Location : The museum is to be found on the B1382 at the eastern fringe of Prickwillow village, by the bridge over the River Lark, just a few miles from Ely, Lakenheath and Mildenhall.
Housed in the original Prickwillow Engine House (dating from 1890), it enjoys a picturesque setting on the river bank and is on the Hereward Way for those enjoying a walk out from Ely. For those arriving by car, the museum has it own large (free) car park. The original building has been extended in recent years to provide modern visitor facilities as well as housing exhibits which include several large vintage diesel pumping engines which will delight enthusiasts of Britain's industrial heritage. The location is ideal for a picnic on the river bank which also has moorings for those arriving by boat.
Access : The majority of the museum is suitable for wheel chair access.
A hearing aid loop is also available.
Exhibits : The displays cover both the historical and technical aspects of the drainage works which span many centuries and the aim is to inform and educate visitors, by providing an understanding of the way in which the Fens came into being and are protected from flooding. The engine and pump collection is representative of the products of the golden age of British engineering.
Interactive Presentation : Use is made of touch-screen terminals to enhance the presentation of historical material, as well as providing video clips of the engines in operation. These systems employ speech synthesis to provide an optional commentary, a facility particularly useful for those with less than perfect vision. For a little entertainment, a quiz is incorporated into the system, so you can test yourself to find out how much you have learned during your visit (particularly popular with younger visitors).
Group Visits : The museum is a particularly popular venue for school project visits and audio-visual presentations are arranged to engage the interest of these younger visitors.
Visits by private club groups and holiday coach tours are catered for by arrangement, including evening and 'out of season' visits. Group visits can include provision of refreshment and light buffet meals.
Demonstration running of one or more of the large engines is usually possible for group visits and this is combined with an audio-visual presentation to provide a memorable visit.
Facilities : These include a cafe, providing hot and cold drinks, light snacks and ice creams and a shop which stocks a range of gift items, including books and DVDs.
Hall Hire : The large main hall of the museum is available to hire for meetings (when the museum is closed to the public) and refreshments (including buffet meals) will be provided, if required.
.jpg){kind=small}