Muckleburgh Collection Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Muckleburgh Collection
Hawker Harrier GR.3 on display at the museum
Established	1988 (1988)
Location	On the A149 coast road near Weybourne, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Type	Military Museum

The Muckleburgh Collection is a cool military museum located in Weybourne, on the North Norfolk coast in England. It opened its doors in 1988. This museum is special because it's the largest privately owned military museum in the United Kingdom. It has lots of tanks, guns, and other military vehicles for you to explore!

History of the Camp
About the Museum
Exhibits to See
Gallery
See also

History of the Camp

ATS women operating a rangefinder at the anti-aircraft training camp at Weybourne in 1941. You can see a large anti-aircraft gun in the background.

The museum is built on what used to be a military training camp. This camp, called Weybourne Anti-Aircraft Training Camp, was very active during World War II and even after. It's located just northwest of the village of Weybourne.

The site was first used in 1935 by the Territorial Army for summer training. They practiced using anti-aircraft guns there. As the threat of war grew, the camp became a permanent base in 1937. More buildings and defenses were added.

During World War II, the camp was heavily protected. It had an anti-tank ditch, gun positions, and barbed wire. Inside, there were Nissen huts, barracks, and other military buildings. Along the cliff top, there were powerful anti-aircraft guns and pillboxes. In 1941, Winston Churchill, who was the Prime Minister, even visited the camp. He came to see a demonstration of a new anti-aircraft weapon.

As the war continued, the camp's defenses changed often. A grass airstrip was also built, which is still used today.

After the war, the camp became known as the AA permanent Range and Radar Training Wing. Gunnery training continued until 1958. Today, part of the site still has a RAF radar station. It's also home to a special observatory for studying the atmosphere and a weather station.

About the Museum

When the Weybourne Camp closed, the land went back to private owners. Many of the old military buildings that were too damaged were taken down.

The Muckleburgh Collection was started by Squadron Leader Berry Savory and his son, Michael Savory. When the museum first opened in 1988, it had about 30 vehicles. It also had a small room showing the camp's history. Since then, the museum has grown a lot!

Now, it has over 150 different military items. These include artillery pieces, tanks, and other vehicles. Many of these vehicles can still be driven!

The Muckleburgh Collection also holds special displays. These include items from the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry military groups. The museum's large, unspoiled area of 300 acres has been used for many TV shows and documentaries.

You can even experience a ride in a military vehicle at the museum. They also offer "tank driving" experiences in a FV432 armored vehicle. Among their 25 working tanks, you might see a Panzer P-68, a Chieftain, or a Stuart M5A1. They also have a Soviet T-55 and a Canadian-built Sherman.

Exhibits to See

The museum has a huge collection of military vehicles and equipment. Here are some of the types of exhibits you can find:

Tracked Vehicles

These are vehicles that move on tracks, like tanks. The museum has many different kinds, including the Centurion, Churchill, Comet, and Chieftain tanks. They also have armored personnel carriers like the FV432 and special vehicles like the M29 Weasel Cargo Carrier.

Armored Vehicles

These vehicles are protected by armor but often move on wheels. You can see armored cars like the Daimler Armoured Car and Ferret. They also have scout cars and armored personnel carriers like the Alvis Saracen.

Guns and Artillery

The museum has a wide range of guns, from small anti-tank guns to large howitzers. You can see the L118 light gun, the QF 17-pounder anti-tank gun, and the famous QF 25-pounder gun-howitzer. They also have anti-aircraft guns like the Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70 and the powerful 88 mm Flak 37.

Support Vehicles

These are vehicles used to help military operations, but they aren't for fighting directly. The collection includes various trucks like the Bedford QL and GMC CCKW 352. You can also see ambulances like the Austin K2/Y and special vehicles like the Ford GPA (an amphibious jeep).

Missiles

The museum displays different types of missiles. These include anti-tank missiles like the 9K11 Malyutka (AT-3 SAGGER) and surface-to-air missiles like the 9K35 Strela-10 SAM. A very interesting exhibit is a replica of the Fieseler Fi 103 (V1 Doodlebug) flying bomb, with a piece of its original launch ramp.

Radar Equipment

Radar systems were crucial for detecting enemy aircraft and targets. The museum has several radar units, including anti-aircraft fire control systems and mortar locating radars like the Cymbeline.