Adams Heritage Centre, Littleport
17 Main Street, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1PH
Adams Heritage Centre has an amazing story to tell - it is an extremely rare example of a 19th century shop, originally an ironmonger's shop on the Main Street of Littleport now operating as a hub of creative and heritage activity.
The centre is a time capsule of commercial history with over a century of trading heritage as J. H Adams and Sons from 1901 to 2011. With a recessed entrance, etched and painted glass and original business lettering, the shop stands out on the Main Street. It has an original folding wrought iron gate dated 1892 and an innovative steel framed structure with pitch pine ceiling. Designed by Cambridgeshire architect Josiah Gunton, it was built in 1893 and has survived along with its original business archive from 1910, examples of trade catalogues and examples of artefacts sold in the shop.
Adams Heritage Centre, Littleport gives insight into customers' needs and social history of rural Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. 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 Haagen Skates from Norway and we know that several world champion skaters were customers at the shop to secure their skates for contests.
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
- Saturday 13 September:
- 1400 - 1600
- Sunday 14 September:
- 1400 - 1600
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1400 - 1600
- Sunday 21 September:
- 1400-1600
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.
