Welcome to the Beccles Museum.

BECCLES & District Museum is now nationally fully registered and located in a Grade I listed building, Leman House, Ballygate, close to the town centre. The 16th Century building with a distinctive flint and brick façade and Tudor style windows, was formerly used as the Free School for Boys founded by Sir John Leman in 1631.

The museum was completely re-designed when it moved to the building in 1996. The local history exhibits include displays on milling and malting, the river, printing, local crafts and industries, engineering, the railway, 19th century costumes and toys, the workhouse and prison, and the churches and schools of Beccles.

New features in the museum include models of the town in 1841 and Geldeston tidal lock, and a natural history diorama. There is also a ‘discovery’ area with activities for children and hands-on exhibits, facilities for watching archival video films and for browsing through photograph albums.

In 2009 Beccles & District Museum acquired some items on loan from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. They are part of the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection. The items are a portrait of Sir John Leman, painted on boards in 1632 by Levinus de Vogelaare, and fully restored. Sir John’s signet ring and silver seal are also on display, together with a folio produced in 1844 for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers to commemorate Sir John’s procession when he became Lord Mayor of London in 1616. The fifth item is the chain of office of the Chief Baron of the Exchequer. This is contemporary with Sir John, and the last known wearer was Sir Orlando Bridgeman, in 1660.

There is full access for people with impaired mobility, a taped commentary for hire and a gift shop.

The museum is open from 27 March to 1st November, six days a week (not Mondays except Bank Holidays) from 2.15pm to 5pm.

Entrance is free but donations are welcome. Adult groups and school parties are welcome – a guide can be provided by writing to

The Curator at the Museum,
Ballygate,
Beccles,
Suffolk NR34 9ND.

Group visits should be pre-booked. An excellent selection of local history books is on sale at the Museum.