Thursford Collection facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1970s |
|---|---|
| Location | Thursford, Norfolk, England |
| Type | Steam power, entertainment and farming heritage |
| Visitors | 250,000 |
The Thursford Collection is a popular museum in Thursford, Norfolk, England. It was started by a local man named George Cushing. The museum is famous for its huge collection of steam engines, amazing mechanical organs, and classic fairground rides.
Every year, it also hosts a massive Christmas show that brings over 100,000 visitors to the area. The Thursford Collection is a registered charity, which means it works to preserve history for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
The Founder: George Cushing
George Thomas Henry Cushing was born in Thursford on March 25, 1904. His father was a farm worker. George left school when he was 12 to work on a farm, but he had always been fascinated by steam engines.
In 1920, he got a job driving a steam roller. With his savings of £225, he bought his own steam roller made in 1913. He started his own business, and by the time World War II began, he owned 15 steam rollers and a steam wagon.
For his work in saving Britain's steam history, George Cushing was awarded an MBE in 1989. This is a special honor given to people who have made a big contribution to the country.
Saving the Steam Engines
A Passion for Preservation
In the late 1930s, diesel trucks started to replace steam-powered vehicles. To George Cushing, getting rid of the old steam engines was like "the crown jewels were being sold for scrap." He decided to save them.
He began buying old steam engines that were no longer needed. He stored and fixed them at Laurel Farm in Thursford, which he now owned. This was the same farm where he had worked as a boy.
From a Hobby to a Museum
As George's collection of engines grew, other steam fans came to help him restore them. Soon, people wanted to see his amazing collection. In the early 1970s, he opened a museum in a few old farm buildings.
George would often give the tours himself. He would greet every visitor and ask them, "Did yer loik it, then?" as they left. The museum grew, adding a gift shop and tea rooms.
Inside the Thursford Collection
In 1977, George Cushing made the museum a charity to make sure the collection would be protected forever. Today, the museum is run by his youngest son, John, and welcomes around 170,000 visitors each year. George Cushing passed away in 2003 at the age of 98.
The collection features some incredible items:
- The Mighty Wurlitzer: This is a giant theatre organ and the fourth-largest in Europe. It has 1,339 pipes! It was saved from a cinema in Leeds.
- The Gondola Merry-Go-Round: This beautiful ride was built in the 1800s. It has detailed carvings of Queen Victoria and her family, including the German Kaiser Wilhelm II.
See also
- List of music museums
- Scarborough Fair Collection
