Adams Heritage Centre
17 Main Street, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1PH
Adams Heritage Centre has an amazing story to tell - it is an existing example of an original Victorian ironmonger shop on the Main Street of Littleport and today is a hub of creative and heritage activity.
The original Victorian interior has been preserved along with items from its stock sold here over the years - there is a fascinating original archive and historic catalogues of merchandise which illustrate how the shop worked, gives insight into customers' needs and the changing lives in rural Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. It was in the hands of 3 generations of the same family and the archives detail a social history of a Fenland community and its domestic and industrial needs through its records and services offered. During the 1920s and 1930s, when fen ice skating was at its peak in the East of England, J. H Adams and Sons was the sole UK importer of quality fen Haagen Skates from Norway and we know that several world champion skaters were customers at the shop to secure their skates for contests.
In 2012, no longer operating as a shop the site and collections was bought by a local businessman and loaned to the town as a community resource for arts and creativity. During each year, we host community activities, meetings, workshops and events that celebrate contemporary art and crafts mixed with heritage traditions and inspiration from Fenland's past.
Timings & Tours
- Wednesday 11 September:
- 1100 - 1500
- Saturday 14 September:
- 1100 - 1500
- Sunday 15 September:
- 1100 - 1500
Location & directions
17 Main Street, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1PH
- Directions:
- Littleport Train Station is on the Fen Line link between London and King's Lynn (the station is between Ely and Downham Market stops). From the train station, Main Street is a short ten minute walk.
- Contact on day:
- Nicola Power
- Telephone number:
- +447821683130
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There is central free parking in Littleport at the Littleport Barn - Adams Heritage Centre is a few minutes walk from there. There is disabled parking on Main Street, Littleport.
Additional information
There will be introductory talks for visitors, a chance to see the unique archive which is not usually on display and a chance to see work by contemporary artists and their responses to the story of Adams and Fenland Heritage Crafts.
