NORWICH CASTLE MUSEUM
​SHIRE HALL STUDY CENTRE...

Please Note: Unfortunately, due to building alterations, access to The Study Centre is currently severely limited. ​

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Please note: The Costume & Textile Association is not part of the Museums Service. The C&TA is a charitable trust independent of the Museums Service costume and textile collection.

​Booking to visit the study centre is essential. The C&TA is not able to arrange visits. You must get in touch with the museums service. 

For enquiries about booking either a group or individual appointment to view the collections please either telephone the museums service on 01603 495897 or email [email protected].

Visit the Study Centre website 

Use the Google map below to find your way to the centre.

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​The Norwich Castle Study Centre (NCSC) at the Shirehall in Market Avenue, Norwich, houses a unique collection of thousands of costume and textiles from Norfolk and around the world.

​The Norfolk Museums Service Costume and Textile department reflects changing fashions, styles and technology in clothing and textiles and also the historic importance of the city of Norwich in weaving and clothing production.

Its purpose is to collect, and provide access to its collection of British clothing, accessories, needlecrafts and home furnishings dating from the 18th century to the present day.

The entire collection of more than 32,000 items is accessible to the public by appointment (see left). The collection includes:

• male, female, infant and children's 18th, 19th and 20th century fashionable and everyday dress for day and evening, with underwear, supporting garments and outerwear;
• religious dress, civic costume, sportswear, occupational and workwear;
• personal accessories: footwear, bags, purses, fans, parasols, walking sticks, gloves, muffs, stockings, hats, bonnets and jewellery;
• the largest collection of Norwich shawls in the country;
• embroidery and samplers;
• lace and lace-making equipment and other craft and needlework tools.
• bedcovers and domestic furnishings.
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There is also a specialist reference library containing books on the history of dress from the Middle Ages to the present day, as well as large sections on different textile crafts and on the manufacture and social significance of costume and textiles.

In addition there is a selection of fashion and women's magazines, craft magazines and journals, trade and exhibition catalogues and embroidery, sewing and knitting patterns.

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Norfolk Museums Service is offering to the public the hire of its industrial freezer for pest eradication. Freezing is one of the safest and tested ways to halt damage caused by common pests including moth, carpet beetles and woodworm.

​For full details, including costs, download the pdf leaflet about freezer services here.