“Chelmsford Museum was founded in 1835 by the members of the Chelmsford Philosophical Society and started life in the parlour of Chelmsford Gaol, then situated by the Stone Bridge in the centre of the town.” Home to the The Essex Regiment Museum and The Essex Yeomanry. The early part of 2012 sees exhibitions on Tudors, Sporting Heroes, and Marconi. Read a blog about our visit in February 2011 – click here

“Since the 16th century, the Castle has been a ruin, a library and a gaol for witches. Today it is an award winning museum featuring many hands-on displays showing Colchester’s history from the Stone Age to the Civil War.” Wide range of permanent and temporary exhibitions and talks etc, sited in Castle Park and close to firstsite and other museums in Colchester. Watch out for the big ‘Treasures of China’ exhibition starting in June 2012!

The aim of the Combined Military Services Museum is to display artefacts from Britain’s proud military history, for the education and enjoyment of both present and future generations.

Read the Essex Days Out blog about our visit in Feb 2011 : a great museum!

The East Anglian Railway Museum, based just outside Colchester, Essex, is a Working Museum dedicated to preserving the history of railways in the Eastern Counties. Lots of events throughout the year, including Days Out With Thomas.

Essex Days Out tip : lunch at the Thatcher’s Arms, 3 minutes drive up the road!

Enjoy 300 years of history through hands-on exhibits and displays with fun and humour in mind. Look out for the dolls’ house, it’s a model of Hollytrees House. Discover what family lifewas like for the rich and the poor people. Hear the stories of those who lived and worked in Hollytrees, a beautiful Georgian town house built in 1718.

Privately-owned museum, with one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of railway items in Britain. And their own steam trains!

“The Museum of Power, set in seven acres of grounds and housed in the Steam Pumping Station at Langford in Essex , exhibits and demonstrates working examples of power sources of all types and chronicles the major roles that they have played in history.” Try and get there when their huge Lilleshall steam engine is operating : click here for a report and video when we visited.

Set in 170 acres of natural parkland and boasting 20 buildings of major historic importance, the site mixes secret history, exciting science and beautiful surroundings to produce a magical day out for all. Established in the 17th century and acquired by the Crown in 1787, the Royal Gunpowder Mills has a very important place in both the history of Great Britain and its home town of Waltham Abbey.

The Central Museum was opened in April 1981, in a magnificent Edwardian library building. The displays tell the story of the natural and human history of south east Essex. It also hosts the Planetarium.

“Brentwood Museum is housed in a picturesque 19th century building once a sexton’s cottage, and although small it offers a fascinating insight into Brentwood life in the early part of this century, with an exciting collection of social and domestic objects dating from around 1840-1950.” Opening hours : afternoon of the first Saturday and Sunday of the month, and lunchtime on the first Monday of the month, between April-October). Also monthly evening talks.

(limited opening – Easter to September weekends and Monday afternoons)

Based in a building dating back to 1520, the Museum offers something for all the family, with plenty of gallery trails and hands on activities for children. nb limited opening hours.

The Museum holds objects and archival material relating to the history of the force from 1840 including personnel, disciplinary and other records, together with more general documents and a large photographic collection.td>

“Our museum was opened in 2001 and is located in the town centre. The museum records not only aspects of the social history and economic development of Dunmow and the surrounding area, but much that is the shared heritage of us all.”

The Museum of Harlow uses objects, text and pictures to tell the story of the area now known as Harlow from ancient times to the present day. Situated in the picturesque former Mark Hall stable block and kitchen gardens the museum offers a unique opportunity for visitors to discover the rich history of the town they see around them.

Maldon Museum exhibits items directly related to the District, whether they are domestic, industrial, natural or manufactured, discovered locally or collected from afar. The Maldon Museum is housed in an Edwardian building, formerly known as the Park Keeper’s Lodge and stands near the main gate to the Promenade Park. Limited opening hours.

The reconstruction within the museum of a typical weather-boarded fisherman’s cottage provides an interior display centred on a Victorian coal-fired kitchen range, with adjoining facilities for washing clothes using old-fashioned manual equipment. Children are welcome, with puzzles and quizzes available. (limited opening hours)

Housed in the unique setting of the former All Saints Church in 1957, the Museum focuses on the rich natural heritage of north-east Essex.

North Weald Airfield Museum is all about people. It’s about the service personnel and civilians, who have lived, worked, flown, fought and died here since the airfield opened in 1916. The museum sets out to tell their story of a famous airfield that has protected London during two world wars. The story is told in displays, with photographs, artefacts and personal memories.

There are three floors. On the ground floor, there is a colourful and fascinating display of Tudor foods and replica kitchenware. The upper floors are particularly remarkable for their good views over Chingford Plain and Epping Forest and also provide displays on Tudor carpentry joints and costume. Children may enjoy rummaging in our basket of Tudor dressing-up clothes or (for 50p) doing a brass-rubbing of Henry VIII and Elizabeth.
(Fri-Sun offseason, Wed-Sun summer)

Saffron Walden Museum opened in 1835. With wide-ranging collections, from moccasins and mummy cases to mammoth tusks and Wallace the lion, it still contains much to “stand awhile and admire”. This award-winning, “friendly, family-size museum” is open 363 days a year. Exhibition ‘Embroideries from the East’ runs to Sunday 15th April 2012.

“Sandford Mill is Chelmsford’s old waterworks, situated on the River Chelmer to the south of Chelmer Village. In the waterworks buildings Chelmsford Museums Service stores its industrial collections and archives, but Sandford Mill is much more than a museum store.”

Southchurch Hall museum is housed in the half-timbered medieval manor house, which dates to the early 14th century. Priority is given to school parties.

To locate the Pier Museum entrance visitors should go into the station and walk to the right of the railway tracks. The Museum will bring back fond memories for some and will be a brand new experience for younger generations. Climb aboard an original 1949 train and remember days gone by. We have pictorial displays, working penny slot machines, an original Toastrack tram and much more. It’s fun, it’s a great way to learn and it’s out of the rain when we get a traditional English summer!

Tymperleys housed part of the famous Bernard Mason Collection, one of the largest collections of clocks in Britain. All were made in Colchester between 1640 and 1840 and gave a fascinating insight into this specialist trade. Sadly the museum was closed in order to make savings to address the financial shortfall caused by central government’s reduction in financial grant to local councils. For the moment you will have to make do with admiring the building by peeking through the wrought iron gates, or seeing some of the clocks in Colchester Castle Museum..

“Located at Warner’s Mill, Silks Way, the Warner Textile Archive is of national importance, but its roots are firmly in Braintree. The archive is a unique record of the history of textile manufacture and design since the 18th century.”
(nb limited opening times : Wed-Fri 11:00-16:00, no weekends or BHs)