28-662: The Muckleburgh Collection is a military museum sited on a former military camp at Weybourne , on the North Norfolk coast, England . It was opened to the public in 1988 and is the largest privately owned military museum in the United Kingdom. The museum is located on the site of the Second World War and post-war Weybourne Anti Aircraft Training Camp. Weybourne Camp is north west of the coastal village of Weybourne . The site, originally called Carvel Farm,
56-416: A visitation in 1514, there was only one prior and one canon and this situation remained until King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of monasteries and priories. Weybourne has long been considered a possible site for invasion, one reason being the deep water offshore. "He who would all England win, should at Weybourne Hope begin." During the Second World War defences were constructed around Weybourne as
84-485: A demonstration of projectile firing was carried out, but the result was most unsatisfactory. The Prime Minister gave the commandant just seven days to improve the standard. On the second visit, each demonstration ended in failure until finally, a Queen Bee pilotless target aircraft was shot down and crashed close to the VIP enclosure. History has it that all the senior staff were replaced the following day. Weybourne Windmill
112-613: A grass airstrip was laid out, which remains in use. After the war, the camp became known as the AA permanent Range and Radar Training Wing and gunnery training continued until 1958. The site still has a RAF radar receiving station and is the location of the University of East Anglia Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory and a Metrological Station. When Weybourne Camp closed, the site returned to private ownership and many buildings that were beyond repair were demolished. The Muckleburgh Collection
140-561: A large gang of armed smugglers at nearby Kelling . Many shots were exchanged and the coastguards recovered five horses with carts carrying 540 imperial gallons (2,500 L) of brandy and around 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of manufactured tobacco. Volunteers manning the Rocket House saved the lives of many seafarers from the ships wrecked along the Weybourne coast. The crew of the coal ship Emily however were not so lucky when it
168-507: A part of British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War. The beaches were blocked by landmines and extensive scaffolding barriers ; further inland there were pillboxes , barbed wire entanglements , a long anti-tank ditch and other defences. During the Second World War , Weybourne Camp was a highly secret site and was an Anti-Aircraft Artillery range. This, along with a complementary camp at Stiffkey , represented
196-525: Is a fine example of a tower mill , built in 1850, that has been restored but not to working condition. During the Second World War, suspicions arose in the village about the couple who lived at the mill: there were rumours that the residents were spying for the Germans. The man living in the mill was a Mr Dodds and his wife apparently had a strong foreign accent, which locals described as "like German or Austrian". One night two local policemen were walking down
224-557: Is a village on the coast of North Norfolk , England. The village is surrounded by arable fields, woodland and heathland; it straddles the A149 coast road, 3 miles (5 km) west of Sheringham , within the Norfolk Coast AONB . The area is popular for its local countryside and coastline, particularly for walking, wildlife and bird-watching. The parish church of All Saints is listed Grade II* . The adjacent standing remains of
252-402: Is about 1,000 yards (910 m) from the village centre, signposted from the coast road opposite the church. The main station was built in 1900; other structures of the appropriate era, such as the signal box, waiting room and footbridge have been imported from other locations. On the closure of the line, British Rail lifted the track and razed the station, apart from the main station building. It
280-554: Is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is called Wabrume. The remains of the Augustinian Weybourne Priory , founded around 1200 AD by Sir Ralph de Meyngaren (Mainwearing), stand on the site of a simpler Anglo-Saxon church. By 1494 one prior and three canons lived there: one canon complained that the priory was so poor it was unable to pay him his 20 shillings of annual pocket money. At
308-478: The "Poppy Line", this well-preserved railway cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne and passes through the carefully preserved country station, which also houses a locomotive shed with a carriage maintenance and restoration centre. The railway offers a 10.5-mile (16.9 km) round trip by steam train, or vintage diesel trains on some journeys, through an area of North Norfolk designated as being of outstanding natural beauty . Weybourne railway station
SECTION 10
#1732776096357336-591: The Augustinian priory are Grade I and the site is a Scheduled Monument . The village's name origin is uncertain. The second element is 'stream'. The specific may be a pre-English river-name, or perhaps, ' weir / mill -dam stream', although there is no evidence for the age of the mill pond here. Other suggestions such as the Old English 'wearg', 'felon' and 'wagu', 'quagmire' are less likely. Weybourne has an oceanic climate ( Köppen : Cfb ). Weybourne
364-547: The North Norfolk Amateur Radio Group and numerous special displays. The vehicles, museum site, and its unspoilt 300 acres (1.2 km) has been used for television films, documentaries and dramas. The museum offers rides in a military vehicle and hosts "tank driving" in a FV432 . Among the 25 working tanks are a Panzer P-68 , a Chieftain and a Stuart M5A1 , a Soviet T-55 and a Canadian-built Sherman . Weybourne, Norfolk Weybourne
392-578: The bodies of six sailors from the SS George Royle were washed up on Weybourne beach; there is a tombstone in the churchyard to their memory. The Rocket House still stands but is now a private residence. Changes in government policy have led to the discontinuation of management of coastal erosion in North Norfolk. [REDACTED] Media related to Weybourne, Norfolk at Wikimedia Commons Weybourne Priory Weybourne Priory
420-530: The camp consisted of groups of Nissen huts , barracks and other military buildings. The cliff top to the north was covered by a line of heavy anti-aircraft guns and batteries, slit trenches and pillboxes. In 1941, the camp was visited by Winston Churchill , to view a demonstration of the Unrotated Projectile anti–aircraft weapon. As the war progressed, defences at Weybourne Camp became more complex and were altered regularly and significantly and
448-426: The fact that it is also told of Suffolk locations adds at least a little weight. In the 1800s, William J. Bolding, the owner of Weybourne watermill and much of the inland areas at Weybourne, reputedly turned a blind eye to goods landed on the beaches bordering his property, and was rewarded with contraband left discreetly on his doorstep. In February 1837, a Lieutenant George Howes and his men from Weybourne intercepted
476-414: The lane from the old coastguard cottages towards the mill when they saw a light flashing from the top of the mill out towards sea. Apparently no action was taken – oddly, given the wartime conditions and the closeness to Weybourne Camp – but seemingly it bothered one of the policemen and he went back a couple of nights later and saw lights again. Some time later, Mrs Dodds left her bicycle unattended outside
504-701: The main live-firing training ranges for Anti-Aircraft Command in the war. Here the Norfolk coastline became a controlled zone by the British forces. This controlled zone extended 10 km (6 mi) deep into the North Sea around Norfolk . Weybourne Camp was a vital part of this zone. Weybourne Camp was visited twice by Winston Churchill in 1941. These visits took place after the Dunkirk evacuation when British defences were on high alert. During his first visit,
532-445: The miller would stop the windmill's sails in the form of a cross to warn the smugglers that the customs or coastguards were on to them; when the coast was clear he would set the sails going once more. On Weybourne beach there was so little cover for the waiting land party that the men were reputed to bury themselves neck-deep in the shingle until the smuggling vessel appeared on the horizon . This story perhaps stretches credulity, but
560-403: The prior, obtained a pension of £4; he was presented to the Norfolk rectory of Egmere in 1543. After its suppression, the priory was granted to John Gresham . The standing remains of the priory are Grade I listed and the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument . 52°56′35″N 1°08′30″E / 52.9431°N 1.1416°E / 52.9431; 1.1416 This article about
588-500: The tennis court. The bicycle fell over and a bag fell out of the basket. A local picked the bicycle up and then the bag. He took a look inside and found a radio transmitter. He told the police and a day or two later the authorities arrived and took the lady and her husband away. Weybourne also had a watermill which was located on Beach Road. There is a shop, Weybourne Stores, and The Ship public house, which serves ales and hot food most lunchtimes and evenings. A few minutes walk from
SECTION 20
#1732776096357616-624: The village centre is the Maltings Hotel, which provides bar and restaurant meals as well as accommodation. A popular attraction is the Muckleburgh Collection : the largest privately owned collection of tanks, armoured cars and other military vehicles used in wars across the globe. Another local attraction is the North Norfolk Railway , which runs from Sheringham through Weybourne to Holt . Also known as
644-458: Was a small Augustinian medieval monastic house in Weybourne , Norfolk , England . It was founded around 1200 AD by Sir Ralph de Meyngaren (Mainwearing). It was at first subordinate to West Acre Priory but independent from 1314. By 1494 only one prior and three canons lived there. At a visitation in 1514, there was only the prior and one canon. It was dissolved in 1536. Thomas Bulman,
672-549: Was first used in 1935 by the Anti–Aircraft Division of the Territorial Army as a summer training camp. In 1937 and as a result of the growing threat of war, it was decided to make the camp permanent and more fixed structures and defences were erected. During the Second World War, the camp was surrounded by a perimeter anti-tank ditch and defended by a system of gun emplacements and barbed wire. The interior of
700-478: Was founded by Squadron Leader Berry Savory and his son Michael Savory . At the time of the museum's opening in 1988, the principal display consisted of 30 vehicles and a small room describing the camp history. The museum has expanded to include over 150 artillery pieces, tanks and other vehicles, most of which are in working order. The Muckleburgh Collection is home to the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry collection,
728-512: Was lost: they all lost their lives except the master who survived. In 1823 a brig from Naples, carrying a cargo of olive oil broke up, but six of her crew were saved. When the Norwegian barque Ida was wrecked carrying pit-props to Cardiff, all the crew was rescued using a rocket line. The crew and some villagers salvaged some of the pit-props and it is said that many of these timbers survive in barns and cottages around Weybourne. In January 1915
756-526: Was regarded as vulnerable to the threat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The village was also a well-used location for smuggling items such as over-proof gin and pressed bales of tobacco. The coast between Sheringham and Weybourne was popular for landing goods because ships could anchor closer to the shore than anywhere else in the area. There was also a convenient gap in the cliffs through which goods could be easily transported. Local folklore says that
784-459: Was used as the location for the filming of the Dad's Army episode, " The Royal Train " and is frequently used by film-makers and artists. On the station, there is a small shop, buffet and picnic area. At weekends, there is a bookshop selling a wide range of old railway books and magazines, railway videos and CDs commemorating times past. At Weybourne the coast has an unusually steep shingle beach which
#356643