Welcome to the official website of The Charles Burrell Museum, Registered Charity No. 802250, based in Thetford, Norfolk, UK. Our museum is run by a fantastic team of friendly volunteers and, with no admission charges, survive on your very kind donations.

Winter Closure – We are now closed for our winter break, back next year spring 2024! Thank you for all your support from all the volunteers!

We are always looking for friendly volunteers to help us continue to tell the Charles Burrell Story. Please get in touch and join us!

We now have a GoFundMe and Easyfundraising page setup. Thank you so much!

The museum is housed in the, grade 2 listed, former paint shop of Charles Burrell & Sons, builders of steam traction engines, agricultural machinery, steam lorries and steam tram engines. We help tell the long story of how they were once Thetford’s main employer until the business closed in 1928.

We also currently have the Jones van, butcher’s delivery van owned by Lance-Corporal Jones in the BBC comedy series Dad’s Army, stationed at the museum, belonging to our great friends at The Dad’s Army museum, also here in Thetford.

Latest News…

• Steamers Cafe December OpeningDecember 1, 2023
• End of Season Steam Up 2023October 4, 2023
  Our annual end of season Steam Up will take place on Saturday 28th October 2023 from… Read more: End of Season Steam Up 2023
• Cafe Closed Notice – Volunteers NeededSeptember 25, 2023
  Important info if planning to visit: 26th Tuesday , 30th Saturday September and 3rd October Tuesday… Read more: Cafe Closed Notice – Volunteers Needed
• Thank you Warburtons for Sponsoring Steamers Cafe.July 5, 2023
  We would like to thank Warburtons for very kindly sponsoring our Steamers Cafe, thank you again!
• Museum Closed For Weeting Steam RallyJuly 5, 2023
  Please be aware the museum will be closed on Tuesday11th, Saturday 15th and Tuesday 18th July… Read more: Museum Closed For Weeting Steam Rally

Wonderful find!! Very enjoyable experience looking around this museum – interesting talk from a volunteer who was very knowledgeable. Cafe very reasonable and with friendly staff. Shame that there is no advertising in local hotels about this little gem!!

Tripadviser

Quaint and informative Mainly visited to see Jones’s van from Dad’s Army. Informative and friendly volunteers. Just enough about steam engines to interest the passerby I’d suggest, some lovely machines. Loved seeing the van and hearing its history.

Tripadviser

Thanks to some of our Sponsors…

Our funding relies heavily on donations and sales from our shop and Café. We also have a network of friendly suppliers who help our team of volunteers with essential maintenance materials and consumables.

Craftmaster Paints and their steam supplies section have been supporting our Museum for several years, donating paint and various steam consumables for free, or at cost price, for which all at the museum are extremely grateful.

https://steamsupplies.com/

https://www.craftmasterpaints.co.uk/

https://www.warburtons.co.uk/

Brian Cater Ltd Have supported the Museum for many years, Thanks to Gavin and his family for donating Welsh steam coal for us to use on our engines to present to the general public. Without their generosity our steam adventures would be severely cut back.

https://www.bryancater.co.uk

Thanks to Bearing Supplies ( Thetford ) who have helped us with the purchase of our latest Mig Welder.