Forncett Industrial Steam Museum

09/05/2026

On Saturday 16th May, come along for the first in a series of monthly film screenings at The Steam Café! Pay-what-you-can tickets, the bar will be open & popcorn up for grabs 🍿

30/04/2026

Don't forget! It's our first Steam Up of the season this Sunday 3rd May and our volunteers have been busy here behind the scenes to get everything ready for you. ⚙️

We're open 11am - 4pm
Adults: £10 // Seniors (over 65): £9 // Accompanied children (under 16): FREE

We also have annual purchases for sale if you're planning to come back! (£15 adults, £14 seniors)

The Steam Café will be serving all the regular delights - including our lovely coffee supplied by our friends at South East Coffee Company Ltd (see Carl in action training our café volunteers).

Check out some other snaps of some recent goings-on (we tested out the emergency evacuation sled on trustee Dan, weeee!).

24/04/2026

This is happening tomorrow night at The Steam Café - tickets are still remaining! Come and immerse in a night of original animated cinema and classical music.

Standard admission - £12
Concessions - £10
Kids (12 and under) - £5

See you there!!

20/04/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT FORNCETT INDUSTRIAL STEAM MUSEUM

We're getting ready to open up the museum doors and let off some steam again! This year, we're seeking to expand our volunteer crew on Steam Up days in The Steam Café. Come and be part of a friendly bunch and learn some new skills. ✨

Volunteer duties include:
- Barista coffee making (training provided)
- Serving customers
- Using the tills
- Washing up
- Tray & cup collection

No experience needed - just enthusiasm and willingness to give things a go.

This is an unpaid role.

Please get in touch with Taryn at [email protected] with a bit of info about yourself and why you'd like to get involved. We look forward to hearing from you!

23/03/2026

Something a bit different coming up at The Steam Café in April - a ceilidh! Over half the tickets are already gone, so get yours now if you're planning to come. ⚙️

24/10/2025

* HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EVENT -
An Animated Halloween Experience

From the team that brought you An Animated Christmas Experience comes an all-new horror show. A collection of haunting stories, brought to life through the magic of animation, live music and poetry. Prepare to be transported into a world that will leave you feeling unsettled, but thoroughly entertained.

⏰️ 7pm doors, 7.30pm start

💲 £12.50 standard admission, £10.00 concessions

Recommended for ages 15+

Limited capacity. Reserve your ticket on Eventbrite, or skip the booking fees and reserve directly at the museum (let us know in advance by e-mailing us [email protected]).👇

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1660190728159?aff=oddtdtcreat...

10/10/2025

ALL ABOUT OWLS is Tonight! Will be a lovely evening, see you there at 7pm 🦉

05/10/2025

30/09/2025

The Steam Café has a mailing list! Sign up to get news of events happening at the museum straight to your inbox 📥

Woohoo, we've got a mailing list! Sign up to get news about our upcoming events straight to your inbox. (We won't spam, we promise!)

Meanwhile, here's a pic from last Wednesday's 'Pub Tales' event by Chris Sainton-Clark - he had us laughing all evening!

https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1824622/166895710330947565/share

28/09/2025

Our next event is brought to us by Forncett Nature Matters on the 10th October. More info to follow, please save the date!

28/09/2025

Carpeting the Tas Valley with technology the size of 1,800 football pitches. This is being proposed in Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter and the surrounding villages. Less than 6% of Industrial Rooftops in the UK are used for solar. All this is targeted for agricultural land. These proposals will include substations, battery storage, security fencing, CCTV and floodlights.

Public consultations will be held :

FRI 24 Oct 2025
Noon-8pm - THORPE HALL
Muskett Rd, Ashwellthorpe, NR16 1FD
~
SAT 25 Oct 2025
11am-5pm - Forncett Village Hall
Low Rd, Forncett St Mary, NR16 1JG
~
FRI 14 Nov 2025
Noon-8pm - Bunwell Village Hall
10 The Turnpike, Bunwell, NR16 1SW
~
SAT 15 Nov 2025
11am-5pm - Tacolneston Village Hall
West Way, Tacolneston, Forncett End, NR16 1BZ
~

A solar farm that would cover a huge area of countryside will go under the spotlight as part of a series of events to gauge public opinion.

Energy firm Aukera is holding four consultation sessions in the south Norfolk area as part of its plans to construct a 3,600-acre plant near Long Stratton.

The renewable energy specialists wants to build it on agricultural land and it would power about 200,000 homes.

Tasway Energy Park would cover an area equivalent to about 1,800 football pitches around the villages of Ashwellthorpe, Hapton, Tharston, Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter and Tacolneston.

It has proved controversial as it would be built near two other massive solar farm schemes – the 2,700-acre East Pye and another, as-yet-unnamed one estimated to cover 2,500 and also near Long Stratton.

Locals fear it would leave the town effectively surrounded by panels, with little open countryside in the area.

Bernadette Barley, head of development at Aukera, said: “We want to work closely with local communities to make sure our proposals reflect local priorities.

“This consultation is an important opportunity for people to tell us what matters to them and help shape the project before any formal application is made.”

The firm said Tasway Energy Park will generate clean, renewable electricity to support the UK’s transition to a more secure and sustainable energy system.

The consultation events will be held at various villages in October and November.

October 24 – noon to 8pm at Thorpe Hall, Muskett Road, Ashwellthorpe, NR16 1FD

October 25 – 11am to 5pm at Forncett Village Hall, Low Road, Forncett St Mary, NR16 1JG

November 24 – noon to 8pm at Bunwell Village Hall, 10 The Turnpike, Bunwell, NR16 1SW

November 15 – 11am to 5pm at Tacolneston Village Hall, West Way, Tacolneston, Forncett End, NR16 1BZ

Webinars will also be held on October 29 and November 6 between 5.30pm and 7pm.

More details can be found on the Tasway Energy Park website.

✍Copy via the LDRS by Owen Sennitt.
📸Map of Tasway Energy Park (via the LDRS)