Museums & Heritage Centres

Bocking Windmill (MG2b, DL)
A fine post mill with a two-storey brick roundhouse, recently restored and a rare example containing much original equipment, which is preserved although not working. Believed to date from around 1721, it was moved to its existing site from further down the hill in Bocking around 1829. Climb to the top for magnificent views. Guided tours available.
Open 1000 to 1700, May 7 & 13 and 1400 to 1700, May 28, June 24, August 27 & 30th September.
Tel 01376 541339

Braintree District Museum (MG1b, IL)
This award winning museum is based in the converted Courtauld School and has displays from Crittall steel windows to Warners royal silks, Castle Hedingham pottery to Edward Bawden prints. The Museum tells the fascinating story of a hidden artistic and industrial heritage. Visit the frequently changing exhibitions, a Victorian Schoolroom, John Ray natural history gallery, café, craft and gift shop.
Open 1000 to 1700 Monday - Saturday and Bank Holidays
http://www.enjoybraintreedistrict.co.uk/Museums-And-Culture/Braintree-District-Museum/Introduction.aspx 
Tel 01376 325266

Coggeshall Museum & Heritage Centre (MG1a)
Small independent museum featuring exhibitions and photographs of Coggeshall’s industrial, agricultural and social history. Large collections of Coggeshall lace, working loom, archaeology, Coggeshall bricks, video footage of ‘old’ Coggeshall, computerised postcard show. Displays are changed each year. Tours of village for groups by prior arrangement (small charge per head).
Open 1415 to 1645, Sundays and Bank Holidays, April - October, other times by appointment.
www.geocities.com/coggeshallmuseum
Tel 01376 563003

 
Colne Valley Postal History Museum (MG2b)
A private museum housing more than 90 post boxes from 1859 - 2005 plus working stamp machines, postal uniforms and hundreds of artefacts.
Open 8th/9th September 2008 other times by appointment only.
www.cvphm.org 
Tel 01787 474412

Dorothy L Sayers Centre – Witham (MG1a, IL)
Dorothy L Sayers a theologian and Dante scholar perhaps best known for her novels including Lord Peter Wimsey. Dorothy L Sayers lived in Witham from 1929 – 1957 and her house is just a few yards from the library. The DLS centre contains copies of her novels, plays translation, essays and pamphlets. Access to centre is by appointment only.
Tel 01376 519625

Earls Colne Heritage Museum (MG2b)
Located in a renovated Victorian Water Tower on the site of the Old Atlas Works, the museum houses a permanent exhibition covering historical landmarks, and details the development of the village from earliest times to the present day. Temporary exhibitions provide the opportunity to display different aspects of Earls Colne. 1400 to 1600, Saturday & Sunday, November to Easter & 1400 to 1600 Wednesday & Sunday & 1000 to 1600 Saturday Easter to October.
www.echm.org.uk
Tel 01787 224370

Feering and Kelvedon Local History Museum
Feering and Kelvedon local history from the Stone Age to the 20th century is interpreted through displays of archaeology, social history and photographs with occasional temporary exhibitions.
Open 1400 to1700, Monday, March – October except Bank Holidays and Saturday 0930 to 1230, other times by appointment.
www.kelvedon.org.uk/museum.htm
Tel 01376 325266

Finchingfield Windmill
A small post mill, dated 1755. It has 4 spring sails (without shutters), a tailpole and one pair of millstones. It is not workable, because of its location among trees and cottages, but is opened once a month in the summer by the Finchingfield Society.
www.essexcc.gov.uk
Tel 07887 662177

Halstead and District Local History Society Museum Collection
This Museum is closed at present and is due to open in 2007. Please contact Braintree District Museum for further information.
Tel 01376 325266

Rayne Station Centre (MG1a)
Rayne Railway Station was built in 1866 and was one of the busiest on the line, until it closed to passengers in 1952. Renovated in 1994 it is now the Visitor Centre and Ranger base for the Flitch Way. The rich heritage of the Flitch Way is revealed in the Exhibition.
Open 1300 to 1600 Sundays’ exhibition only. Booking Hall and Public Toilets open daily.
www.essexcc.gov.uk/countryparks
www.friends-of-the-flitch-way.org.uk
Tel 01376 340262

Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Museum
A private collection of wartime memorabilia dedicated to the brave men of RAF 90 Squadron and the 381st Bombardment Group of the US Amy Air force who operated from Ridgewell airfield during the dark days of World War 2.
Open 11am to 5pm, 2nd Sunday of each month from April to September.
www.381st.com
Tel 01787 277310

The Cottage Museum – Great Bardfield (MG4)
Recently renovated and refurbished 16th century charity almshouse housing village museum collection of farming and domestic artefacts. Rural crafts of straw plaiting and corn dolly making are explained and a display features the celebrated Great Bardfield artists of the 20th Century. Also newly designed 16th century bower garden.
Open 1400 to 1700 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from Easter - End September, other times by appointment.
www.greatbardfield-pc.gov.uk/the_museum.htm
Tel 01371 810919

Warner Textile Archive,Braintree (MG1a, DL, IL)
A unique record of the history of textile manufacture and design since the 18th Century, taking the visitor on an exciting visual voyage of discovery from Warners unique three-pile velvets, the intricate woven silks of Owen Jones, cutting edge designs of the 1920’s and 30s through to the iconic designs of the 20th century.
Open 1100 to 1600 Wednesday - Saturday. Group visits & researchers by appointment Monday – Friday.
http://www.enjoybraintreedistrict.co.uk/Museums-And-Culture/Warner-Textile-Archive/Introduction.aspx
Tel 01376 557741