Visitors flocked to venues of historical interest over the weekend as part of the Heritage Open Days.

Eastern Daily Press: Girlguiding Norfolk'’s Archive Resource Centre opened its collection of guiding treasures. Picture: Aileen Beck.Girlguiding Norfolk'’s Archive Resource Centre opened its collection of guiding treasures. Picture: Aileen Beck. (Image: Aileen Beck)

Those taking a trip to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse were able to visit the museum galleries, garden and orchard, as well as being able to discover more about the local treasures found in Norfolk.

Other activities include taking a guided tour behind the scenes of the Norfolk Collections Centre and viewing a range of fascinating objects including the tusk of the West Runton mammoth, a medieval chancel screen and a 19th Century mustard stamping machine from Colman's factory in Norwich.

The memory of guiding pioneers Beth and Philippa Patteson was also celebrated when Girlguiding Norfolk's Archive Resource Centre opened its collection of guiding treasures.

The sisters, members of a wealthy brewing family in Norfolk, gave their estate and family home, Great Hautbois House in Coltishall, to the guiding movement in the 1980s.

Eastern Daily Press: Gressenhall heritage open dayGressenhall heritage open day (Image: Archant)

Visitors to the Archive Resource Centre got the chance to discover more about Beth, Philippa and other pioneering women within the movement.

The collection included early logbooks from the Sandringham Guide Company which contain messages from and photographs of royal family members, examples of early Guide and Brownie uniforms and thousands of badges, books and trophies.

County archivist Helen Green said: 'The Patteson sisters were hugely influential in the village of Coltishall, in Norfolk, nationally and indeed internationally in the world of guiding. Their generosity and interest in the movement means we are fortunate to enjoy our history in an engaging way at the Archive Resource Centre.'

Over in Lowestoft the town celebrated its hidden history with more than 70 free events and activities.

From taking a look around the oldest house in town or exploring the backroom of a 19th Century chemist, there was plenty to do.

Dunx Cycles, in High Street, had around 300 people pass through its doors curious to see the Fishermen's cottages which date back to 1790.

Owner Duncan Adams said: 'It was absolutely fantastic, so many people really enjoyed going down there.'