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 Farm…
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,…
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, Defending…
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 Museums…
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 tribes…
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. We…
New Museums Essex members! Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre
Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre, under a new Committee reopened on 2nd March with mayor, MP and local councillors in attendance. The centre is currently going through a one year refurbishment programme with a grand reopening planned for 1st March 2026. After a good start it was quickly discovered that many items were not labelled or…
Curator’s Blog: Behind the Rainbow
By Claire Willetts, Curatorial & Learning Officer at Chelmsford Museum The stories told in museum exhibitions are often interpreted by a curator, those who have studied and researched a subject in significant detail, and hopefully condensed all that information into a manageable and accessible narrative. Our latest temporary exhibition, Behind the Rainbow, was an opportunity…
Royal Visit to Braintree Museum
On Tuesday 3rd October Braintree Museum was honoured to have received a visit from HRH The Duke of Gloucester to celebrate our 30th birthday and the formal opening of the Warner & Sons Gallery. Visit Details To commemorate the 30th birthday of the Museum in Manor Street, Braintree and the formal opening of our Warner…
Tuning in to Radio Club!
By Sarah Harvey, Curatorial & Learning Officer at Chelmsford Museum Image courtesy of Chelmsford City Council Chelmsford holds the title “Birthplace of Radio” for several very good reasons; the first wireless factory was opened here; Marconi, aided by many brilliant engineers, perfected and developed his radio technology here; and the first regular, licensed British radio…
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