Earls Colne Heritage Museum

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

Wednesday 30th September 2026 will be the last opportunity to visit us in the iconic Water Tower that houses the Earls C...
29/09/2026

Wednesday 30th September 2026 will be the last opportunity to visit us in the iconic Water Tower that houses the Earls Colne Heritage Museum. Built in 1885 after the 'Great Colchester Earthquake' to ensure that the Atlas Works would have water, it has undergone some changes in its 141 year history and a new chapter is about to begin. Its future as the museum has been secured with a grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. The museum will close temporarily for refurbishment and re-imagining.
Follow our Facebook and website (www.echm.org.uk) for regular updates of the museums works progress. Whilst the doors might be closed, the museum team will continue to bring the museum to the community with events and regular 'Pop-Ups'. The first of these events is at the Village Hall on Saturday 17th October, 'How the De Veres put the Earls in Colne'. See you there.
(photos courtesy of T Crosby from when the Atlas Works was derelict)

Only one week left to visit the museum in its original 2005 design! September will be the last time to view the exhibits...
22/09/2026

Only one week left to visit the museum in its original 2005 design! September will be the last time to view the exhibits in their original layout which has served the village well for 21 years, opening on 20th March 2005. In the first nine months it welcomed 1,261 visitors.
We will close for the internal renovations and re-imagining to commence. There is lots still to see before we begin to store the exhibits. The museum is open Wednesdays 2pm-4pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Car parking space available. Although the Water Tower will be closed we will still be working on walks, talks, displays etc., so keep checking in on FB and the website.
(photo from the Museum opening in 2005)

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of a tragic accident that happened in the sky over Earls Colne and Gt Tey. On this day...
20/09/2026

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of a tragic accident that happened in the sky over Earls Colne and Gt Tey. On this day, 20th September 1944, two Lancaster Avro Bombers, LM167 and LL802, on a mission to Calais from Mildenhall, collided, killing all 15 crew members. The story was nearly lost to history, but a chance discovery of a newspaper article led to the research of the story, the er****on of a monument to the crew and contact with three living sons and a daughter alongside many other relatives. In 2024 a memorial service was held and the families attended. Last years planned RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast by the Lancaster was cancelled at the last moment due to poor weather conditions. Earls Colne Heritage Museum still plans to arrange another flypast as soon as the Lancaster, one of only two, comes back into service after major in depth service in 2027. Full coverage of the story and Memorial Service can be found on the museum’s website. A small booklet ’15 Remembered’ is also available. The memorial can be found on the corner of America Rd and Tey Rd, opposite Chalkney Wood.
https://echm.org.uk/lancaster-lm167-ll802-memorial

After a busy weekend joining in with Heritage Open Days, the museum is getting ready for our next presentation. Tickets...
18/09/2026

After a busy weekend joining in with Heritage Open Days, the museum is getting ready for our next presentation. Tickets available from Ziel on the High Street, also https://trybooking.com/uk/event/121504 or scan the QR Code

ECHM at the start of today’s ‘Industrial Housing in Earls Colne’ tour. Taking part in this year’s Open Heritage Day. To...
12/09/2026

ECHM at the start of today’s ‘Industrial Housing in Earls Colne’ tour. Taking part in this year’s Open Heritage Day. Tomorrow we’ll be at Silver End Village Hall with a talk and display.

Museum busy at the Quaker Meeting House, Burrows Road- Heritage Open Day- John’s walk about to commence!
12/09/2026

Museum busy at the Quaker Meeting House, Burrows Road- Heritage Open Day- John’s walk about to commence!

Don't forget to come and visit us this Saturday at The Quaker Meeting House. John Stedman will be conducting a free tou...
09/09/2026

Don't forget to come and visit us this Saturday at The Quaker Meeting House. John Stedman will be conducting a free tour of 'Hunt's Industrial Housing' at 12.00 pm. The Quaker Meeting House is also hosting the Earls Colne Art Group and The Holden F5 Locomotive Trust. Refreshments available. This is a free event for all as part of National Heritage Open Days.
ECHM will also be at Essex Industrial Archaeology Group's Heritage Open day on Sunday 13th September at Silver End Village Hall on Sunday, featuring displays from Crittalls, Batas of Tilbury, Courtaulds of Halstead, and Great Eastern Railway of Parkeston, with talks and guided tours of Silver End. Again, this is a free event for all.

02/09/2026

11-20 Sept 2026

The 5th visit to the Museum by our MP, Priti Patel, thanks for all her support
27/08/2026

The 5th visit to the Museum by our MP, Priti Patel, thanks for all her support

Address

The Old Water Tower, Reuben Walk
Earls Colne
CO62SZ

Opening Hours

Wednesday 2pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Website

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