This new museum is located in a Victorian herring curing factory and is the result of ten years’ work in consultation with the local community. 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 museum successfully provides a dislocated and divided community with a sense of place in history, communal identity and self esteem.

Every stage of the museum’s development – its location, its name, its display themes, its design – evolved from extensive community consultation.

The museum found all its assumptions about what people expected or wanted to a see in a museum challenged; these findings, the museum says, has changed its working practices forever. “To make successful history for all our audiences, we realised we had to find ways of allowing them to find a personal past.”

Rachel Kirk, Area Museums Officer, is delighted that the museum has made it through to the final four: “Following the opening of Time & Tide we are re-setting the course for heritage in Great Yarmouth. This announcement testifies to the credibility of Yarmouth's heritage, the work that has been done to represent it and the hugely positive and enthusiastic manner in which it has been received - we couldn't be happier.”

The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Mike Taylor, said “I'm glad that the judges have confirmed what we already know - we've got the best there is.”

Visitor comments
“A gem of a museum, every twist and turn revealing a new perspective both of the original building and history of the town.”
David Swan, Maidstone, Kent

“Wow. Visiting this museum took me back to my schooldays …it has exceeded all expectations.”
Suzanne Wells, Great Yarmouth

“I wish I had had access to this superb community resource when I was teaching the children about local history. From what was, frankly, an eyesore, an attractive and interactive history of Great Yarmouth has been developed in the old herring curing works.”
Mark Dorsett, Caister on Sea, Norfolk

Key facts
Opened: July 2004
Development costs: £4.7 million
Funders: Heritage Lottery Fund; East of England Development Agency; ERDF; Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Visitor figures: 18,500 from July 2004 to 28 February 2005
Admission charges: £5.45 adults; concessions £4.90; young person £3.50
Opening hours: 10.00am-5.00pm daily

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