Earls Colne Heritage Museum

ABOUT US

Earls Colne Heritage Museum is located in The Old Water Tower of the former Atlas Works–the R. Hunt agricultural machinery foundry, which was pivotal to the development of the village from a purely agricultural to an industrial village in the 19th & 20th centuries.

Founded in 2005, the Museum is home to artefacts from the Neolithic to the 21st century and is also a centre for village historical and family research.

The Museum is actively engaged with the village and beyond, with a programme of walks, talks, school visits and liaison with other village organizations and also with other museums.

The Museum welcomes both visitors and online enquiries.

BLUE PLAQUE

On 29th October 2025 the Museum unveiled the village’s first blue plaque, dedicated to Mary Gee, at Colne House. Photos and more about the unveiling by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst can be found under the NEWS tab.

If you’re interested to find out who Mary Gee was and what she did for Earls Colne, VISIT the museum to see the Mary Gee Display in the upper gallery. You can also CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to find out more about Mary Gee and her generosity to not only this village but also Halstead, Greenstead Green and Great Maplestead and many other societies.

(Museum opening times Wednesday 2-4pm, Weekends 12-4pm)

ATLAS COMMUNITY GARDENS INFORMATION BOARDS

In October 2025, Four information boards and an audio post were installed in the Atlas Community Gardens in Massingham Drive, informing us of the rich historical past that Earls Colne enjoys. They can also be found on this website under the ATLAS GARDENS tab.

LANCASTER MEMORIAL

On the 20th September 2024 the Museum unveiled a memorial to the 15 aircrew of Lancaster LM167 & LL802, killed exactly 80 years prior as the result of a tragic mid-air collision above the fields of Earls Colne & Great Tey.

CLICK HERE for the story of the accident and the Memorial.

Earls Colne in Earliest Times

In Roman times this part of Essex was occupied by a native tribe called the Trinovantes. The tribal centre, that we know as Colchester and which they called Cumulodunum, became the capital of the Roman province.

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Re-used Roman bricks

Tile and brick production has been a long-established local industry and re-used Roman bricks have been identified in the base of the tower of St. Andrew’s Church, Earls Colne

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The Atlas Works and the Hunt Family

Robert Hunt, a travelling millwright, settled in Earls Colne in 1824. His first workshop was on the Green, next to the Baptist Church.

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The Second World War

Earls Colne aerodrome played a significant part in the air campaign during the Second World War.
Construction of the runways started in 1941 and the Royal Air Force was using the aerodrome within 18 months.

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

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

Earls Colne Heritage Museum

2 days ago

Photos from Earls Colne Heritage Museum's post ... See MoreSee Less

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

2 days ago

The Time Keepers Of Earls ColneAt last British Summer time has arrived and we have all forwarded our clocks by one hour, including the Parish Clock housed in the Church Tower of St Andrews. Many thanks to the ‘Time Keepers of Earls Colne’ who have been doing this job since the clock was installed in the Church tower in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. The clock was funded by public subscription, and with the addition of "Westminster Chimes" it has been maintained by voluntary Timekeepers of Earls Colne for over 136 years.It was adopted by the newly established Parish Council in 1900. The Clock was made by John Smiths and Sons of St John’s Square, Clerkenwell EC1 and is now only one of two remaining. The clock originally needed winding regularly. The first ‘Timekeeper’ was Edwin ‘Clocky’ Mayes, clockmaker, who had a shop at one end of the terrace on the High Street, (2 York Road, where Percival’s Estate Agents now reside!). He was paid £10 per annum to wind the clock and was still climbing the steps of the tower in his 96th year in 1958! He died in 1959.Work was completed on the electrification of the clock in 1974 and so no longer needs to be wound, but various people since then have taken care of the clock and adjusted the times frequently to keep it running, particularly each year for the beginning and end of BST. It may seem a simple task, but this requires regular attention as the weather affects the accuracy of the clock. Weights are added or subtracted to the pendulum. Adding weights make it run faster and subtracting them make it slower. Twice a year the clock needs to stop to mark the beginning and end of BST. At the start of British Summertime in March, the easiest way to alter the clock is to stop it for 24 hours and restart at the correct time. In October the clock only needs to be stopped for one hour and then restarted. The clock can be wound on but stopping the clock is by far the easiest method to change the hours. They do this now voluntarily and without payment.The clock in the village generally always tells the correct time, unlike the many clocks that belong to the society of stopped clocks. stoppedclocks.orgTo find out more about how the clock works visit the video on Earls Colne Heritage Museum’s YouTube channel.www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwbIwBml5OoAlso on Earls Colne Heritage Museum’s YouTube channel is a virtual tour of the St Andrews church tower.youtu.be/YRYNv4qEXbE?si=134-A1i3x-j_P1EG ... See MoreSee Less

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

4 days ago

Earls Colne Heritage Museum is delighted to announce that it has been successful in its application for a £241,000 grant to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This grant, "Our Tower: Our Story" will enable the:• 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 - the iconic Grade II listed building, situated on the old Atlas Works of R.Hunt & Co, since 1885, and opened as a Heritage Museum in 2005.• 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬• 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦'𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.• Preparation for the redeveloped museum through rationalising and digitising the collections, expanding the current engagement programme, upgrading the website, and beginning the process of museum accreditation.The application process commenced nearly 3 years ago, leading to the establishment of the ECHM as a registered charity in April 2024. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5236426The success represents hundreds of hours of voluntary work and support by Museum Trustees and volunteers. We thank the support of National Lottery players which provides the funding for the NLHF. www.heritagefund.org.uk/Please follow the ECHM Facebook page for more information as we now move forward with this exciting project. ... See MoreSee Less

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

2 weeks ago

The Museum has been asked to help trace any former employees of Blackwell Contracts who can assist with its history, to assist the author of a forthcoming book celebrating its 70th anniversary. Any information/photos, etc. of its earliest days would also be welcome! ... See MoreSee Less

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Earls Colne Heritage Museum

2 weeks ago

Happy St Patrick's Day.St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, was a 5th-century Romano-British priest kidnapped as a teenager and taken to Ireland as a slave, later returning to spread Christianity.March 17th is believed to be the date of St. Patrick’s death, often celebrated with festivities.The shamrock is heavily associated with the day, as legend claims St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity. ... See MoreSee Less

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HOW TO FIND US

Opening Hours

Open every Saturday & Sunday 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Wednesdays 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Did you know that ECHM has its own Youtube Channel?

CLICK HERE to view!

Travelling from the West (Halstead):
About 100 yards past the Zebra Crossing,
take the first right into Massingham Drive
keep on this road and the museum is on your left.

Travelling from the east via Earls Colne High Street:
Take the second left after the Zebra Crossing into Massingham Drive,
keep on this road and the museum is on your left.
On a lamppost opposite the turn into Massingham Drive
is a small brown sign pointing to the museum.

Supported by:

Eastern Plastics Machinery

Hobbs Estates

Lucking Utility Services