The Tolhouse Museum

The Tolhouse Museum The Tolhouse Museum. Part of Norfolk Museums Service (please check website for opening dates) The Tolhouse has certainly had a turbulent history.

At first sight, The Tolhouse seems strangely out of place, like a relic of a bygone age stranded amongst the modern streets, houses and offices of Great Yarmouth. When it was built about 800 years ago, it must have looked a grand place, with its sturdy stone walls, finely carved doorway and arched windows. Then it was the home of a rich merchant whose livelihood no doubt depended on the nearby qua

yside. Before long, however, the house passed into the hands of the Yarmouth town officials. So began its long association with the law, as the courtroom for various different types of courts, the town gaol with the notorious dungeon known as ‘the hold’, and a police station. Over the years it has been home to pirates, robbers and murderers as well as countless common crooks. It has been attacked by rebels and rioters and gutted by enemy bombs. Since the 1880s, the building has housed a museum. Today it tells the story of the building and of crime and punishment in Great Yarmouth through the ages. The The Tolhouse Museum is open for selected dates during the year - 2022 dates are posted as they are confirmed.

Happy new year from all here at The Tolhouse MuseumIt's the first   of a new year and a chance to share this great photo...
02/01/2025

Happy new year from all here at The Tolhouse Museum
It's the first of a new year and a chance to share this great photo from our Percy Trett collection.
This is Arthur H Patterson in a troll cart outside the museum - the photo was taken in the early 1900s.
GRYEH 2013.4.1741

Seasons greetings from all at The Tolhouse MuseumThe museum is currently closed - reopening in April 2025.Thank you to e...
24/12/2024

Seasons greetings from all at The Tolhouse Museum
The museum is currently closed - reopening in April 2025.
Thank you to everyone who has visited or followed us on social media in the past year.
2025 will mark the 65th anniversary of the museum reopening after rebuilding work to repair damage by bombing in WW2 - we'll be sharing photos and memories - but always on the lookout for more if anyone has anything to share.
See you in 2025!

It's   and another chance to share a painting of The Tolhouse Museum from our collections.This one is by Holmes Edwin Co...
19/12/2024

It's and another chance to share a painting of The Tolhouse Museum from our collections.
This one is by Holmes Edwin Cornelius Winter who was born in Great Yarmouth and was the son of the artist Cornelius Jason Walter Winter (1820-1891).
He occasionally signed his father's works as his own, and also signed his own work with the pseudonym 'W Rowland'.
GRYEH:2005:47 dated 1890

  is always a good chance to share something from our collections.We have a few paintings of The Tolhouse Museum in our ...
12/12/2024

is always a good chance to share something from our collections.
We have a few paintings of The Tolhouse Museum in our collections.
This one is a pencil and watercolour on cream paper - view of the Tolhouse by an unknown artist.
GRYEH : 1961.105

Read more about school sessions here at The Tolhouse Museum in the post below.Email enquiries and bookings to greatyarmo...
03/12/2024

Read more about school sessions here at The Tolhouse Museum in the post below.
Email enquiries and bookings to [email protected]

The Tolhouse Museum is now closed for winter.Thank you to everyone who has visited during the season.The museum will be ...
04/11/2024

The Tolhouse Museum is now closed for winter.
Thank you to everyone who has visited during the season.
The museum will be open next for Easter holidays 2025 - dates to be confirmed.
In the meantime Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life is open all year round - check our website or their page for full details.

**Friday 1 November**Unfortunately The Tolhouse Museum will be closed today - due to staff shortages.It will be open nex...
01/11/2024

**Friday 1 November**
Unfortunately The Tolhouse Museum will be closed today - due to staff shortages.
It will be open next on Sunday 3 November for the final day of the season - 10am-4pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wednesday 30 OctoberJoin us today 11am-3pm for family drop in event here at The Tolhouse MuseumExplore the history of wi...
30/10/2024

Wednesday 30 October
Join us today 11am-3pm for family drop in event here at The Tolhouse Museum
Explore the history of witches in Great Yarmouth and meet John Stearne, an associate of Matthew Hopkins the self-appointed Witchfinder General.
Event is included in museum admission.

Half term is here & your final chance to visit The Tolhouse Museum this year!Open 10am-4pm daily until Sunday 3 November...
28/10/2024

Half term is here & your final chance to visit The Tolhouse Museum this year!
Open 10am-4pm daily until Sunday 3 November (NB closed on Saturday 2 November).
Special event day on Wednesday 30 October, 11am-3pm
Witchfinder: John Stearne - Explore the history of witches in Great Yarmouth and meet John Stearne, an associate of Matthew Hopkins the self-appointed Witchfinder General.
Details https://shorturl.at/1rmbO

Half term is here!!The Tolhouse Museum is open 10am-4pm daily from today through to Sunday 3 November (NB closed on Satu...
27/10/2024

Half term is here!!
The Tolhouse Museum is open 10am-4pm daily from today through to Sunday 3 November (NB closed on Saturday 2 November)
Special event day on Wednesday 30 October, 11am-3pm
Explore the history of witches in Great Yarmouth and meet John Stearne, an associate of Matthew Hopkins the self-appointed Witchfinder General.
The Tolhouse was visited by the witchfinder general on 10 September 1645.
Don't miss your last chance to visit the gaol this year!

Just 4 days now until The Tolhouse Museum will be open for the final time this year 10am-4pm daily on dates below -Sunda...
23/10/2024

Just 4 days now until The Tolhouse Museum will be open for the final time this year 10am-4pm daily on dates below -
Sunday 27 October through to Sunday 3 November
(NB closed Saturday 2 November)
Special event day on Wednesday 30 October - drawing on the documented visit by Matthew Hopkins to the building in 1645.
Witchfinder: John Stearne - family drop in event 11am-3pm
Explore the history of witches in Great Yarmouth and meet John Stearne, an associate of Matthew Hopkins the self-appointed Witchfinder General.
Event is included in admission - full details here https://t.co/3MYm6S515E

The Tolhouse Museum will be open for the final time this year 10am-4pm daily on dates below -Sunday 27 October through t...
09/10/2024

The Tolhouse Museum will be open for the final time this year 10am-4pm daily on dates below -
Sunday 27 October through to Sunday 3 November
(NB closed Saturday 2 November)
Special event day on Wednesday 30 October - drawing on the documented visit by Matthew Hopkins to the building in 1645.
Witchfinder: John Stearne - family drop in event 11am-3pm
Explore the history of witches in Great Yarmouth and meet John Stearne, an associate of Matthew Hopkins the self-appointed Witchfinder General.
Event is included in admission - full details here https://t.co/3MYm6S515E

04/10/2024
The Tolhouse Museum is now closed again.Open next for half term holidays 10am-4pm daily from Sunday 27 October through t...
16/09/2024

The Tolhouse Museum is now closed again.
Open next for half term holidays 10am-4pm daily from Sunday 27 October through to Sunday 3 November (closed Saturday 2 Nov)
In the meantime - our other two museums nearby are both open - Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life 10am-4.30pm daily
Elizabethan House Museum 10am-4pm daily Sun-Fri (closed Sats)

Heritage Open Days - FINAL DAY TODAY - 15 SEPTEMBER 2024The Tolhouse Museum is open TODAY with FREE entry 10am-4pm as pa...
15/09/2024

Heritage Open Days - FINAL DAY TODAY - 15 SEPTEMBER 2024
The Tolhouse Museum is open TODAY with FREE entry 10am-4pm as part of Norfolk Heritage Open Days
Explore one of the oldest gaols in the UK with original cells from the 1890s.
(Free entry valid 12-15 September 2024 only)

Heritage Open Days are here!The The Tolhouse Museum is open with FREE entry from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September inc....
12/09/2024

Heritage Open Days are here!
The The Tolhouse Museum is open with FREE entry from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September inc. as part of Norfolk Heritage Open Days
Explore one of the oldest gaols in the UK with original cells from the 1890s.
(Free entry valid 12-15 September 2024 only)

Not long now!The Tolhouse Museum will be open with FREE entry from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September inc. as part of No...
10/09/2024

Not long now!
The Tolhouse Museum will be open with FREE entry from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September inc. as part of Norfolk Heritage Open Days
Explore one of the oldest gaols in the UK with original cells from the 1890s.
(Free entry valid 12-15 September 2024 only)

The Tolhouse Museum is now closed again - thank you to everyone who visited during the summer - we hope you enjoyed your...
04/09/2024

The Tolhouse Museum is now closed again - thank you to everyone who visited during the summer - we hope you enjoyed your visit.
We will be open next on Thursday 12 September until Sunday 15 September - 10am-4pm daily with FREE ENTRY for Heritage Open Days.
We hope to see you soon!
In the meantime - our other museums nearby are both open -
Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life 10am-4.30pm daily
Elizabethan House Museum 10-am-4pm daily Sun-Fri (closed Sat)

Address

The Tolhouse Museum, Tolhouse Street
Great Yarmouth
NR302SH

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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Our Story

At first sight, The Tolhouse seems strangely out of place, like a relic of a bygone age stranded amongst the modern streets, houses and offices of Great Yarmouth. When it was built about 800 years ago, it must have looked a grand place, with its sturdy stone walls, finely carved doorway and arched windows. Then it was the home of a rich merchant whose livelihood no doubt depended on the nearby quayside. Before long, however, the house passed into the hands of the Yarmouth town officials. So began its long association with the law, as the courtroom for various different types of courts, the town gaol with the notorious dungeon known as ‘the hold’, and a police station. The Tolhouse has certainly had a turbulent history. Over the years it has been home to pirates, robbers and murderers as well as countless common crooks. It has been attacked by rebels and rioters and gutted by enemy bombs. Since the 1880s, the building has housed a museum. Today it tells the story of the building and of crime and punishment in Great Yarmouth through the ages. The Tolhouse Museum is open for selected dates during the year - 2020 dates are shown on the pinned post at the top of the page.