Two hands grinding grains with a small stone to make flour onto a large stone

Introducing our newest YAC: Dereham YAC

May 2026

We’re delighted to introduce the newest YAC to join the YAC network: Dereham YAC, based at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse in Norfolk. Branch leaders Katie and Susie tell us more about the new club and their first two YAC sessions in Spring 2026…

Hello! We are Katie and Susie, leaders of the new Dereham Young Archaeologists’ Club running at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Norfolk. We are very excited to run a club affiliated with the British Council of Archaeology to connect our young people with their local heritage. Our club runs once a month and is based at the museum, however we have lots of trips and speakers planned. With the generous support of the Friends of Gressenhall, we are able to run our sessions for free.

A little bit about us…. We both work in the Learning Team here at Gressenhall, so usually you will see us dressed up as Victorians or even as fairytale characters. Our museum welcomes over 10,000 children a year from across all key stages. We also welcome SEND schools and home educated families.

We are very lucky here at Gressenhall as we have lots of history being an old workhouse and have a traditional working farm onsite. Therefore, our sessions will cover a wide range of history including the Victorians.

We have now run two successful sessions with our taster session kicking things off at the end of March. We are starting at the very beginning of history with the Neolithic. Already participants have done object handling, mind maps, experienced a ‘year in the life on a Neolithic farm’ and built their very own shelters. We then have a trip to Norwich Castle planned and will look at hunting and making our own clay pots. For the second half of the year, we will explore how our workhouse building impacted the lives of the inmates (those that lived and worked at the workhouse).

During our sessions, participants will have the opportunity to work towards Archaeology Scotland’s Heritage Heroes Award. We are yet to decide on a project, but ideas are already flowing, the possibilities are endless.

Click here to find out more about Dereham YAC and find out how to join.