Forncett Industrial Steam Museum

About the museum

The Forncett Industrial Steam Museum at Forncett St Mary, about ten miles south of Norwich, preserves large stationary steam engines that once powered waterworks, factories and gasworks. The collection was built up by Dr Rowan Francis, a doctor who began saving engines when many were being scrapped as diesel and electric power took over. Today the museum is run as a charity.

Its best-known exhibit is a 1941 Vickers Armstrong engine from Tower Bridge in London, one of the machines that charged the hydraulic system which lifted the bridge. Other large engines include the 600 horsepower Dover engine, built in 1937 for a waterworks and said to be the last waterworks steam pumping engine installed in Britain, and two beam pumping engines from Hopwas in Staffordshire built in 1879.

Smaller items include a Hick Hargreaves engine from a Nottingham lace factory, a pulsometer pump and a vertical engine from the Poplar gasworks. On steam days the engines run under live steam and guided tours are offered through the day.

Highlights

• Engine from London's Tower Bridge (1941)
• The 600 hp Dover waterworks engine
• Beam pumping engines from Hopwas
• Live steam on the first Sunday of each month, May to October

Permanent exhibition

• Stationary steam engine collection – Large waterworks, factory and gasworks engines, including the Tower Bridge engine, the Dover engine and the Hopwas beam engines.

Founded

1969

Operated by

Forncett Industrial Steam Museum (charitable incorporated organisation)

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to steam up days. On static days (Wednesdays and Sundays) there is no set fee and voluntary donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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 museum states that it offers disabled access and has wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Describes itself as a day out for all the family; accompanied children under 16 enter free on steam days.

Getting there & parking

About 10 miles south of Norwich. Brown tourist signs lead from the A140 at Long Stratton (3 miles) or from the B1113 at Tacolneston (2 miles).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Cafe open all day on steam up days, serving cakes, ice cream, hot and cold drinks and hot snacks.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum advertises a venue for hire; enquiries about events and venue hire go to steamcafe.norfolk@gmail.com.

Plan your visit