Dereham Local Attractions

Dereham is home to a number of modern and historic attractions for locals and visitors to enjoy. Here is a quick guide to some of the top offerings:

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Located three miles northwest of Dereham, this is a fifty-acre site in the local area providing a unique museum experience. The site includes an historic workhouse and a traditional farm including rare breeds, a museum depicting life on the land, and beautiful grounds to explore.

Bishop Bonner's Cottage

This building was originally comprised of three cottages, and is the oldest domestic building of the town. Visitors can now enter the cottage as a museum, run by the Antiquarian Society on lease from the Town Council. Inside there is a celebration of the history of the town. Public can enter the museum between 11am-2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 11am-4pm on Saturdays, May-September.

Woad Centre

Woad was traditionally used as a source for dye in the Stone Age. The Woad Centre in Dereham includes information on the production of woad, with details on the traditional process and a unique on-site shop.

Dereham Windmill

The windmill, otherwise known as Fendick's Mill or Norwich Road Mill, is currently under restoration and is a listed tower mill in Dereham. The mill was taken over by the Town Council in 2002, and a National Lottery grant was awarded to take a comprehensive survey of the structure. A visitor centre is planned at the mill, though at present it can't be entered by the public. It is, however, available to view from the outside.

Exploring Norfolk

Dereham holds a central position in the county, making it a great place for exploring the whole of Norfolk. Some areas of note nearby to Dereham, and within easy access, include the Norfolk broads, the city of Norwich and the North Norfolk coast. Norfolk is also noted for its history of aviation, where enthusiasts will find a number of notable airfields and WWII bases nearby, including Watton and Hingham.