History and Heritage

Lowestoft is set to celebrate composer and Lowestoft native, Benjamin Britten, with a statue of the composer as a boy. The project, led by a team of locals including broadcaster and children’s author Zeb Soanes, aims to use the statue to inspire the town’s future generations. He said: ‘Rather than the adult Britten at the height of his powers, we choose to celebrate him as the Lowestoft boy who went on to achieve great things. We hope this beautiful statue will inspire future generations of Lowestoft children to gaze out to the horizon and dream big.’ The statue committee includes Soanes, Lowestoft and Kirkley community figures Phil Aves, Kim Boundy, Ruth Wharrier and Matt Grafton as well as BBC antiques expert, writer and radio broadcaster Elizabeth Talbot. The committee also includes Fergus Fitzgerald, head of production at Adnams brewery which has today launched a special edition whisky from which all profits will go towards the project. Fitzgerald said: ‘For children growing up in Lowestoft, the statue should serve as a reminder that Britten was someone who walked the same streets as they did and braced into the same winds and went on to do something extraordinary.’ Bronze sculptor, Ian Rank Broadley, has been commissioned to create the statue. He said: ‘The genius of Britten appeared in childhood. A statue of him as a boy in Lowestoft can inspire generations of children to follow their dreams. Bronze is for eternity, Britten deserves no less.’ The project has gained the support of important figures in the classical music industry including baritone Sir Thomas Allen and mezzo-Soprano Dame Janet Baker as well as Britten Pears Arts, the charity behind Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival and the Red House.

Phone Number: N/A

Address: Millbank, 7 Kirkley Park Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0LQ

Website: https://www.brittenasaboy.com

Play video

Dunwich Museum is part of the Dunwich Community Heritage Centre and relies on the hard work of our trustees, staff, and volunteers, as well as donations from visitors like you to keep running.

Phone Number: 01728 648796

Address: St James Street, Dunwich, , Saxmundham, IP17 3DT

Website: https://www.dunwichmuseum.org.uk/

The Royal Naval Patrol Service Association museum and office are open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am until 12.30pm. Visits can sometimes be accommodated outside these hours by prior arrangement and depending on the availability of staff. The Royal Naval Patrol Service Association, Registered Charity no 273148, was founded in 1977 to unite the veterans who served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service 1939-1946 and to assist those of them and their dependents who might be in need. The Association also maintains and preserves a record of the work and experiences of RNPS during World War 2 by means of a Museum which seeks to educate subsequent generations about this aspect of WW2 - Accredited to ISO 9001 standard.

Phone Number: 01502 586250

Address: Sparrow's Nest Gardens, Whapload Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1XG

Website: https://www.rnpsa.co.uk

A selection of shortlisted designs for the Old Market has gone on display at Beccles Museum, where members of the public can vote for their preferred proposal. The exhibition forms part of a project to revitalise the area and restore it as a thriving community space while recognising its importance to the town over the past 1,000 years.

Phone Number: 01502 716994

Address: Beccles, Suffolk, NR34

Website: https://becsoc.onesuffolk.net/

Re-creating the classic Victorian three-foot-gauge railway that ran through the Blyth Valley between 1879 and 1929.

Phone Number: 07379789665

Address: 59F Thoroughfare, Halesworth, , IP19 8AR

Website: https://halesworthtosouthwoldrailway.co.uk/

Lowestoft's 'Our Fallen' project is a tribute to those people from the town and surrounding areas, who died because of two World Wars. It is probably the most complete record and includes photos, dates, places and memories. 'Our Fallen' gives details of people from Lowestoft and surrounding villages lost in the two world wars - honouring and remembering their sacrifice. As well as Lowestoft, other neighbouring areas included are: Barnby, Blundeston, Carlton Colville, Corton, Flixton, Lothingland Flixton, The Saints Gisleham, Kessingland, Lound, Mutford, Oulton, Oulton Broad, Rushmere, Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet. The inspiration for the our fallen project came from a Felixstowe project “Felixstowe Remembers” where as you can see they identified where people had lived and added posters to the relevant streets. To me this bought history to life and made me wonder if we could do something similar for Lowestoft? Special thanks to Darren Aitchison and his team.

Phone Number: -

Address: -, -, -

Website: https://ourfallen.lowestoftoldandnow.org/