collections
THOUSANDS OF ITEMS ON DISPLAY.
Take a look at our amazing collections.
800 years of Royal Commemorative items.

The amazing YARMOUTH NEEDLEWORK TAPESTRIES depict 800 years of Yarmouth history, working approximately ONE MILLION stitches into the 19 pictures based on original paintings by 60 local volunteers, who gave up four thousand hours of voluntary time in honour of the Queen’s visit in August 1985.


Dolls’ houses and miniatures. Toys and dolls from the past.


Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Genuine original postcards for sale.

Great Yarmouth souvenirs of days gone by.


… and don’t forget GEORGE THE GORILLA!

Albert Schafer, 1937

In the STAMP ROOM, you can see Albert Schafer’s collection of furnishings from a Victorian Parlour, completely encrusted in thousands of international postage stamps, producing many colours and textures, and ranging from Victorian Penny Blacks to those commemorating the coronation of George VI in 1937.

There is a Broadwood square piano made around 1833 (covered in stamps outside and inside) and even pictures and maps made purely from stamps, including Albert’s versions of paintings by famous artists.

Schafer was a circus clown, and Val Howkins’ background was also in the circus where, among other things, she was a tightrope walker.
THE TRUE STORY OF THE ELEPHANT MAN
as told by Valerie Howkins, Grand-daughter of his manager.

Amy Rayner was Val’s paternal grandmother, and she is pictured by the steps of the faily’s travelling caravan.

In 1896, she married Tom Norman, who was born in 1860, as Thomas Noakes. He started his working life as a butcher in Sussex and at the age of 17, moved to London, but decided that “Tom Norman” sounded a better name.

He became a showman of human oddities, known as much for his patter as his exhibits. He was called the ‘Silver King’, and wore this huge silver watch chain…


Valerie’s article in The Daily Mail
