Local History – Halesworth and District Museum

This will be an section of the web site that will always be under construction. It will be divided into sections one for Halesworth and one for each of “our” villages. We welcome your contributions, just email us with the information you think we should have or corrections that should be made. If you have any pictures that will be great.

Current Content:

General

The ‘MALT’ Research Team
Are you interested in Halesworth’s past? Does industrial archaeology fascinate you? Would you like to learn skills in historical research? If the answer is yes to any of these, read on.
The ‘MALT’ Research Team

Halesworth and District Time Line

Halesworth

Policing in Halesworth
The Suffolk Building Society (was The Ipswich Building Society) in Halesworth
Plant Hunters of Halesworth and Working from Home
Halesworth’s Unique Movable Platform

Wissett

Wissett Home Guard in WW2

Rumburgh

Rumburgh Home Guard in WW2

— yes we do need more content!

Opening Times

Halesworth Museum – Opening Times

Mondays Closed
Tuesdays 10:00am to 12:30pm
Wednesdays 10:00am to 4:00pm
Thursdays 10:00am to 12:30pm
Fridays 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm
Sundays Closed

Group visits are welcome but must be pre-arranged with the Curator. Please email us with your requirements.

There is easy access for the disabled.

Diary of Events

Museum Talks: 2024 Series

Thursday 11 April: Zoe Adlam – Fool’s Gold: changing the law of treasure in England and Wales
Using local and national examples, this talk will question whether the law needs to be changed by adding the concept of ‘significance’. The talk covers what the law of treasure actually is and how it may fail to protect objects of significance. Should we be changing it in order to protect more objects?

Thursday 23 May: Walpole Old Chapel Discovery Project – Characters from the history of Walpole Old Chapel.
This talk, from supporters of Walpole Old Chapel and partners with the Museum in the ‘Discovery Project’ regarding the chapel, will uncover the stories of some of the fascinating people who have been involved with this extraordinary example of local non-conformist heritage.

Thursday 19 September: David Wollweber – Halesworth Witches of 1645
In August of 1645, the height of the English Civil War, two men and six women from Halesworth and the surrounding area went on trial for witchcraft at Bury St Edmunds. The presentation will look at why this happened and who was responsible and what happened to the so-called witches. This talk follows on from the successful talk for the u3a last September and will update on
further research that has been carried out.

Thursday 14 November: Alan Clapson – They Kept the Home Fires Burning
Following on from a talk in November 2014, with regards to the men from Halesworth who had lost their lives during the Great War 1914-18. This talk will concentrate on how the war affected the town and its people, and how it was ensured that on their return the men who had fought would find a town ‘Fit for Heroes’.

Venue: Halesworth United Reformed Church, Quay Street, Halesworth IP19 8EP
Talks start at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm
Prices – £6.00, £3.00 for Museum Friends. Pay at the door, no need to book.