Refine your search
Glandford Shell Museum
Museum
In light of COVID-19, please make sure you check with your travel and accommodation providers before travelling.
Details
The Shell Museum, Glandford, is the oldest purpose-built museum in Norfolk and houses the finest seashell collection in the UK. As well as thousands of exquisite seashells, the Museum also contains fossils, birds' eggs, pottery, local archaeological finds and much more. Glandford Church and the river Glaven, with a picturesque ford, wild ducks and foot bridge, are located close by.
The original purpose of the museum was to house a collection of shells made over a period of sixty years by the late Sir Alfred Jodrell himself and stored in boxes at Bayfield Hall until the museum was built. After completion, Sir Alfred and his sisters, Lady Seale, and Mrs Ind arranged the whole of the shells in their cases. These shells come from all corners of the earth, and the collection is constantly being added to. There are shells of every hue, shells as delicately coloured as butterfly wings; shells exquisitely carved.
But there are other exhibits besides the shells which form the main collection. There are lovely jewels, fragments of old pottery, a piece of Pompeii, a sugar bowl used by Queen Elizabeth I, some very fine specimens of agate ware, and a collection of items uncovered in the vicinity of Glandford including a very exceptional axehead. There is also an evocative tapestry executed by a local fisherman, John Craske, depicting the North Norfolk Coast. The Shell Museum remains one of the few descendants of the cabinet of curiosities. Every object in this unique museum of natural and contrived curiosities suggests a story. The most pleasing exhibits are those that stretch the shelly theme such as a tiny wooden barrel, no more than six centimetres high: "made from teak of HMS Warspite - a ship which was involved in the Battle of Trafalgar".
In fact, it would be difficult to describe fully the whole contents of the museum. A visit is essential to enjoy its unique flavour.
The Museum is a small private trust and receives no public grants of any kind. It depends on the income from visitors for which we thank you.
Opening details
Museum open from Easter Saturday until the end of October.
Groups welcome out of season by prior appointment.
Prices
Adults £2.50, Seniors £2.00, children £0.50,
Cash payments only at present
Address
Glandford Shell Museum, Church House,
Hurdle Lane, Glandford,
Holt,
Norfolk,
NR25 7JR
Directions
Map reference: TG 042414 Lat: 52.93114 Long: 1.03678
By Road:
Midway between Letheringsett and Blakeney.
Parking: free
Facilities
Coach parties accepted
Facilities for groups
Facilities for educational visits
Gift shop
Accepts groups
Children welcome
Smoking not allowed
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
Parking
Designated parking for guests with disabilities
Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
is solid
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
Is flat (i.e. without steps)
General
Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
Entrance
Steps to the main entrance
- 1Number of steps to entrance
Entrance is well lit