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Muckleburgh
What an experience and what a delight to find here on the quiet Norfolk coast, an impressive collection of military hardware and equally impressive an array of very realistic scale models of planes, boats, trains and military diorama's. We learnt as we left the collection from the young lady on the tills that the collection was started quite by chance, by her grandfather. He purchased what was an old army barracks with the intention of turning the land to farming. He quickly realised that the location and exposure wouldn't be that conducive to healthy crop growth. By chance a man contacted him and asked him if he would consider storing some of his militaria, which had grown rather large, to be continued to be stored at home. He had been given an ultimatum, militaria or his wife. The girls grandfather having purchased the land had also inherited numerous army buildings, hence the basis of the mans request. He agreed and that was the start, as other people in similar positions got to hear of the arrangement and made similar requests. From those initially requests for storage started the idea of the museum. In addition to the items owned by other individuals the grandfather and then his son have themselves added to what is today a very fine and immaculately maintained collection. I was most impressed with the collection of scale models which have again been loaned or purpose built for the collection. Anyone into scale models are advised to make the trip out to Norfolk, pay your small entrance fee and be amazed with the range, detail and diversity of models on display. The large, heavy stuff, interspersed within the rooms, as you meander through the collections, is a bonus. Oh yes, don't forget to try the restaurant, excellent grub, freshly cooked and at reasonable prices. If you visit in the school holidays you can even experience a ride in one of the heavy weights. For a private collection, one apparently, of several in the area, it is well worth a visit.
