Plant Hunters of Halesworth 
This display celebrated two renowned plant hunters and their association with Halesworth. Sir William Hooker the first Director of Kew Gardens who lived in Halesworth and his son, Sir Joseph Hooker, who was born in Halesworth and became the second Director of Kew Gardens. William came to Halesworth to take up the post of superintendent of the brewery and he stayed for eleven years. He was much more interested in botany than brewing and when he moved to London in 1841 he became the first Director of Kew Gardens. His son, Joseph, shared his father’s interest and enthusiasm for botany. He travelled extensively collecting plant specimens including the rhododendron.
Read more about the Hooker family in this extract from “People of a Suffolk Town” by Michael and Sheila Gooch.
Working From Home
A display depicting the workshop of Fred Knights who lived at 25 London Road, Halesworth, was recreated within the museum. His fitting room was in the front room, cutting out and machining took place in the back room. The museum recreated his workshop with his sewing machine, bales of material, cottons, needles, thimbles, buttons and zips, all of which have been donated to the museum.