Dad's Army Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 7 December 2007 |
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| Location | Cage Lane in Thetford, Norfolk |
| Type | Dad's Army |
The Dad's Army Museum is a special place in Thetford, Norfolk, England. It celebrates the popular BBC comedy TV show called Dad's Army. Many outdoor scenes for the show were filmed right in this local area.
The museum is located in an old fire station. This building is behind the Thetford Guildhall. The Guildhall itself was used in the show as the Walmington-on-Sea Town Hall.
Friendly volunteers run the museum. They often take Jones' Van to 1940s-themed events across East Anglia throughout the year.
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The Museum's Story
The Thetford Guildhall, where the museum is based, appeared in two episodes of Dad's Army. In a 1972 episode called "Time On My Hands", a German pilot from the Luftwaffe (the German air force) got stuck on the clock tower. His parachute caught on the clock's hands! The Guildhall was also seen in a 1974 episode, "The Captain's Car".
The Dad's Army Museum officially opened on December 7, 2007. David Croft, who helped write Dad's Army, was there for the opening.
What You Can See Inside
Inside the museum, you can explore many cool things. There's a recreated office that looks just like Captain Mainwaring's church hall office from the show. You'll also find several display areas filled with interesting items.
The museum has a shop where you can buy souvenirs. There's also the Marigold Tea Room, a nice spot for a break.
The displays include many unique photographs. A lot of these come from the Dad's Army Appreciation Society. You can also see other memorabilia and items connected to the TV series.
Uniforms on Display
You can see different uniforms at the museum. One is a copy of the fancy red uniform worn by Lance-Corporal Jones in the show. This uniform is covered in medals! Other uniforms worn by the Home Guard are also on display. The Home Guard was a defense organization in the United Kingdom during World War II.
Jones' Famous Van
In December 2012, the museum made an exciting purchase. They bought the actual Ford BB van that was used as Jones' butcher's van in the TV series. It cost £63,100!
Because the Dad's Army Museum has limited space, the van is displayed nearby. It went on show at the Charles Burrell Museum in March 2013. Before that, it had some restoration work done to make it look its best.
Images for kids
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The Exhibition Hall
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Captain Mainwaring's office
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Lance-Corporal Jones' medals and tunic
