Butterflies to See in May Two drawers of British butterflies are our ‘Objects of the Month’ for May. They contain some of the butterflies that you might spot visiting your garden or local park during May. These butterfly species are the Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small White and… Read More »
One of the exciting research projects to involve Museum collections has featured the scrap of alleged ‘Viking skin’ from the ancient north door of St Botolph’s Church, Hadstock. Local folklore holds that it came from a Viking who was flayed alive as a punishment for raiding the Church. Similar stories of so-called ‘Daneskins’ are associated… Read More »
The current exhibition All Fired Up! prompts us to consider the local history which has been lost in fires. The fire of 1847 at Great Easton Lodge destroyed some of the most remarkable Roman artefacts ever discovered in the area, from the lavish burials under mounds of Romano-British aristocrats at Bartlow Hills, on the Essex… Read More »
Hot off the press is the news that Epping Forest District Museum in Waltham Abbey and Saffron Walden Museum have received an Arts Council National Lottery project grant of £100,000 to work in partnership on their world culture collections. The aim of the project is to ensure the museums and their collections reflect their diverse… Read More »
Did you know we identify items for free? Whether it’s a rock from a field or a mystery something from the back of the shed, just bring it in to the Museum and we’ll take care of the rest! (If it’s too big or heavy, just send us an email with a photo). This piece… Read More »
Essex Fire Museum and Saffron Walden Museum have collaborated to create a unique presentation of the history of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, which will go on display at Saffron Walden Museum from Saturday 2 April. Research for this exhibition has been undertaken at Saffron Walden Library, Essex Record Office Access Point based at… Read More »
The Museum’s ‘Object of the Month’ provides an opportunity to explore interesting and unusual objects from our stores. April’s Object of the Month chosen by Jenny Oxley, Collections Officer (Human History) is a charred key fob discovered after the Rose & Crown fire in the town on Boxing Day 1969. It forms part of the museum’s… Read More »
The Museum’s ‘Object of the Month’ provides an opportunity to explore interesting and unusual objects from our stores. March’s Object of the Month chosen by Curator Carolyn Wingfield features three clay tobacco pipe bowls, all recently found in the Castle Street area. Last autumn, archaeologists monitoring building works at the Fry Art Gallery, Bridge End Gardens recovered two… Read More »
A bit of Valentine’s related history for February from our collections! An invitation to a Valentine’s ball at Wimbish Village Hall, 12 February 1943. Miss McQueen was well-known locally she had a small farm at Rowney Corner from which people could buy fresh eggs and she also played the organ in the 1970s at… Read More »
February’s Objects of the Month are minerals with connections to love and relationships, in honour of St Valentine’s Day on 14 February. Amethyst is the birthstone for February, but as a symbol of love, St Valentine is said to have worn an amethyst ring so Christian couples in Ancient Rome could identify him. Valentine was… Read More »
