Hello Everyone,
We at Prickwillow Museum sincerely hope that you are all keeping healthy in these difficult times. It looks as though we are not going to be opening the museum anytime soon, with the necessary government restrictions imposing a complete shut-down for the foreseeable future.
Under normal circumstances we would be preparing everything at the museum in readiness to open in a week or so's time, but not this year!
Unfortunately, while we are in this shutdown situation, our fixed costs are still there, and at Prickwillow Museum that means approximately £12,000 a year to cover all our expenditure on insurance, water, electricity, fuel, rent, specialists services, maintenance of the exhibits, etc.
Being an independent museum and a registered charity, we are totally reliant on events we run throughout the year to raise money to cover our costs. Unfortunately, this year it looks as though most, if not all, of our events will be cancelled. But we still have to cover our costs which this year, due to the shut-down, will be slightly lower than usual but still around £8000.
Therefore, we would like to ask if you would personally help the museum by making a donation to our support fund. Please follow THIS LINK to our fundraising page.
Many thanks.

With the addition of a New Entrance Porch to the main entrance and Heissen Infra Red Vector Bar Heaters placed strategically through the public spaces, the Museum will be able to accommodate, much more comfortably, group visitors and events/exhibitions throughout the colder months.
The replacement of the large feature windows that had become cloudy, has transformed the entrance lobby/reception area.
All this work was made possible by the awarding of a generous grant from Cambridgeshire Fens Leader Fund, being part of the National Rural Development Programme, for which we are very grateful.
Our thanks go particularly to the staff of the Cambridgeshire Acre Organisation for their assistance through the application and development process.
The Mayor of Ely, Councillor Mike Rouse, has kindly agreed to carry out the official opening by ‘cutting the ribbon’ to these facilities on Saturday July 6th at 2pm, followed by the cutting of a celebration cake.
The Museum will be open as normal that day from 12.00 to 16.00, with a charge of £3 for adults and £2.50 for concessions, £1 for children (under 6’s free) to tour the Museum engines/exhibits, but you are welcome to visit the café/reception area for the opening, free of charge, when tea/coffee, snacks and cakes will be on sale.

The trustees of Prickwillow Museum are delighted to be adding to the increasingly popular series of talks at the Museum with this fascinating evening. Robert Smith MBE, Port of Wells Harbour Master, and author of 'Crossing the Bar' and 'Tales of a Harbour Master' joins us for what promises to be a very interesting evening.
Robert was born and raised on the North Norfolk Coast in Wells-Next-the-Sea. Drawn to water from an early age, the creeks and marshes of Wells were both his playground and classroom; and from the age of seven he could be seen racing down to the Quayside each day to mess around in boats!
Robert’s passion for the harbour is unsurprising. His ancestors gained their livelihood from the harbour, sea and North Norfolk from the 1700s, and it seemed inevitable that he would follow in their footsteps, first working with his family as longshoremen before joining a local shipping company, then Wells Harbour Commissioners as Assistant Harbour Master.
In 2000, Robert became Harbour Master. This, as well as his 27 year tenure as crew and second Coxswain on the Wells lifeboat has given him a great appreciation of the power and unpredictability of the sea.
In 2016/17 Robert was recognised in the New Year’s Honours List and awarded an MBE for his services to the Port and Community of Wells. The following year, Robert published his first book, 'Crossing the Bar', described as being ‘a hymn to the most beautiful coastline in the world’. The book has received countrywide acclaim. No small feat for a man challenged by dyslexia!  
A natural storyteller, Robert is a popular public speaker. 'Tales of a Harbour Master' not only take his audience on a journey of discovery of the history and workings of the Port, but also provides a light-hearted and amusing glimpse of his life as Harbour Master.
Robert is often asked what he enjoys most about his work, his reply is always the same, Fresh Air & Freedom.


We are expecting this event to be very popular so please do book early to avoid disappointment. All details in the poster below, on our Events page, by telephone 01353 720737/01353 778442 or by email HERE.