The Shell Museum- Glandford

The Shell Museum, Glandford, is the oldest purpose-built museum in Norfolk and houses the finest seashell collection in the UK. As well as thousands of exquisite seashells, the Museum also contains fossils, birds’ eggs, pottery, local archaeological finds and much more. Glandford Church and the river Glaven, with a picturesque ford, wild ducks and foot bridge, are located close by.

An early Guide to the County of Norfolk describes the little village of Glandford in these words: “Nature could hardly stage a more delightful scene. Its church is a jewel set in a garden on the hill, looking over the wooded valley where the River Glaven flows to the sea. Below it is a rare little museum for all who love beautiful things… Now everything here is as beautiful as the skill of our time could make it.”

All who have visited Glandford will agree that the above is a very fitting description of the village. The church is certainly very lovely and the museum is, in its way, as beautiful as the church. It is a small building with Dutch gables, and was built in 1915 by the late Sir Alfred Jodrell, Baronet, of Bayfield Hall, in a style to harmonise with the rest of the village. The work was carried out by workmen employed on the Bayfield Estate under the direction of Mr Thomas Holbrook, a churchwarden of the parish church.

The Museum is a small private trust and receives no public grants of any kind. It depends on the income from visitors for which we thank you.

Adults – £2.50
Senior Citizens – £2.00
Children – 50p

Museum open from Easter Saturday until the end of October
Open Tuesday to Saturday
10am to 12.30pm and
2pm to 4.30pm