Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum
Volunteer-run museum in a row of thatched, timber-framed cottages, the oldest domestic buildings in Dereham, Norfolk.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Bishop Bonner's Cottages are a row of three thatched, timber-framed cottages in the centre of Dereham, close to St Nicholas's Church and St Withburga's Well. They are the oldest surviving domestic buildings in the town, and the front is decorated with pargeting, a moulded plasterwork. The row came through the great fire of 1679 and the Zeppelin raid of 1915.
The building belongs to the town council, which leases it to Dereham Heritage Trust. The Trust began in 1953 as the Dereham Antiquarian and Archaeological Society and has used the cottages for museum displays since 1963. Volunteers refresh the displays every year.
The permanent displays look at Dereham as an ancient market town, at the industries the town has lost and at the history of its oldest cottages. A new display for 2026 covers sport in Dereham. The Trust also publishes short guides to the cottages and to other historic buildings in the town, and it offers sessions for schools and youth groups.
Highlights
- Thatched, timber-framed cottages with a pargeted front, the oldest domestic buildings in Dereham
- Displays on Dereham as an ancient market town
- Exhibition on the town's lost industries
- History of Dereham's oldest cottages
- New 2026 display on sport in Dereham
Permanent exhibitions
- Dereham – An Ancient Market Town – A display on the long history of Dereham as a market town.
- Dereham's Lost Industries – An exhibition about trades and industries that once operated in the town and have since disappeared.
- A History of Dereham's Oldest Cottages – The story of the thatched cottages that house the museum and of other early buildings in the town.
- Founded
- 1963
- Operated by
- Dereham Heritage Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 16 · Children aged 0 to 16 enter free; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Wheelchair users are admitted free of charge to the two ground-floor rooms. |
| Groups | £3 per personGroup visits cost £3 per adult and must be booked in advance; up to 15 visitors at a time. |
| Guided group tour with souvenir guidebook (per adult) | £6Groups only, by advance booking |
Members of Dereham Heritage Trust enter free. Prices may differ on event days and for some activities.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The ground floor has two rooms with level access. The first floor is difficult to reach because of narrow, steep, winding stairs and uneven floors. Groups are asked to tell the museum in advance about any access needs.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 16 |
|---|
Children under 16 enter free with an adult. School and youth group sessions with object handling and creative activities are available by booking.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in St Withburga Lane, close to St Nicholas's Church and St Withburga's Well in the centre of Dereham.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The Trust sells short guides to the cottages and other Dereham buildings; the museum page does not describe a shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided group tours cover the history of the cottages. Schools can book self-guided or guided visits with hands-on activities, from Early Years to Key Stage 5, Monday to Thursday from May to October, from £20; the museum is closed to the public during school visits. Up to 15 people can be in the cottages at a time, and larger groups can be split with a visit to nearby St Nicholas's Church. |
