Colchester Museums

04/06/2026

This morning we asked you to guess this Colchester location and the answer is Bourne Mill!

Sir Thomas Lucas built it in 1591 using stone left over from St John's Abbey, which his father had rather enthusiastically dismantled following the Dissolution. It started life as a fishing and banqueting lodge, which sounds like a very pleasant afternoon out. It was converted to a fulling mill around 1640 and then to a corn mill, which kept working until the 1930s. The National Trust took it on in 1936 and restored the machinery in 1966. It's been a Grade I listed building since 1950.

The pond in the modern photograph is the same one monks were fishing in back in 1120. It's just acquired considerably more duckweed since then.

04/06/2026

It's and we've dug out an old photograph for you. Somewhere in Colchester, a building has been sitting beside this pond for well over 400 years. The architecture is a bit of a giveaway if you know your local history, but we'll leave that with you.

Can you name this Colchester location? Drop your answer in the comments.

03/06/2026

Join Beat the Street Colchester at Firstsite Colchester on Friday 5 June for a brilliant day celebrating the Beat the Street programme.

Come and see a creative display telling the story of Beat the Street in Colchester, from poetry and photos to videos and sculptures ✨ (drop in any time!)

Find out more via Beat the Street Colchester:beatthestreet.me/colchester

02/06/2026

A handwarmer made from a penguin’s skin may not be what you expect to find in a museum case in Colchester.

In the 1800s, objects like this were often brought back from around the world as curiosities. This m**f, made from a king penguin, would have been worn to keep hands warm, a fashionable accessory as well as a conversation piece.

It is striking today not just for how it looks, but for what it says about the past. It reflects changing attitudes to nature, collecting, and what people once considered normal.

See this extraordinary object in Discover: Museum Wonders and explore the stories behind the things people chose to keep close.

01/06/2026

Ever wondered how museums really work behind the scenes? 🏛️

Our Senior Collections & Learning Curator Ben Paites recently featured on Ancient History 101 Podcast, sharing insight into how we care for collections, choose what goes on display, and work with our communities here in Colchester.

From managing thousands (sometimes millions!) of objects to shaping exhibitions that tell meaningful stories, Ben offers a brilliant look at what goes on beyond the gallery doors.

Watch the full conversation 👉

Ben Paites of Colchester Museums chats with Alexandra about what happens behind the scenes to make museums work, and why they're not always entirely ethical...

31/05/2026

There’s lots to discover this June across Colchester Museums ✨

🦖 Discover: Museum Wonders: running all month
🏰 First Thursday relaxed opening: 4 June
🧶 Calm at the Castle: 7 June
🌿 Discover Witchcraft: Magical Protection: 20 June
🎲 D&D at Colchester Castle: 27 June
🐛 Mini Museum Explorers: 30 June

Whether you’re visiting with family, looking for a quieter experience, or trying something new, there’s something for everyone.

30/05/2026

It’s International Dinosaur Day on Monday 1 June, and we’re marking it with a playful ticket offer for Discover: Museum Wonders.

If your first name begins with “Jul”, you can enjoy free weekday entry throughout June to meet Juliasaurus (just show photo ID on arrival).

The exhibition runs timed entry because of the museum’s historic galleries, so booking ahead is the best way to get the slot you want.

29/05/2026

There’s something oddly satisfying about learning the proper name for the spiral bit on an ammonite and then spotting it instantly every time. For this week’s Fossil Friday, Chris gives a brilliant, close-looking comparison of two ammonites on display in Discover: Museum Wonders: Dactylioceras and Hildoceras.

It’s the kind of quick, friendly ID tip that makes the fossils feel less like “museum objects” and more like something you can properly read, once you know what you’re looking for. You can see both species at Hollytrees Museum.

Book timed tickets via the link in the comments.

28/05/2026

Have you even been to the exhibition if you haven’t stopped in the gift shop?

27/05/2026

Step inside Colchester Castle and take part in a story like no other 🎲

Our Dungeons & Dragons evening on 27 June is already half sold out, with tickets going fast.

Gather your party, explore different areas of the Castle, and play your way through a story inspired by real local history. Costumes welcome, imagination essential.