[3] In 1895, before it became a museum, part was in use by the Great Eastern Railway as a Parcel Receiving and Enquiry Office, with another section being incorporated into the Castle Hotel.

[9] In 1973, however, Edgar Samuel argued that its size and location near a market make it unlikely to be a synagogue, but concluded that it is "highly probable" that it was owned by a Jewish merchant family.

[a] Thirdly, the building's date of c. 1180 corresponds to the period when the Jews of Bury St Edmunds were at the height of their prosperity.

[b] Fourthly, the 'ii' of the Latin rendering ad aulam Moysii strongly suggests "Mosheh" or Angevin "Mosse" rather than the monosyllabic English "Mose" or "Moys".

[12] The museum is home to the Gershom-Parkington clock collection,[11] and artefacts concerning the Red Barn Murder of 1827, as well as important finds such as an aestel found in Drinkstone.