A Brief History of the Society

The inaugural meeting of the Lowestoft Archaeological and Local History Society took place on 13 April 1966, when officers were elected and the aims of the Society were set out.  The meetings were held in the Reading Room at the old Library.

Artefacts found or collected by Society members were placed on display in a showcase in the Library in 1967.  In that year the Society started to look for suitable premises in which to create a museum. 

Various premises were proposed and rejected, with the Society members deciding that the Premier Laundry site was the best venue offered.

For those not familiar with Lowestoft town centre in the 1970’s, The Prairie was a road that ran where the Britten Centre arcade is now.  The building that houses W.H.Smith is on the site of the Odeon Cinema and the Premier Laundry was situated behind the cinema, on what is now the open plain in front of the Iceland store.  In the Museum you may have seen a mosaic with Premier Laundry on it, this was originally laid in the pavement outside the Odeon Cinema on the corner with the Prairie.

After much hard work, the Lowestoft Archaeological and Local History Society Museum opened in 1972.  The administration of the Museum was conducted through the Society committee.

It was decided that the Society and Museum should be registered as a Charitable Trust, with the Charitable Trust Deed being signed on the 27 June 1974. 

The Lowestoft Museum was to be administered by the Society Committee with the Trustees as the overseeing body. The late Lord Somerleyton, the Society President, was also appointed as chairman of the Trustees.

Over the years the Museum increased its display area by opening a second room then later a smaller third room.

In the early 1980’s Waveney District Council decided to re-develop the Town centre and build the Britten Centre.   This meant that the Museum had to vacate the old laundry premises and it was proposed that it be moved to the present location in Broad House.  Waveney spent a lot of money renovating the building and in the construction of the Bowls Pavilion.  What is now the Everitt Room had previously been used as the bowls meeting/changing room.  The foyer had been used by the park gardeners and contained their equipment and machinery.

After the Museum in The Prairie closed in 1984 the original plan had been to move directly into Broad House. Unfortunately the builders had not finished, therefore, the entire contents were packed and moved to the old Cooper’s warehouse at the end of Compass Street, at the junction with White Horse Street.  Michael Turner, who as the Society Chairman, had been responsible for the running of the Museum for a number of years, organised the move and many Society members helped.

In 1985 the entire contents stored in the warehouse was moved to Broad House.  As a consequence of the builders taking longer than planned to finish the work, it was a rush to have everything prepared for the opening ceremony.  

On 1 August 1985, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Museum.

With this new Museum building, space was made available for the display of the fine collection of Lowestoft Porcelain currently owned by Waveney District Council.  This collection had originally been given to the old Borough of Lowestoft and had been in storage at the Town Hall.  The displays were set up by an officer of W.D.C, who became the first Keeper of the Porcelain.

In 1990 the Museum was granted Registration status, the forerunner of the Accreditation status.

In 1994, the Trustees felt that the Museum should be administered by a sub-committee called the Museum Management Committee, whose purpose was to carry out the day to day running of the Museum.  The Society was administered by its own committee.

In 1997 Lord Somerleyton retired as President of the Society and Malcolm Berridge, the Chief Excetutive of Waveney District Council, took over that role.

Malcolm Berridge passed away at the age of 80 years on 11 February 2019 and later that year the Society was pleased that Elizabeth Talbot agreed to take on the role of  President of the Society.

The main activities of the Society over the years has been to organise talks on the second and fourth Thursday evenings from September to May, with the exception of December and the second Thursday in January. Many of the talks have been given, or are given, by Society members.

Each year an Annual Report is produced, copies of which can be found on this website.

Outside activities have included taking part in archaeological ‘digs’ which have taken place in various locations, the most recent, in conjunction with the Heritage Centre, on the site of the demolished house, number 1 High Street, Lowestoft.

Another outside activity, in the winter months, was Field Walking, which included many of the fields belonging to the Somerleyton Estate.

During the Summer months an outing was organised to places of historical or archaeological interest, together with a visit each year to a church or chapel.

Members also research local history, and in the past have transcribed old documents.

Once a year Society members, and partners, meet for a lunchtime meal

Over the years many people have been involved with the Society and the Museum.  All of their names have not been recorded in this brief history in case someone is unintentionally left out.   Also, only specific events have been noted. 

Source of information:   Lowestoft Archaeological and Local History Society committee meeting minutes, Annual Reports and Trustees meeting minutes.

Ron Ashman  2020