This new museum, which opened in July 2004, is located in a Victorian herring curing factory. The result of over ten years’ work, it tells the story of Great Yarmouth and celebrates its maritime and fishing heritage, bringing to life its herring curing industry and the lives of the people who worked there. Located in an area of significant deprivation, the £4.7 million project, funded by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, East of England Development Agency and ERDF, aims to provide a dislocated and divided community with a sense of place in history, communal identity and self esteem. Funding for the post of Maritime Development Officer at Time and Tide will be contributed to by the MLA through Renaissance and the Regions.

Every stage of the museum’s development – its name, its display themes, its design – evolved from extensive community consultation. This extended to the spectacular recreation of a typical 1913 Row, one of 144 narrow alley ways which ran East to West from the Town Wall to the river and formed the medieval town, and the 1950s Fish Wharf.

The museum’s challenge was to combine Great Yarmouth’s role as a hugely popular seaside holiday destination with the problems brought by high levels of unemployment in the winter months. It tells Great Yarmouth’s story from prehistoric times until the present day; its themes are wreck and rescue, seaside holiday, port and trade, the World Wars and the historic built environment. The Museum’s extensive collections include historic boats, archaeology, costume and textiles, ethnography, fishing and maritime, fine art, natural history and social history brought to life using interactive and AV technology.

The conversion of the building is of the highest quality. The contemporary industrial approach complements the carefully retained historical architectural details and the industrial character of the building. The spectacular courtyard canopy provides protection for historic boats and visitors. Supported by a 20 metre mast installed at a 5% angle and reminiscent of a tall ship, the canopy has created a distinctive new visual landmark for Great Yarmouth.

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