The Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket

The Museum of East Anglian Life was a great day out for us as a family. The museum grounds and adjoining Abbots Hall was left in Trust by Misses Vera and Ena Longe who wanted to see a museum dedicated to preserving machinery, buildings and skills which were in danger of being lost when changes in the 1950’s and 60’s brought a new way of farming to the region. The museum is packed full of examples of the way life used to be for people who worked on the land before technology took over. With examples of East Anglian crafts, (such as basket making, rope making and brush making), the children can immerse themselves in the good old days. The museum also has a Suffolk Punch horse, the breed being very important to regional farming as they were kept to work on the land. Their numbers diminished rapidly due to not being needed anymore. There are also rare breeds of cattle and sheep. The children loved grinding their own flour although they weren’t keen on the dressing up box. There are quizzes and trails for the children to take part in too which had the effect of a little competitive spirit emerging in our group! The kids found the recreated Grocer’s Shop with its old fashioned packaging and appearance very interesting. It was certainly rather different from the usual supermarket experience the children are more familiar with today! The site, sitting on over 80 acres of land, also has woodland and riverside nature trails and so it really was a day out with the kids rather than just a few hours distraction. We think the admission fees are reasonably priced and there are tickets for family groups and concessions which was handy considering the size of our family. We treated ourselves and had a lovely meal in The Osier, a popular local spot on its own. The meals are mostly homemade and locally sourced with a good children’s menu selection. Food availability changes weekly so you can be sure to find something fresh, seasonal and tasty. There are lighter lunches to be had, such as baked potatoes and a selection of cakes on offer too if you just want a snack and a cup of tea before starting off on a riverside walk. The museum runs activities in the summer holidays and half term but we haven’t been to any of these…yet!