Embedded Files
Have you been inspired by a visit to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum, volunteered or undertaken a work experience placement which has influenced you down a particular career path?
Did you visit or help on the museum farm and become a vet?
Did you visit the museum with your school and decide want to then become an actor, join the army, or even become a teacher?
Did you come to the museum to volunteer or on a placement and decide you wanted to work in museums even more than you did previously, or discover a different role that you hadn’t realised existed?
See the information about contributing to this project at the bottom of the page.
On 11 July 1853 Robert Bradfield the Union Schoolmaster...
...reported to the Board of Guardians that since the year 1845 to date, 88 boys had left the workhouse school and gone into service in several capacities and employment. This included:
one artist
eight into the army
two carpenters
two printers
one harness maker
twelve into farm service
five shoemakers
four tailors and
four school masters.
Although the museum has discovered some of the personal histories of these boys, it will never be known precisely what influence life and schooling in the workhouse had on their careers, or what their lives would have been like without being helped into those careers.
The Modern Histories Project
The Friends of Gressenhall Museum, in their 50th year, are documenting what impact the Museum has had on visitors, volunteers and staff in their subsequent life choices.
If you have in some way been influenced by the Museum, or you know of someone who might be interested in contributing to this project, please do get in touch with us.
You can contact us via this website's Contact form, email histories@friendsofgressenhall.org, or write to Friends of Gressenhall (MH), c/o Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum of Norfolk Life, Beetley, Dereham NR20 4DR.
All information provided will be treated in strict confidence and no personal information will be shared or published without permission. Any stories will be anonymised unless the person grants permission to publish their names and other details. For more see our Data Privacy policy.
Page updated
Report abuse