The building was originally the Tower Curing Works, built in 1913.
It is one of the largest independent museums of its kind in the United Kingdom.
The 1950s Row exhibit recreates the tight living conditions of the town's traditional 'Rows' or narrow alleyways.
The museum holds a significant collection of items related to the town's former fishing fleet and the women who worked as 'herring girls'.
The site was awarded the status of a National Lottery Heritage Fund project for its extensive restoration.
The original smokehouse chimneys are preserved as part of the museum's infrastructure.
The museum explores the town's transformation from a herring port to a Victorian and Edwardian seaside holiday destination.
The Time and Tide Museum is located in a former Victorian herring curing works, preserving the industrial heritage of Great Yarmouth. It features an immersive 1950s 'Row' exhibit that reconstructs the cramped, narrow housing typical of the town’s past. Visitors can explore the history of the North Sea herring fishery and the town's evolution as a maritime port. The collection includes a wide range of social history artifacts, including seaside holiday memorabilia and local wartime experiences. Large industrial machinery from the site's original use as a smokehouse remains on display. The facility is managed by the Norfolk Museums Service. It sits directly on the site where thousands of herring were once processed annually. The museum architecture integrates original brickwork and structural elements from the 19th-century curing industry.
Inside the recreated 1950s living room setting.
Visit the reconstructed 1950s street scene to experience the sensory details of mid-century local life.
Check for temporary local history exhibitions in the changing gallery spaces.
Allow extra time to read the personal accounts of the local fishing industry survivors displayed near the maritime exhibits.
Do not rush through the ground floor galleries, as the industrial history of the building itself is just as significant as the exhibits inside.
Open daily throughout the year, though specific seasonal hours may apply to the cafe and shop.
