Earls Colne Heritage Museum

Earls Colne Heritage Museum is located in The Old Water Tower of the former Atlas Works–the R.Hunt agricultural machinery foundry, which was pivotal to the development of the village from a purely agricultural to an industrial village in the 19th & 20th centuries.

Founded in 2005, the Museum is home to artefacts from the Neolithic to the 21st century and is also a centre for village historical and family research.

The Museum is actively engaged with the village and beyond, with a programme of walks, talks, school visits and liaison with other museums.

On the 20th September  2024 the Museum unveiled a memorial to the 15 aircrew of Lancaster LM167 & LL802, killed exactly 80 years prior as the result of a tragic mid-air collision above the fields of Earls Colne & Great Tey. CLICK HERE for the story of the accident and the Memorial.

The Museum welcomes both visitors and online enquiries.

Earls Colne in Earliest Times

In Roman times this part of Essex was occupied by a native tribe called the Trinovantes. The tribal centre, that we know as Colchester and which they called Cumulodunum, became the capital of the Roman province.

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Re-used Roman bricks

Tile and brick production has been a long-established local industry and re-used Roman bricks have been identified in the base of the tower of St. Andrew’s Church, Earls Colne

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The Atlas Works and the Hunt Family

Robert Hunt, a travelling millwright, settled in Earls Colne in 1824. His first workshop was on the Green, next to the Baptist Church.

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The Second World War

Earls Colne aerodrome played a significant part in the air campaign during the Second World War.
Construction of the runways started in 1941 and the Royal Air Force was using the aerodrome within 18 months.

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

Earls Colne Heritage Museum

Tucked away on a housing estate in Earls Colne, this museum in a WaterTower is a hidden little gem!

With many thanks to photographer www.facebook.com/DanElmsPhotography/ for photos at yesterday's Memorial unveiling - and more to come! The service/unveiling is also available for viewing at: www.shealolin.co.uk/lancaster-memorial ... See MoreSee Less
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Yesterday, was one of my proudest moments when we - Earls Colne Heritage Museum - saw the culmination of 6 months of research and effort to unveil a memorial to the fifteen aircrew of Lancasters LM167 & LL802 who lost their lives exactly 80 years prior, as a result of a tragic mid-air collision above the farmland close to Earls Colne & Marks Tey. With tremendous support, collaboration and generosity from businesses and individuals, installed a memorial at the junction of America Road & Tey Road, CO6 2LD. The memorial was unveiled by two sons of the aircrew - John De Angelis and Robert Dryland in front of an audience of over 150, with many people watching live online from as far away as New Zealand, Canada, Croatia and Bermuda. The video is available online at:https://www.shealolin.co.uk/lancaster-memorial and in ITV news segment at: www.itv.com/watch/news/catch-up-on-itv-news-anglia-east-from-friday-20th-september/jydxlwm from approximately 5.45 minutes. The Museum has produced a booklet, "Fifteen Remembered" which is available for a suggested minimum donation £7.50 including UK postage from Earls Colne Heritage Museum ... See MoreSee Less
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3 weeks ago

The War memorial to the 15 aircrew of RAF Lancasters LM167& LL802 will be unveiled tomorrow, 3.00pm. The Service and unveiling will be livestreamed at www.shealolin.co.uk/lancaster-memorial. St. Andrews Church will also be live-streaming it - all are welcome to watch it there."Fifteen Remembered" - a fully researched booklet of the 15 aircrews' biographies will be available at the Museum from Saturday. ... See MoreSee Less
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HOW TO FIND US

Opening Hours

Open every Saturday & Sunday 2-4pm
Wednesdays 2-4pm May-October

Travelling from the West (Halstead):
About 100 yards past the Zebra Crossing,
take the first right into Massingham Drive
keep on this road and the museum is on your left.

Travelling from the east via Earls Colne High Street:
Take the second left after the Zebra Crossing into Massingham Drive,
keep on this road and the museum is on your left.
On a lamppost opposite the turn into Massingham Drive
is a small brown sign pointing to the museum.