Earls Colne Heritage Museum

10/06/2026

Does anyone in the village still have a video camera that takes Video8 tapes? We have discovered this tape with no information on it and would like to see it before we spend money digitising it.

10/06/2026

The scaffolding is coming down soon so a last few photos of the tank while there's the opportunity. The upper floor windows have been painted and all the repointing has been done at the top, isolation also complete. Plan now is to commence with the lower level repointing and painting the back windows.

06/06/2026

Latest photos of the water tower, after the clean-up in the tank, preparing the floor for insulation.
The definitive technology of the 19th century was the prefabricated sectional cast iron tank. These were made of modular, heavy square panels with flanged edges, bolted
together with iron bolts and sealed with rust cement or iron borings to form a watertight seal. Wrought iron or steel was used for internal tie rods to withstand the immense lateral
pressure.
One of the major Victorian manufacturers was Newton, Chambers & Co. (Thorncliffe Ironworks, Sheffield) and the most likely foundry to have produced the panels. Founded in 1793 near Sheffield, they became industrial giants by the mid 19th Century. These panels were cast in their thousands in Sheffield and shipped via the expanding railway networks as individual components. It was common practice for a contractor to cast a bespoke plaque in their own foundry to brand the completed asset, hence R Hunt & Co, 1885.

04/06/2026

Just in case any one has looked in the phone kiosk in the High St, we're pleased to say the museum has taken ownership and having saved it from removal our intention is to repurpose the kiosk as an information booth. Many thanks to the Earls Colne Parish Council community workers for cleaning it inside and out.😃

02/06/2026

Martin Carter (Westross Building Contractors) has produced for the museum a video of the outside of the water tank. This came in panels and was assembled on site, rather like flat pack furniture! The museum has been researching the makers of the panels. More of that to follow soon. The video shows an 'oops' moment near the end of the film! Meanwhile 17 bags of debris and pigeon p**p has been recovered from the inside of the tank prior to insulation. Photos to follow in the next few days. Work on the upper tower repointing is nearly complete and painting of the upper floor windows will recommence while the scaffolding is still in place.

31/05/2026

A view of the Museum that you won't see very often! the inside of the tank! we've been learning a lot about the tank and its manufacture. More on that later....😀

29/05/2026

The painting has been completed, now it's the turn of repointing for the next couple of weeks. We've had a look inside the tank! and how it was pieced together. More interesting photos and videos later......

26/05/2026

Gordon Brown is presenting a talk on the SAS in Wartime at the Essex Records Office, Wharf Rd, Chelmsford CM2 6YT on June 30th 10.40am. Tickets £6.75 are available on line at the Essex Records Office website. Click on the link below.

A history of the elite British Army regiment during their time based in Essex

25/05/2026

Last week was again busy at the museum. Colleen Devenish, editor of 'The Essex Family Historian' paid us a visit with a view to writing an article for the magazine (www.esfh.org.uk). It was her first visit and she enjoyed it very much. We look forward to reading the article.
Don't forget, John Stedman and other volunteers are at the library on Friday afternoons, 3.30 - 4.30pm.
Building work is still ongoing at the museum so please be mindful of the scaffolding if you're coming to visit us.

17/05/2026

Just a few photos of Saturdays 'Out and About with John Stedman' taking in Halstead Road. Starting at Tillwicks, the home Reuben Hunt had built for his 40th birthday, other houses that were built for The Atlas Works workers, salaried staff and retired staff. Also the Baptist Church, the workhouse, the school Mary Gee had built along with other houses and much more.