493rd Bomb Group Museum 2025
Suffolk
The museum’s collections relate to the Garrett family, the draftsmen, engineers and other craftsmen who worked there; the engines, tools, vehicles and machines that were made there, and the impact of the Works on this small Suffolk town. ‘The Long Shop’ itself is a very early example of a building designed for assembly line production. It is Grade II* Listed, and the water tower is Grade II Listed.
Address: Main Street Leiston Suffolk IP16 4ES
Reopens April 2025. Visit website or facebook for more details.
Leiston Works, or Garretts was a family business from 1778 to 1932, after which the company passed into the hands of Beyer Peacock. The works finally closed in 1981. The historic core was preserved and opened as a museum in 1984.