@AncientHouseMus

Discover the history of Thetford. Housed in a Tudor merchants' house. Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01842 752599

 Thetford IP24 1AA
ancienthouse.norfolk.gov.uk/
Joined June 2013
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7.3KMedia
Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life retweeted
The History Press
@TheHistoryPress26 Nov 2025
#OnThisDay in 1867, due to a loophole in the law, Lily Maxwell is the first woman to vote in a British parliamentary election.🗳️🚺 Learn more: buff.ly/r2U1MK0 #OTD #VotesforWomen #WomensHistory
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#OnThisDay in 1780 Maharajah Ranjit Singh was born.
An oval miniature of an Indian man in profile with a long white beard.

ALT An oval miniature of an Indian man in profile with a long white beard.

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#RemembranceDay This large bronze plaque is in memory of Frederick Ernest Crick of Thetford who died in the First World War. It reads 'He died for Freedom and Honour'. These memorial plaques were known as a 'Dead Man's Penny'. 1,355,000 plaques were issued.
A photo of a large bronze plaque. It is round like a large coin and dark brown. Around the edge is an inscription which says He died for freedom and honour. A woman with a crown stands in the centre. She is holding a trident in her right arms and is holding out her left hand. In front of her is a lion, stood on all fours facing the right. 'Frederick Ernest Crick' is written in a rectangle on the right of both figures

ALT A photo of a large bronze plaque. It is round like a large coin and dark brown. Around the edge is an inscription which says He died for freedom and honour. A woman with a crown stands in the centre. She is holding a trident in her right arms and is holding out her left hand. In front of her is a lion, stood on all fours facing the right. 'Frederick Ernest Crick' is written in a rectangle on the right of both figures

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Herbert Osborne worked for Bidwell and Co. brewers, He was conscripted in 1916. He was 36. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. Soldiers weren't allowed to keep diaries but Herbert wrote one. #OnThisDay in 1918 he recorded “Peace taken very quiet. Nothing doing”
A head and shoulders image of a white man with a neat moustache wearing a First World War uniform with a belt with leather pockets across his body.

ALT A head and shoulders image of a white man with a neat moustache wearing a First World War uniform with a belt with leather pockets across his body.

A cream leaf from a notebook with copperplate writing on it.

ALT A cream leaf from a notebook with copperplate writing on it.

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Edward VII was born at Buckingham Palace #OnThisDay in 1841 at 10:48am. He was the eldest son and second child of #QueenVictoria & Prince Albert. This is an engraving of him by S W Reynolds from a painting by Frederick Tayler.
The engraving shows a small smiling child wearing a feather in their cap (the Prince of Wales riding a pony accompanied by a ghillie wearing plaid and a hound and 2 small dogs.

ALT The engraving shows a small smiling child wearing a feather in their cap (the Prince of Wales riding a pony accompanied by a ghillie wearing plaid and a hound and 2 small dogs.

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It's Children's Book Week. This cloth bound edition of Little Women was awarded to Evelyn Cooper, Thetford Infants School, December 1913.
A cloth bound edition of Little Women with a cover design in blue and yellow.

ALT A cloth bound edition of Little Women with a cover design in blue and yellow.

The book is open to show a bookplate of N.C.C. Education Committee; prize awarded to Evelyn Cooper, Thetford Infants School, December 1913

ALT The book is open to show a bookplate of N.C.C. Education Committee; prize awarded to Evelyn Cooper, Thetford Infants School, December 1913

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#OnThisDay in 1806 Miss Elizabeth Bidwell of Thetford, arrived at Harwich. “She was tutoress to the King of Prussia’s children, and had a narrow escape of falling into the hands of the French, and when she landed was destitute of money and change of raiment.”
A clear glass bottle with glass marble in neck. It is marked Bidwell in raised glass on the side.

ALT A clear glass bottle with glass marble in neck. It is marked Bidwell in raised glass on the side.

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#OnThisDay in 1927 Princess Bamba was fined £1 for creating an obstruction with her car outside @JarroldNorwich in London Street. She was visiting Jarrolds to discuss publishing a book.
A full length image of an Indian woman (Princess Bamba) in a long white dress.

ALT A full length image of an Indian woman (Princess Bamba) in a long white dress.

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#OnThisDay in 1915 Harold Brighouse's play 'Hobson's Choice' was first performed. This is Thomas Hobson (1545–1631) who ran a stable in Cambridge offering customers Hobson's Choice, either taking the horse nearest to the door or taking none at all.
An oil painting of a white man in a black hat, ruff, doublet and red cape on horseback. He rides a black horse from left to right. A Cambridge milestone and some trees and bushes can be seen behind him.

ALT An oil painting of a white man in a black hat, ruff, doublet and red cape on horseback. He rides a black horse from left to right. A Cambridge milestone and some trees and bushes can be seen behind him.

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This is a painting of Blo Norton Hall by Leonard R Squirrell who was born #OnThisDay in 1893. He was on the council of @RIwatercolours and @re_printmakers. He produced images for local commercial companies such as Fisons Fertilizers.
A watercolour showing a house with three chimneys surrounded by a garden with water in the foreground.

ALT A watercolour showing a house with three chimneys surrounded by a garden with water in the foreground.

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#OnThisDay in this gift casket containing the Freedom of the Borough of Thetford was presented to Lord Horatio Nelson in recognition of 'His brilliant services to his country'.
Black and white image, taken in 1928, of an oak and silver lidded casket with the words The Gift of The Corporation of Thetford in Norfolk to their gallant countryman Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, KB, (Lord Nelson of the Nile) for his brilliant services to his country on the glorious 1st August 1798 engraved inside the lid. On the front of the lid are the coat of arms for Thetford.

ALT Black and white image, taken in 1928, of an oak and silver lidded casket with the words The Gift of The Corporation of Thetford in Norfolk to their gallant countryman Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, KB, (Lord Nelson of the Nile) for his brilliant services to his country on the glorious 1st August 1798 engraved inside the lid. On the front of the lid are the coat of arms for Thetford.

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Happy #InternationalTeddyBearDay! This beaker is from the Thetford Pulpware Nursey Collection.
A colour illustration of a cream coloured beaker with a cartoon bear on the side.

ALT A colour illustration of a cream coloured beaker with a cartoon bear on the side.

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#OnThisDay in 1871 Princess Catherine Duleep Singh was born at Elveden Hall. This portrait by @Inkquisitive reflects many of the extraordinary aspects of Princess Catherine's life.
A colourful modern painting showing two heads and shoulders of an Indian woman (Princess Catherine) with various symbols and figures including several flying white doves.

ALT A colourful modern painting showing two heads and shoulders of an Indian woman (Princess Catherine) with various symbols and figures including several flying white doves.

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Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life retweeted
Queer Britain Museum@QueerBritain26 Oct 2025
INTERSEX AWARENESS DAY 💛💜 On October 26, 1996, intersex activists and trans activists came together for the first-ever protest demanding the right to body autonomy. That’s why today we celebrate Intersex Awareness Day! – Images From Queer Britain – #intersexawarenessday
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Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life retweeted
The Japan Society@TheJapanSociety24 Oct 2025
🌟 One week left to enter! 🌟 Design a poster to celebrate the return of sumo to the UK for the chance to win! 🙌 Open to children and young people aged 5 –18. Deadline: Friday 31 October 2025. More details 👉 loom.ly/85LbJlI
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Today's @artukdotorg #OnlineArtExchange theme is autumn. This is a landscape by H. Brooks (active 1816–1836).
A paintings showing a man driving animals through a gate into a wide field with a dark tree to the right of the painting.

ALT A paintings showing a man driving animals through a gate into a wide field with a dark tree to the right of the painting.

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#OnThisDay in 1877 the Morning Post reported: "His Highness the Maharajah Duleep Singh has entertained a shooting party at Elveden Hall, Suffolk, during the past week. Earl da Grey, Lord Walsingham, and Lord Huntingfield have been among his Highness's guests."
An etching of a seated Indian man (Maharajah Duleep Singh) wearing a velvet jacket and a bejewelled turban.

ALT An etching of a seated Indian man (Maharajah Duleep Singh) wearing a velvet jacket and a bejewelled turban.

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#OnThisDay in 1893 Maharajah Duleep Singh died in Paris at the age of 55. His body was buried in Elveden Church beside the grave of Maharani Bamba, and his son, Prince Edward Albert Duleep Singh. The then Prince of Wales sent a wreath reading 'For auld lang syne'.
A black and white photograph showing three tombstones in a row. Each one curves to a point.

ALT A black and white photograph showing three tombstones in a row. Each one curves to a point.

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#OnThisDay in 1805 the Battle of Trafalgar took place. Norfolk-born Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson had command of the Royal Navy. Here are some Nelson related items in our collection: A miniature portrait of Lord Nelson (1758-1805) by unknown artist, from about .1800.
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"The Nelson jug", a creamware jug with a picture of Nelson on board ship from about 1800. The donors said 'my great grandmother used this to keep soda in'.
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