The Mo Sheringham Museum facts for kids
The main entrance to the museum, on the East Beach promenade in Sheringham.
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| Established | 1987, moved and upgraded in April 2010, further enlarged in 2017 |
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| Location | Sheringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom |
| Type | Local History and fine art and antiquities |
| Collection size | Features an historic fleet of lifeboats and fishing boats, local photographic collections, other artworks, geology, social history and regularly-changed exhibitions |
The Sheringham Museum at the Mo is a cool museum located in the town of Sheringham, Norfolk, England. It opened in a new building in April 2010. Before that, the museum's collection was kept in old fishermen's cottages.
Contents
Discovering Sheringham's Past
Sheringham is a town with a very long history, over a thousand years old! People have found signs that Romans and Vikings lived here a long time ago. In fact, the name 'Sheringham' might even come from a Viking village called 'Scira's Home'.
The first museum was in old fishermen's cottages. It became too small for all the amazing things they collected. This included big, restored lifeboats that needed a lot of space.
The Mo: A New Home for the Museum
The building where the museum is now, called "The Mo," has an interesting past. It was once a house named after a girl called Morag. Later, during World War II, the military used the property. It was badly damaged and torn down in 1946.
After that, the site became an open-air bandstand and a playground for kids. In 1996, a water company called Anglian Water bought the land. They built a huge underground tank there to help with the town's water system.
From Water Tank to Museum
As part of the deal, Anglian Water built a new building on top of the tank. This building stayed empty for a while. Then, in 2009, the local council and Anglian Water agreed to let the Sheringham Museum Trust use it.
In April 2010, the museum officially reopened in this new, much larger building, "The Mo." This new space allowed the museum to show off more of its collection.
What You Can See at The Mo
The museum focuses on Sheringham's local history. You can learn about the town's fishing industry and how it grew into a popular holiday spot. It also has a special visitor center for the Sheringham Shoal Windfarm.
The museum is run by volunteers from Sheringham and has a professional manager. It's usually open for about ten months each year. They also have different temporary exhibitions throughout the year, so there's always something new to see!
Amazing Lifeboats and More
The Sheringham Museum is famous for its collection of lifeboats. They have four lifeboats on display, with a fifth one in a separate location. These boats tell the story of brave rescues at sea.
The museum also helps coordinate other maritime heritage projects in the East of England. It's also a leader in a network that preserves the history of "ganseys," which are special knitted sweaters worn by fishermen.
Lifeboats on Display
- J C Madge
- Forester’s Centenary
- The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows
