Norfolk is fortunate in having many museums, some under the Norfolk Museums Service and some small independent and specialist.
As I as spending a couple of nights in North Norfolk, at West Runton, I had planned to get as far as Wells via the wonderful Coasthopper service. However the temperature was forecast to be 30C and I did not fancy an hour on the bus in each direction. I need no excuse to spend a day in Sheringham and so Friday 19 June was one of those days. I was staying on a new to me campsite, the camping and caravan West Runton site. This meant a longer walk, albeit through lovely woodland, to the bus stop. This walk meant going up and down one the side of Incleboro Hill, something I could have wished to avoid in the searing heat but it was very wooded.
One place I would definitely visit was Mo, or rather Sheringham Museum, home of lots of wonderful and wonderfully displayed boats and fishing effects. Also it is always good on the textiles front which usually involves ganseys.
Some photos taken in the Museum:
Boat, knitted fish and ganseys
Such a nice idea for displaying ganseys
Hugh Mungus - more cleverness
Explanation of Hugh Mungus
View out to sea, heat haze is hiding the wind turbines, but just look at that colour for the north sea!
This season the special exhibition focuses on ‘The Stitcher, The Photographer and The Painter' - John Craske, Cecil Hewitt and Tim Armes. Today I was particularly interested in the work of the Stitcher, John Craske. Rather like the exhibition at Blickling, the work was more than the physical production of his art/craft. This time in terms of, to use a word of the moment, wellness. However, illness is a better description as for much of his life he and others around him, helped John manage his health condition and contribute to the family finances. Much in regard to mental health (in a wide sense) could be learned by considering and taking to heart messages from what can be seen here. All three in the exhibition at various points lived in Sheringham and to quote the museum summary of the exhibition-
‘All had health conditions that altered their expected life choices, yet each was able to use the limitation as an opportunity to develop their craft’. The italics are mine. The exhibition is a celebration of their work. This seems very apt at this moment in time when we hear so much about welfare and work.
I am following the request of the Museum that any photos taken of the exhibition are used for personal use and not shared.
This is from the leaflet advertising the exhibition, it ends on 31 October 2026
If you are in the area I recommend a visit to this wonderful local museum and if you are into knitting or ganseys I recommend it even more. They even had knitting belts for sale!
My walk back to the campsite on returning from Sheringham, by then it was 33C
Notes
There are books available about John Craske . I have the following:
John Craske Fisherman Painter in Wools by Lesley Lougher and Jan Hillier (today’s treat)
Threads The delicate Life of John Craske by Julia Blackburn (Gifted to me by a dear friend)
I hope you can see the details in the stitching
Cards, kits and other mementoes (eg fish earings in all colours) are available from the Museum
