an innkeeper, a plumber, a watchmaker and a museum caretaker.
The collection includes objects exploring Thetford's rich history, from the Celtics, Romans and Vikings, all the way up to the 1960s.
Why you should go
Grade II listed Tudor townhouse
The 1901 Kitchen display
Archeology and memorabilia relating to Thetford’s history
Visitor information
Address
Ancient House, White Hart Street, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1AA
01842 752599
Opening times
April – September
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
October – March
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
Closed Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.