Welcome to the Attleborough Heritage Group
The Cyder Museum in the Cellar
Welcome to Attleborough Heritage Group [AHG] website. We are a community organisation which commenced in 2006 and has operated from a dedicated Heritage Centre at Soma House on Station Road from 2009.
We now have more than 150 members and our collection of archive and artefact for the town is bursting with wonderful material that might otherwise have been lost. We welcome new members and visitors. Please get in touch on 01953 455877 or email at attleboroughheritage@tiscali.org. Contact Us
Attleborough Heritage Group is thrilled to announce the opening of "The Cyder Museum in the Cellar". The Museum exclusively displays the history of Gaymers Cyder in the Town. Gaymers was an internationally known cyder manufacturer whose headquarters were in Attleborough until amalgamation in 1994 when production was moved to the West Country. Read more
Back to Schools: 150 years of Attleborough Schools
Attleborough Heritage Group staged another successful local presentation on Saturday 22nd.October at the Connaught Hall. More than 140 members and guests were given an illustrated walk through the history of Education in the Town and particularly since 1872 and the introduction of Board Schools.
When the journey reached the 1950's & 1960's there was an excited buzz in the audience as some people recognised their own schooldays, the staff, particular events and their fellow pupils.
The preparation for this show had been greatly aided by the response of members, old and new, with photographs, memories and names and the good balance of history and nostalgia was complemented with fine archive material from the group's comprehensive collection.
The membership endorsed its liking for this style of presentation which gives opportunity to meet and exchange reminiscences prompted by the presentation and the excellent displays…………and a great buffet.
Many were also able to complete names and dates on the display questionnaires afterwards. This provides further information to this important local archive resource which will be available for members and researchers within Soma House Heritage Centre.
Heritage Centre at Soma House
The Heritage centre is open every Thursday from half past nine until three thirty but if this doesn’t work for you, let us know your preferred visiting times and we will either set up a specific visit or extend our days/times to suit visitors and members. Just send your comments on opening to attleboroughheritage@tiscali.co.uk
………and remember we are child friendly with wheelchair access and WC facilities………and, of course, always a cup of tea or coffee with a homemade cake!
This Group continues to develop by listening to its members and taking opportunities for sharing the heritage of the town with the community.
2010 was very successful but we have already surpassed last year’s membership and now reached a point where our events are oversubscribed. We have addressed this by repeating popular presentations and investing in larger venues and better equipment.
We have also continued our contributions to the local schools and indeed will make their history the focus of our key Autumn event on 22nd October 2011.
We have been heard across Norfolk on Local BBC Radio and seen regularly in the local press – All of which not only reminds people that we are here but brings in a great deal of local information to add to the records of the town’s heritage. The continuing programme of talks to other local groups also provides a source of excellent research material that we collate and offer to the growing number of Family History enthusiasts from outside Norfolk but with ancestral links to Attleborough.
The potted history of the shops of Attleborough since the 1880’s was enthusiastically supported by members and guests at St Mary’s church hall in March and the additional information and documents that flowed in afterwards have been incorporated into the archive and the further presentation to be given in May [see Forthcoming Events]
You will also see in the notices of events for 2011, that the Town Walks are set for the summer and the release of more information from the 1911 census has provided even more detail for these gentle but fun tours.
Tickets for all events are available from the Heritage Centre in person or by e-mail or telephone. – And remember that members can enjoy up to 20% discounts on our events.
For new visitors or non-members, may we remind you that we provide a public resource for:
- researching family history, local history,
- leading specific projects to record our town history,
- the identification of vulnerable standing buildings and landmarks,
- school and student projects
- or offering an opportunity to capture precious memories of the Attleborough area by simply reminiscing.
A rolling programme of presentations has been developed on specific themes which are also available to similar local history and heritage groups on request.
We have facilities to “digitalise” donated photographs, documents and similar items. This is available to anyone wishing to record their own memories for posterity. We hold many research documents, and access to many more.
If you think we can help you – just ask. e-mail: attleboroughheritage@tiscali.co.uk
The Group operates through a committee of 12 volunteers being:
Cliff Amos [Chairman], Jackie Amos [ Events Secretary], Jenny Amos, Doreen Coman, Christine Norman, George Ridgway [Treasurer], Mary Ridgway [Secretary], Alan Sparrow [President], David True, Christine Williams, Roy Woods, Marie Youngs.