Blitz and Pieces

Blitz and Pieces is a small museum in Scratby, a village near Great Yarmouth in eastern England. It stands on a short street called Blitz Street, where three buildings from the 1930s and 1940s have been turned into displays. The main building is a prefabricated house built in the 1940s, while a wooden military hut from the 1930s holds Captain Mainwaring’s office. Several large sheds hold more exhibits, including a full-size Anderson shelter and two period shops. The museum grew from the collection of Darren Stride, who began gathering items after watching Dad’s Army with his grandfather, John Fenton. Fenton served in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, the real-life unit that inspired the Home Guard platoon in the comedy. Many objects were donated by visitors or by the Yesterday’s World attraction when it closed in 2014. The display includes uniforms, props from the TV series, and medals once owned by Fenton. Inside, visitors find a chemist’s shop and a grocer’s shop arranged as they would have been in the 1940s. A 1940s kitchen and living room show everyday life during the war. Captain Mainwaring’s office contains original props from Dad’s Army, including half the string used in one episode. The Anderson shelter is filled with wartime items, and uniforms from different regiments line the walls. Outside, the street itself feels like a slice of the Home Front, with buildings and signs that recall the era.