Earls Colne Heritage Museum

If you didn’t know already!!!

The SAS are coming to Earls Colne

Prepare for an unforgettable evening of History: Courage: Adventure: as we bring to life the thrilling events of March 1945.

Weds 19th March 7.30pm Colne Valley Golf Club

Thurs 20th March 7.30pm The Essex Golf and Country Club.
All tickets £7.50.

Tickets available by QR codes for Colne Valley Golf Club and Essex Golf and Country Club.  See poster or click on the links below.

Weds 19th March ar Colne Valley Golf Club

Thurs 20th March Essex Golf and Country Club

HERITAGE TRAIL NEWS

We are planning to introduce a Heritage Trail in Earls Colne.  We would like local people to tell us of interesting buildings or sites within the main village that we could include in the trail.  Please let us know of any you find especially interesting and if possible let us know why.  We would like these to be not only the well known locations but we want them to reflect the more personal happenings with Earls Colne over the years, also any interesting family anecdotes that can be linked to a location in the village.

We are starting with a kids’ trail signposted around the village.  Please read the poster for information on how you can contribute to help bring the past to life. Email any ideas to ecvillagetrail@outlook.com or jot them on a note and hand them in to either The Museum, The Library, Ziels or the Refillery by the end of April.

Thankyou

 

ABOUT US

 

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.

The Museum welcomes both visitors and online enquiries.

LANCASTER MEMORIAL

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.

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.

Learn More

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

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

Earls Colne Heritage Museum

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

We are planning to introduce a Heritage Trail in Earls Colne. We want local people to tell us of interesting buildings or sites within the main village that we could include in the trail. Please let us know of any you find especially interesting and if possible let us know why. We would like these to be not only the well known locations but we want them to reflect the more personal happenings with Earls Colne over the years. ... See MoreSee Less
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www.veday80.org.uk/ - 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝟖𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟖𝟎 & the village plans to celebrate and commemorate it in style. An interesting news article on BBC News today - memories of an evacuee - and a reminder that Earls Colne hosted 30 children and their teachers from Wood Green. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00283n9/breakfast-17022025 - starts at approx 20:30 minutes in. ... See MoreSee Less
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HOW TO FIND US

Opening Hours

Open every Saturday & Sunday 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Wednesdays 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

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.