Amber being found along the shoreline close to Southwold and Aldeburgh, it is quite natural that Southwold should be the home of amber in Great Britain. It is the reason why for over 100 years we have specialised in amber and why we are not only the oldest amber specialists, but also the largest in Great Britain.

right - amber tree from the Museum

Amber is a fossilised resin from the ancient forest that covered northern Europe 60 - 40 million years ago. The resin collected at the base of the huge trees (predominantly of the pine variety and collectively named "Pinus sucinifera") it then became trapped within the great ice flows and glaciers during the Ice Age. These great glaciers compressed and hardened the resin, which became fossilised and ultimately was deposited by the glaciers in such places as the North sea. After heavy seas and storms, between the months of October and February, pieces of amber will be torn from the sea bed and tossed onto the shoreline by enormous waves, to be found by the lucky visitor. But, as it is said, you do not find amber - amber finds you!

We use as much local amber as is available but as the business is so large, we also have to import from the major sources throughout the world. These include all the States surrounding the Baltic sea, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Burma. We are constantly searching for new sources.

Amber, being organic, should always be treated gently, kept away from your harder gem stones. If it comes into contact with perfume or hairspray it should be immediately be wiped over with a damp cloth. If your amber appears to become dulled it can always be revived by wiping over with a little good quality olive oil on a soft cloth - this will usually revive and restore the lustre to your amber.

We are constantly bombarded with questions on amber, which is why we have created the only purpose built museum dedicated to the history and story of amber. We have exhibits from all over the world - constantly changing - each with a detailed description and story board.

We even have a cross section of the beach so that you can try to spot the amber among all the other stones. The Museum entrance is free and all our staff are only too pleased to explain some of the mysteries of amber. Another of Southwold's gems!!