Epping Forest District Museum

02/06/2026

*NEW EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT!*

Join Alison Salmon, an expert illuminator born in London and now currently living near Florence, Italy, to create your own beautiful illuminated manuscript using real gold!

During the workshop, Alison will guide you through transferring two roundels taken from the "Genealogical roll of the Kings of England" (in the collection of the British Library), featuring Harold II and William the Conqueror, onto goatskin parchment. Both designs will be partially gilding using 22-carat gold leaf. Everything that you need for the workshop will be provided and the remaining pigments, in small shells, can be taken home with your work at the end of the workshop.

10am - 2:30pm, with a break for lunch 12:30 - 1pm. Please bring your own lunch or plan to get lunch in one of the many lovely cafes in Waltham Abbey!

Over 18s only, £65 per person, BOOKING ESSENTIAL via www.ticketsource.com/efdmuseum or call us on 01992 716882 or email us on [email protected]



Bedford House Community Association

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

**TWO EXCITING TALKS AT THE MUSEUM!**

Visit https://www.ticketsource.com/efdmuseum to book or give us a ring on 01992 716882.

Talk 1- Join us on Wednesday 10 June, doors open at 6.45pm, for what will be a fascinating talk by Ben Paites, Senior Collections and Learning Curator at Colchester Museums, on Roman Life in Colchester. Roman Colchester — — was the first capital of Roman Britain: a place where imperial ambition, military might, and local identity collided to create one of the most vibrant early centres in Britannia. Ben has been on various media outlets- you might have seen him on Sky History’s Witches of Essex, History Channel’s River Hunters and more!

Talk 2- You can also join on Wednesday 17 June, doors open at 6.45pm, for a talk by Rob Sutton, Director of Heritage Consultancy at Cotswold Archaeology, and Jake Streatfeild-James, Principal Consultant at WSP in the UK, on Cotswold Archaeology’s excavations at M11 Junction 7A near Harlow — one of the largest archaeological projects undertaken in the Epping Forest District in recent years. It’s an exciting opportunity to hear about a recent archaeological project through the eyes of a commercial archaeology company!

Colchester Museums Colchester City Council Epping Forest District Council Cotswold Archaeology WSP Harlow Museum Harlow Council Sheering Parish Council

01/06/2026

We had a great launch day for the 2026 Art Trail on Saturday. The opening took place in the beautiful garden of the EFD Museum in Sun Street, where we did manage to find a little bit of shade.
We were delighted to welcome both Waltham Abbey's Mayor, Cllr Andrew Crowley, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jeane Lea. In his speech, the Mayor commented on the huge number of greatly talented artists in the area, before declaring the Art Trail open.
Then we took to the Trail and managed to visit almost all of the venues - shops, offices, cafes, pubs - hosting pieces of art. And what a display it is; each year the standard of work seems to get even better, and there are some amazing entries.
There are paintings, drawings, digital illustrations, lino cuts, ceramics, paper sculpture, needlework and photographs.
The photography exhibition has some wonderful shots covering a wide variety of subjects, and they are all together at Kings Group Estate Agents.
Then in Waltham Abbey Library you can see the Young People's Art Exhibition with work by three age groups, ranging from 7 to 16.
It was hot and exhausting work visiting all those places on Saturday meaning we had to have a couple of refreshment stops. Many thanks to Andrew and Jeane for staying with us, and to all the others who walked the Trail on Saturday.
Photo: Mayor Andrew declares the Art Trail open (photo courtesy of Nicola Nokes)

01/06/2026

The Epping Forest District has a strong connection with Winston Churchill — he served as MP for the /West Essex constituency from 1924 to 1945. Spanning 21 years, this pivotal period encompassed his “wilderness years” as well as his return to power as Prime Minister during the Second World War. In 2024 we unveiled an exhibition commemorating his links with our local area.

If you’re interested in exploring Churchill further, be sure to visit the wonderful 'Winston Churchill: The Painter' exhibition at London’s Wallace Collection- https://www.wallacecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions-displays/winston-churchill-the-painter/. Running until November 2026, it is the first substantial UK retrospective of Churchill’s artwork, bringing together a remarkable selection of his personal paintings.

01/06/2026

Our next Toddler Time Travellers is on TOMORROW, Tuesday 2 June! 👶 The theme is Roman Gardens! 💮 We'll be spending some time in the museum planting carrots!

Join us to sing, craft, play, explore and listen to a story from 10:15 - 11:15. For 0-5s and their adults, £3.50 per child.

Book online here: https://ow.ly/lUMI50YT7lj or call us on 01992 716882 or email [email protected], or just turn up!

01/06/2026

Here is a view of the Sun Inn, at the top of Nazeing common which you may have not seen before.

31/05/2026

Here's something that might be of interest to those who are King Harold supporters. Our wonderful museum at Waltham Abbey is hosting an Illuminated manuscript course on 22nd August, and the subject will be The Last Saxon King.

31/05/2026

ANNOUNCING! 📣 An Archaeology Summer Holiday Club at the museum for 11 - 17 year olds! 😀

Join us for a fun and hands on FREE Archaeology Summer holiday Club for teenagers!
We’ll be doing object handling, crafts, local walks and even be able to see a real archaeological excavation!

10am - 12pm, every day from 20th July to 24th July, for 11-17 year olds. Juice and biscuits will be provided during the session!

Session 1 - Behind the scenes at the museum!
Session 2 - Materials, objects and decay
Session 3 - What were our ancestors like? And clay craft!
Session 4 - Walk and sketch in Waltham Abbey gardens
Session 5 - trip to Copped Hall to do some Archaeology!

BOOKING ESSENTIAL via www.ticketsource.com/efdmuseum or call us on 01992 716882 or email us on [email protected] or drop into the museum and book at the front desk!

We'll be announcing the rest of our summer holiday programme in the next few weeks - is there anything you'd like to see from the museum this summer? 😀