Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse is a truly unique museum.
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🐑 Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse
🕰️ Open every day 10am-5pm
📅 9 March -1 November 2026

🏛 Workhouse Museum & Museum of Norfolk Life, heritage farm, adventure playground, café and giftshop
🖼️ 2026 exhibition: 'Jacket Women' by Maria Pavledis Visit its 50-acre site and discover the historic workhouse, thrilling adventure playground, traditional farm with rare breed animals and beautiful, unspoilt grounds.

09/06/2026

🐖What a difference a few months can make!

The first photographs are of our Large Black gilts (young female pigs), born in November, followed by our current litter of piglets born less than a month ago. Both are equally adorable if you ask us!

The Large Black is a traditional East Anglian breed of pig known for its all-black coat and large floppy ears. The breed is a 'priority' on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watch list, meaning new litters like this are vital for the continuation of this special animal. Why not come and visit them this spring?

Rare Breeds Survival Trust East Anglia

04/06/2026

This Volunteers' Week we would like to take a moment to thank everyone who helps make our site so special. Thank you for your bringing your expertise, ingenuity and time to make Gressenhall the joy that it is.

🎉 We thought we'd also take this opportunity to announce an exciting new grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to support the creation of a new permaculture demonstration garden on the museum farm. The project is called 'Seeds of Change' and will offer a fantastic resource for teaching people about sustainable horticulture inspired by historic approaches to growing food.

Although the project won't get started until later this year, we're already on the look-out for volunteers to help develop and maintain the garden. General gardening experience would be welcome but is not essential as training will be provided. If you would be interested in taking part in this exciting new project then please contact us via our dedicated volunteering website.

https://ow.ly/7JfZ50Z7yhw

The National Lottery Community Fund Volunteers' Week

📷 Sarah Darnell

23/05/2026

The bank holiday weekend is here! We're on a countdown until Monday's event - come and join us! We're telling the stories of farmed fibres in Norfolk spotlighting our Flax & Fleece Project, and where our food comes from as part of our May Half Term programme, Food Glorious Food. Expect free face painting (first come first served), treats to buy from select local food vendors, family-friendly activities, displays and demonstrations, animals, tractor trailer rides and all that our site has to offer. It's going to be flinging fantastic!

Spring Fling
Monday 25 May
10am-4pm
A fun family event, all about farming from fibres to food, included with admission
Supported by the Costume and Textile Association
(Assistance dogs only)

22/05/2026

School's out! Thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, family members, and students themselves who made this term a joyful one on site at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse. We were so happy to welcome your groups to step into the past! The coming terms are almost fully booked, and we hope the teams who keep our local schools running all have a well-earned break before we welcome groups back from June onwards. We hope the sun shines for you all but even if it's raining, we've got you covered - there's plenty to do at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse, whatever the weather!

Join us from tomorrow for Food Glorious Food May Half Term holiday activities, running 23 - 31 May, and our special Spring Fling event on Monday 25 May.

20/05/2026

Happy World Bee Day!

We can't wait to welcome master beekeeper Venetia Rist at Spring Fling on Monday 25 May to share more with visitors about working with our pollinator pals. We also say goodbye to our Spring Watch stamper trail on Friday, and start our summer stamper trail - Busy Bees! Use the self-led trail to explore Union Farm and find all 8 stamps (and earn a Busy Bee sticker from the giftshop).

If keen to spot more than stamps when exploring our 50 acre site (and further afield at this time of year), here's what Earthwatch Europe has to say about wildlife to look out for in May:
'It's hawkmoth season! These huge insects are our most beautiful moths. The elephant hawkmoth is a stunning bright pink and lime green. The caterpillars look like an elephant's trunk, hence their name.
Hazel dormice are emerging from winter hibernation. They are agile, foraging in tree canopies and understory. At this time of year they feed on flowers including bramble, hawthorn and honeysuckle.
Blackcaps have returned for the summer to breed here in the UK. The males have a black cap on the top of their head and the females have a brown cap. These birds have a beautiful melodic song, often mistaken for a nightingale!
Look out for cow parsley blooming along verges. It is a member of the carrot family and the first of similar flowers in that group to bloom in spring. Pollinators such as hoverflies and bees love them.'

19/05/2026

Step into nature at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse with Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

Visitors can discover the power of Forest Bathing through a taster session in the beautiful Centenary Wood during the 2026 open season on site. 11am sessions are led by Norfolk and Waveney Mind, included with admission, and last approximately 45min. Anyone over 16 is welcome to claim a spot (12 spaces available per taster session - first come, first served). As a small group, you will be guided on a slow, immersive walk punctuated with simple, sensory activities such as observing, smelling, and touching the natural world around us. Mats and chairs are provided (please note that the site welcomes assistance dogs only, and is a no smoking location).

Upcoming dates:
Spring Fling event (Monday 25 May)
Fathers Day (Sunday 21 June)
Summer Holidays (Saturday 18 July; Wednesday 5 August; Tuesday 18 August)
Heritage Open Day (Sunday 13 September)
Apple Day (Sunday 4 October)

For more information, email: [email protected]

Thanks to Norfolk Community Foundation for the support in making this project possible.

18/05/2026

Norfolk Creativity and Wellbeing Week
18 - 24 May 2026

This Norfolk Creativity and Wellbeing Week, explore the 2026 exhibition and the lives of single mothers who lived in the workhouse from the 1830s to late 1860s. The Jacket Women: Single Mothers of the Workhouse features prints by Norfolk-based artist Maria Pavledis, together with objects representing the lives of women and children at what is now Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse. This small but mighty exhibition is included with admission, and runs until 1 November 2026.

Creativity and Wellbeing Week is a national festival celebrating the power of creativity and culture to improve our health and wellbeing. The festival is a partnership between London Arts and Health Forum and the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance.

16/05/2026

We’re not saying that attending our Spring Fling event will solve ALL of your problems…but it might help 😉

Enjoy a family-friendly event on Monday 25 May at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse included with general admission, all about farming - from fibres to food. See more information and book your tickets via our website.

SPRING FLING! 🐝🌼🐏🐥💛

15/05/2026

Have a sneak peek behind the scenes at a letterpress workshop run by Maria Pavledis recently at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse!

Maria is the artist behind the 2026 exhibition 'The Jacket Women: single mothers of the workhouse', and as part of the creative engagement of this project, is running various workshops with communities in Norfolk throughout our open season - both onsite, and elsewhere! Keep a look out for any creative events happening near you.

Address

Gressenhall
Dereham
NR204DR

Telephone

+441362860563

Website

https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/gressenhall-farm-and-workhouse/plan-your-visit/contact-us

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