New Member – The Cart and Wagon Shed

Welcome to a new member of Museums Essex, The Cart and Wagon Shed in Shoeburyness. Here an introduction from Chris Spall, Director: The Cart and Wagon Shed is an early example of a prefabricated iron-frame ex-military building constructed around 1860. It is Grade II listed for its special architectural or historic interest and has beenContinue reading “New Member – The Cart and Wagon Shed”

Museum Interactives on a Budget at the East Anglian Railway Museum

Museum interactives do not have to be technical, expensive, space-hungry, or dependent on staff or volunteers to run. Over the past year, the East Anglian Railway Museum has hosted two public interactives, both of which have been highly successful. Neither required a large budget, specialist equipment, or staff supervision, yet both consistently engaged visitors. TheContinue reading “Museum Interactives on a Budget at the East Anglian Railway Museum”

Southend Pier / Sopot Pier Project

You may be aware that Southend is twinned with Sopot in Poland. The question is why? In the Pier Museum we had two small pictures of Sopot pier. However, the specific details remain largely unknown.   Part of the Museum’s charitable status is to enhance understanding of the Pier and to educate our visitors. We alsoContinue reading “Southend Pier / Sopot Pier Project”

Funding Success!

Cultural Development Grant Fund We are delighted to announce that two of our Museums Essex members have been successful in their applications to the recent Essex County Council Cultural Development Fund. The successful recipients are Epping Forest District Museum and The Minories. Their projects meet both of the grant funds criteria by providing local communityContinue reading “Funding Success!”

A ship’s bell lost to the sea for more than 130 years has returned to its Essex port home

Text and images from Matt Knight, BBC Essex (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7nznnj8nlo) The Masonic sank off the North Yorkshire coast during a fierce storm in 1893, and the entire crew and the ship’s high-copper alloy bell were lost. But it is now back in Brightlingsea, where the ship was built, after workers constructing the Dogger Bank Wind FarmContinue reading “A ship’s bell lost to the sea for more than 130 years has returned to its Essex port home”

World War One Propeller wings its way back to Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is delighted to receive the gift of a World War One bomber propeller from Wilkin & Sons in Tiptree. The hand-carved mahogany propeller was originally gifted to the famous Tiptree jam maker in 1919 by airmen at Stow Maries, when the aerodrome was being decommissioned. Now, over a century later,Continue reading “World War One Propeller wings its way back to Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome”

Calm and Courageous Exhibition at Epping Forest District Museum

The latest temporary exhibition at Epping Forest District Museum marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe or VE Day on 8 May 2025. It tells the story of the Second World War Home Front within the Epping Forest District of Essex. The exhibition follows the themes of the War of Home, War Work, DefendingContinue reading “Calm and Courageous Exhibition at Epping Forest District Museum”

Museums Essex Small Grants Now Open!

Round 13 of the Museums Essex small grants scheme is now open. For more information and how to apply, see our grants page: https://museums-essex.org/grants/ There are 8 grants of up to £500 to be awarded, within the theme of Collections Management. If you’d like support or advice on your application, please speak to the MuseumsContinue reading “Museums Essex Small Grants Now Open!”

Britain’s largest recorded Iron Age gold coin hoard secured for Museum of Chelmsford

A hoard of 933 gold Iron Age coins, thought to be possibly linked to Julius Caesar, has been acquired by the Museum of Chelmsford thanks to a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Great Baddow Hoard is an exceptional find of national importance, shedding light on the activity of Iron Age tribesContinue reading “Britain’s largest recorded Iron Age gold coin hoard secured for Museum of Chelmsford”

Manningtree Museum reopens!

Great news!  Manningtree Museum will be reopening this Saturday 19th April after a period of closure for essential building work to be done.  The Museum, which is housed in a room in Manningtree Library in the High Street, will be open from 10.00am – 4.00pm on Saturday and thereafter normal opening hours will resume.  WeContinue reading “Manningtree Museum reopens!”