Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum

About the museum

Strumpshaw Steam Museum grew from the private collection of Wesley Spanton Key, a farmer, agricultural engineer and pilot, who began gathering steam engines in the early 1950s and moved them to the Strumpshaw Hall estate near Norwich. The collection was private until the mid-1960s, and the museum first opened to visitors in 1964. Electricity had already been produced on the estate in 1908, and the museum places its engines in that local setting.

Wesley Key started the Strumpshaw steam rally in 1968, and it ran every year until his death in 1995. His son Jimmy then extended the museum with fairground equipment and memorabilia and restored an Orton and Spooner ride known as the Ark. After Jimmy died in 2006 his son William took over and led a major refresh in 2014; William died in 2015, and his sister Kiki and her husband Kurt now run the museum and the rally with a team of volunteers.

Today the museum shows 26 engines, the oldest dating from 1898, together with large working beam engines, a narrow gauge railway, mechanical organs, vintage vehicles and a restored 1895 Galloper carousel. The museum reports more than 335,000 visitors since it opened. A campsite in the grounds is run separately from the museum.

Highlights

• 26 steam engines, the oldest dating from 1898
• Large working beam engines
• Narrow gauge railway
• 1930s fairground with a restored Galloper carousel
• Mechanical organs and memorabilia

Permanent exhibitions

• Steam engines and beam engines – A collection of 26 steam engines, the oldest from 1898, with large working beam engines.
• Fairground and narrow gauge railway – A 1930s fairground with a restored 1895 Galloper carousel, mechanical organs and a narrow gauge railway.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Key family with volunteers

Admission & discounts

Prices as listed on the museum website; event days may have different opening times.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum says it tries to accommodate visitors with disabilities: there is a ramp onto the train, a disabled toilet, double doors into the museum and access to all areas of the museum. Dogs on leads are welcome inside.

Kids & families

There is a fairground with a carousel and a narrow gauge railway, and children aged 5 to 16 pay a reduced price.

Getting there & parking

From Norwich, take the A47 to the Brundall roundabout and take the second exit. After about 1 mile turn right at the traffic lights, and at the mini roundabout about 1.5 miles later take the first exit and go under the railway bridge. At the next junction turn right and keep in the left-hand lane. After about ¾ mile turn right at the crossroads; the museum is through the first entrance into the park.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Newly furnished café with tea, coffee, soft drinks, cakes and pastries, and a gift shop with souvenirs. Visitors may bring a picnic to the paddock.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.