Wymondham Heritage Museum is housed in The Bridewell, one of the town's most important historic buildings. The site was used as a prison from at least 1619, while the present building dates largely from the 1780s. The Bridewell was designed as a House of Correction and became nationally significant as an early model for prison reform, influencing the design and operation of similar institutions elsewhere in Britain and America.
During the nineteenth century, the Bridewell served as a prison, courthouse and later a police station. At its peak it contained cells, exercise yards and a treadmill used as part of prisoners' labour. The prison closed in 1878, after which the building was adapted for a variety of civic uses.
The museum itself was established by the Wymondham Heritage Society in 1984, initially operating from a small bakehouse in the town. Ten years later, the Society purchased the Bridewell and converted it into a community complex. In 1996, the museum relocated to its current home within the Bridewell, where it remains today. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and continues to be managed by the Heritage Society.
Today, the museum tells the story of Wymondham and the surrounding area, covering everything from prehistoric times through to the twentieth century. Exhibits explore topics such as Kett's Rebellion of 1549, Wymondham's brush-making industry, local agriculture, the Great Fire of 1615, and the impact of American airmen stationed nearby during the Second World War. Visitors can also explore a recreated dungeon and learn about life in the Bridewell prison over 200 years ago.