Wisbech & Fenland Museum

This section tells the story of geological evolution. The crammed display cases evoke the height of Victorian fossil fever! Geology challenged established religious beliefs regarding the history of the world. Interestingly, many of the Museum's geological benefactors were churchmen.

On the opposite side of the gallery are mainly 19th century artefacts from the homes and workshops of the local area. Here you can discover the complete development of the domestic iron from flat iron to the unpredictable petrol iron, which was abandonded due to its tendancy to blow up! There are also several items here relating to farming and small local industries, such as thatching and textiles.

The military display reflects the development of armed forces in the area, from the 18th century militia, to the Volunteer Corps of the 1860s, the Cambridgeshire Territorials and finally the Anglian Regiment in the 20th century. During the Great War, the Cambridgeshire Regiment saw extensive service in France and captured an anti-tank rifle and a Maxim machine gun, which are displayed here.