Collection: Braintree Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Photography

  An important collection of photographs of local interest relating to Braintree, Bocking and the District. The Friends of Braintree District Museum own a collection of 2108 photographic prints, slides and negatives of reproduction views and people of Braintree, Bocking and District from 1880 to the present, including the Alf Whybrow Collection, which are licensed to Braintree Museum. Photographs collected since 1996 belong to Braintree District Museum. A cine film collection of 800 films created by Nick Williamson from the 1950s.

  Archaeology

  Braintree District Museum holds archaeology collections from throughout the District and some foreign material but mainly from Braintree. Small collections are held from excavations undertaken by Rev. Kenworthy at Skitts Hill, Braintree in the 1890s and Mr. M J Kenworthy, at Stebbing and Kelvedon, 1945-1975. Braintree Museum currently holds two major collections awaiting publication (see below). The sites represent material from the prehistoric to the late mediaeval period: Prehistory. A small local and British collection of stone tools. Pottery from all periods, most found within the District. Roman. A small collection of material from published local excavations within the District of Braintree and some foreign material. The Brain Valley Archaeology Society and Braintree District Council undertook a series of excavations in Braintree in the 1980s that form one of the best records of a small Roman town in the country. The Braintree Roman Town Post Excavation Publication Project aims to bring this archive into the public domain. Medieval. A small collection of local material. Braintree Museum holds the archaeological archive from 18 years of excavation at Cressing Temple. The 13th century wheat and barley barns at Cressing Temple are of national and international importance being the finest remaining pair of medieval barns in Europe. The Essex County Council Heritage Advice Management and Promotion Section are committed to the publication of the archive to allow the local and in part nationally important collection, to become accessible to researchers and members of the public. Archaeology archives from excavations in the District of Braintree before 1993 were accepted by the Chelmsford and Essex Museum, Colchester Museum and Passmore Edwards Museum (incorporating the Essex Field Club). Following the closure of the Passmore Edwards Museum the collections from sites within Braintree District were transferred to Braintree District Museum. Both Colchester and Chelmsford Museum Services have accessioned sites from Braintree District into their collections.

  Numismatics

  A collection of about 600 coins, trade tokens, and jettons of all periods, some minted locally. A small collection of foreign coins. Small collection of items of local significance.

  Local and Social History

  A documentary and photographic collection of material relevant to the local wool trade. Important collections relating to Crittalls, manufacturers of metal window frames, and to Courtaulds (mourning crepe and man-made textiles) and Warners (Royal silks, cotton damasks and printed cloths and wallpapers). Clockmaker’s tools and clocks, watches and instruments of local significance, including 18th century clocks by Joseph Fordham and Joseph Fordham Jnr. a significant collection of jacks, tools and garage equipment made by Lake and Elliot and tools made by Swinborne. The Stanley Smith Collection of 110 agricultural tools collected by Stanley Smith of Cressing. The Heritage Trust Library (HTL) is a collection of over 2000 items relating to the history of Braintree and the District. It includes a comprehensive collection of brochures, programmes and other ephemera relating to the major events in Braintree as well as reference or research material. The collections include some individual papers, but no large scale archives of individuals or organisations. In most cases the items held relate to local businesses, but do not constitute a record of their dealings, and as such can be considered under the heading of social history. The social history collections include a large number of craftsmen’s tools, including those used by wheelwrights, blacksmiths, mouldmakers and straw plaiters, trade and retail material. Community Life: Items relating to education within the District, particularly the history of Manor Street School, Braintree, the home of Braintree District Museum. This collection comprises mainly of documentary material and photographs. A small collection of medical equipment from Black Notley Hospital. Tools and everyday products from the Home Front during World War II in Braintree. Domestic and Family Life: A collection of local household equipment including sewing machines, kitchen utensils, writing and stationery, smoking and drinking. Personal Life: A collection including toys and games, spectacles, smoking and drinking materials. Small collection of 19th and 20th century costume; sewing equipment and materials; samplers; lace and crochet equipment; Victorian beadwork. The 13th century wheat and barley barns at Cressing Temple are of national and international importance being the finest remaining pair of medieval barns in Europe.

  Textiles and Costume

  A collection of textiles and related equipment, particularly from the local factories of Courtauld and Warner. A collection of textiles, a loom and associated equipment is on loan from Halstead Museum. An important collection of textiles is on loan from Warner Fabrics plc that covers their involvement in the manufacture of luxury cloths and in particular Royal Silks used at Coronations and other state events The Metson Collection of around 1,000 mainly 20th century items of costume and costume accessories relating to the Metson family of Brook End.

  Decorative Art

  A good collection of 18th century porcelain which includes Bow, Caughley, Liverpool, Lowestoft soft paste porcelain, Worcester and Chinese. An interesting collection of pottery and porcelain jugs; 18th century earthenware, lustreware; early saltglaze stoneware, cabbage leaf, a monteith and Staffordshire pottery figures including Toby jugs and animals. Also blue and white transfer ware of the 1820s. There is also a significant collection of Castle Hedingham pottery made in the district by Edward Bingham including some dated pieces. The Louisa Lowe collections of over 370 pieces of bead jewellery collected by a member of the Courtauld family during her travels around the World.

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC