Fakenham Gasworks Museum
Free volunteer-run museum in the preserved Fakenham gasworks with gas-making equipment, appliances and local history; open Thursday to Saturday mornings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fakenham Gasworks Museum is based in the former town gasworks on Hempton Road, which produced gas from coal from 1846 until 1965. Production ended when North Sea natural gas arrived. The site is a Scheduled Monument.
The Norfolk Industrial Archaeological Society and the Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust leased the works and converted it into a museum, which was opened by the Duke of Gloucester in 1987. It is run entirely by volunteers under the Fakenham Town Gas Works Museum Trust, which also welcomes donations and new volunteers through its Friends support group.
Visitors can see the equipment used to make gas, including retorts, condenser, washers, purifiers, meter and gasholder, as well as gas street lamps and a collection of domestic lighting, heating and cooking appliances such as cookers, water heaters, stoves, fires and gas meters. Changing displays use material from the Fakenham Community Archive, and the site also hosts displays on the town's printing heritage.
Highlights
- Preserved Victorian town gasworks, a Scheduled Monument
- Retorts, condenser, washers, purifiers, meter and gasholder
- Gas street lamps
- Domestic gas cookers, water heaters, stoves and meters
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Town gas production equipment – The retorts, condenser, washers, purifiers, meter and gasholder that were used to make gas from coal.
- Domestic gas appliances and street lamps – Gas street lamps and household lighting, heating and cooking appliances, including cookers, water heaters, stoves, fires and meters.
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Fakenham Town Gas Works Museum Trust
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus services run from Norwich (X29) and King’s Lynn (36, 48, 49/49A) with Lynx and First Bus; the Sanders Coasthopper serves Cromer, Sheringham, Hunstanton and King’s Lynn, and other Sanders Coaches services are available.
By car
Parking available
Use the Aldiss Community car park: from the A1065 pass Jewson on the left, the museum is about 200 metres further on the right, just before the bridge; turn right into the Industrial Area, bear left, and the car park is on the right.
Amenities & dining
The museum has an area that can be hired for events, talks and shows.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
An area of the museum is available for hire for events, talks and shows; enquiries by e-mail.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Allow about one hour for a visit. Group visits outside normal opening times are possible on request. |
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