Aldeburgh Museum

About the museum

Aldeburgh Museum was founded in 1912 by the Aldeburgh Literary Society, which took a single room behind a shop on the High Street. The first collection included a mammoth tusk, stuffed birds, books about the poet George Crabbe and archaeological material. In 1915 it was greatly enlarged with finds from the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Snape.

During the Second World War the collection was packed away in the council offices. In 1955 the town council re-established the museum in a ground-floor room of the Moot Hall, a timber-framed 16th century building that has been used for local government since Tudor times. A charitable trust was set up in 1973 and in 2016 became a charitable incorporated organisation, the Aldeburgh Museum Charitable Trust.

With National Lottery Heritage Fund support the museum has recently been redeveloped over two floors of the Moot Hall, with a clearer story, better lighting and labelling, hands-on displays and digital media. The displays cover early history, the town, local people, life at sea, the town as a resort and its links with the arts. About 50 volunteers help to run it.

Highlights

• Grade I listed Tudor Moot Hall as both building and exhibit
• Finds from the Snape Anglo-Saxon ship burial
• Displays on fishing, shipbuilding and life at sea
• Seaside resort and arts history of Aldeburgh
• Hands-on displays and a handling collection

Permanent exhibition

• Aldeburgh Museum permanent displays – Displays on early history, the town, Aldeburgh people, life at sea, the resort and the arts, across two floors of the Moot Hall.

Founded

1912

Operated by

Aldeburgh Museum Charitable Trust

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought on arrival and no booking is needed. A ticket gives unlimited visits for 12 months, but does not cover special events. Card payments are accepted and admission is eligible for Gift Aid.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Moot Hall is a Grade I listed building with exhibits on two floors; the main entrance is on the first floor and the exit on the ground floor. The museum says it is not wheelchair accessible, but small wheelchairs may be able to use the ground-floor room, so visitors should tell the museum their needs in advance. Visitors who cannot climb stairs can see the ground-floor room and its exhibits. There is a handling collection with items to touch, subtitles on spoken-word films, and assistance dogs are welcome. Visitors with a learning disability, dementia or autism can ask for an experienced member of staff; tablet support and sensory resources are planned.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children can dress up as a mini mayor and try games, challenges and trails. A Discovery Trail is available from the museum desk and Discovery Bags can be borrowed for younger children. Workshops and special activities run in school holidays and half-terms.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Moot Hall on the beachfront in Aldeburgh.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells items about Aldeburgh, also online for UK orders.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit