Local industry at Lynn Museum

Frederick Savage was born in 1828, the son of a weaver. He was self-educated and built the first steam-driven threshing machines, ploughs, and traction engines for farmers in the Fens.

His company, also, started to repair the showman's rides for the travelling fairground, known as the Mart. Before long, he was creating gallopers and carousels and his engineering company based in Lynn came to dominate fairground manufacturing. The high point of many local children's year is still a visit to the Mart.

In the 19th Century, Lynn became the centre for a number of specialised industries, with companies such as Bagge's Brewery, Lynn Glass, and Hemeter's gut works flourishing. Engineering companies such as Dodman's and Cooper's Roller Bearings took their place beside Savage's Iron Works and Campbell's Soups.

The Museum contains numerous artefacts from companies such as these. The town could boast prosperous and well-appointed stores and two weekly markets, including the sale of livestock in an area known as the Cattle Market, situated close to the Museum.