Ersatz Museum England. Buildings 1959-1973

The view of the museum from the east.

From 1957 to '59 the dilapidated two storey, 18th century old hall on the left was part rebuilt and extended with a 'Balcony Gallery' added above it, constructed mainly from the fabric of an old boat house. The farm house (on the right) was added to the hall in the 19th century. This was reconditioned, re-roofed and a loft conversion added another floor and extra gallery space.

This view from the south

This shows the base of old hall and the 1st floor 'Balcony Gallery' with the window of 2nd floor office above it. In 1967 the offices were moved to the new building and this space was turned into open galleries.

Groundfloor

First Floor

Second Floor

The museum, again from the east.In the background to the left can just be seen the new building and the small retail outlet built in 1966.

The south elevation of the new building, completed in 1967.
This was built to accommodate more office, library and research space as well as extra staff facilities. It was not open to the general public but new public W.C.s were added to the rear.

First floor .

(reproduced by permission of NNHS)
North elevation of new building as seen from the window of the 1st Floor 'Balcony Gallery' (on the bottom left can be seen the roofs of the retail outlet).

The museum site.

(reproduced by permission of NNHS)
The Museum complex from the north around 1970, illustrating the remoteness of their location. The old building is on the left and behind it can be seen the new building. On the far right is the barn never converted and used mainly for storage. The cliffs, then further away, can be seen on the left.

Ariel view of the museum site as it is today.

The outlines of the buildings demolished in 1995 are still evident as well as the track from narrow lane that led to the museum. This also shows the proximity of the shore line. The cliffs along this stretch have eroded by 10 to 15 metres in the last 10 years and along the coast at Happisburgh, 26 buildings have fallen into the sea since 1990. The original coastal path, that once led past the site has now long gone and it is feared the entire site itself will also disappear within the next few years.

Approximation of where the museum buildings once stood.
Farm house. Old Hall. New Building. Retail outlet. Barn.

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