Charles Burrell Museum facts for kids
The Charles Burrell Museum is a super interesting place in Thetford, Norfolk, England. It's all about the amazing world of steam power and the big, powerful machines that used steam to move around!
The museum first opened its doors in 1991. It's located in an old building that used to be the Paint Shop for a company called Charles Burrell & Sons. This building is very old and important, so it's protected as a historic site. The museum tells the story of the Charles Burrell Works, a company that once had 350 people working there! They made incredible steam-powered engines that were sold all over the world.
Inside the museum, you can see real steam engines made by Charles Burrell and Sons Ltd. This includes a steam roller, a traction engine (which is like a powerful farm tractor), and even a special steam engine called a Showmans Road Locomotive, which was used by people who ran funfairs. You'll also find parts of these engines, old factory machines, farm tools, and items that belonged to the Burrell family.
The museum is open on Saturdays, and it's free to get in! Friendly volunteers help run the museum and share its history with visitors.
Jones' Van from Dad's Army
If you're a fan of the old TV show Dad's Army, you might know about Jones' butcher's van! The nearby Dad's Army Museum bought the original Ford BB van used in the show in 2012.
Because the Dad's Army Museum didn't have enough space, this famous van came to the Charles Burrell Museum in early 2013. So, you can see a piece of TV history right here!
Gallery
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A powerful engine displayed at the museum
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Another amazing engine you can see
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A look inside one of the museum's display areas
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A display showing old tools and equipment
