Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse stands in the quiet Breckland village of Gressenhall, Norfolk. The site began in 1777 as a ‘house of industry’ built by the Mitford and Launditch Hundreds Incorporation. At its peak in 1801 it held 670 inmates, though the average was nearer 450. In 1836 the building was converted into a Union Workhouse after the Poor Law Amendment Act. By the 19th century a chapel designed by R. M. Pinson had been added, opened by the Bishop of Norwich. After 1930 the workhouse became Gressenhall Institution, later serving as housing for the elderly and homeless families. The place is worth the journey for its layered history and the stories it keeps. Harriet Kettle served an 18-month sentence for arson inside the workhouse walls. Elizabeth Rudd, a pauper inmate, gave birth while living there. In 2011 a gallery opened dedicated to Land Girls and their wartime work, featuring uniforms and audio from former members. A 2024 exhibition called ‘Making the Rounds’ uncovered the life of Helen Hart, a suffragist and nurse who later became well known in Australia. The art collection shows works by Perry Nursey, J. Locke and James Scraggs. Visitors find a working farm alongside the museum buildings. Traditional farm animals graze the surrounding fields. Inside, galleries display photographs, tools and textiles that tell rural and workhouse stories. The chapel still stands, its interior unchanged since the 19th century. A library and archive hold records of local lives. The whole site offers a quiet space to walk among farmyards, orchards and exhibition rooms.