Collection: Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The current incarnation of Harlow Museum (Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens) is an amalgamation of collection from three entities, Passmores House, The Study centre, Mark Hall Cycle Museum.

  The original Museum was at Passmores House in Harlow from 1973 to 1999, this museum held the following collections: natural history, Roman, social history (called ‘folk life’), Preserved specimens, Textiles, Paper, and Photography.

  Passmores House closed, and the contents were adjoined with a reduced cycle collection at Mark Hall Cycle Museum, and this was renamed in 2003 as the Museum of Harlow.

  Originally the grade II listed Mark Hall Cycle Museum was opened in April 1983 to display the John Collins Cycle collection, associated accessories, many nationally donated bicycles, and 45 Dunlop commissioned ceramic vignettes depicting amusing cycling activities. Collins was a fifth-generation local collector and wheelwright and became the curator of Harlow Cycle Museum after Harlow Council purchased this collection. John retired in 1992.

  The Harlow Study Centre held the archival material relating to the development of the New Town. Its archive also joined the cycles and other collections in Harlow Museum in 2002.

  The Museum experienced minor renovations and in 2012, under a new political administration, became one of the discretional services transferred to charities through Service Level Agreements. The museum became the responsibility of the education charity, Science Alive, rebranding it Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens. This relationship ended in January 2019, when the charity went into administration and the Museum returned to the Local authorities control.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: Not known

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Items in the museum’s collections largely fall into these categories:

  • Archaeological – From Passmores house, and subsequent field excavations up to 2022.
  • Social History – an amalgamation of Passmores House collection and new gifts.
  • Archival – derived primarily from collections held at the Harlow Study Centre with around 8000 photographs, historic maps, and drawings from early developments of the New Town. Newspapers from 1953 – 2020.
  • John Collins Cycle collection (67 cycles), unique vignettes of 40 ceramic models of cycle events, lamps, and signs.
  • Natural History – a reduced collection from Passmores house
  • Textile and accessory collection.
  • Education – a selection of curated items from across collections for handling and lending to/use by schools and/or other community groups
  • Items may be further categorised within these headings.

  Archaeology

  The Museum’s archaeological collections are primarily derived from archaeological excavations carried out in Harlow. New phases of houses development in the town, including Church Langley, New Hall, and Gilden Park, as well as extensions of historical sites like the cemetery, brings new excavated material into the Museum annually.

  Key collections within this category are excavations from the Romano-British settlement and post-Medieval ceramics, all will likely be further enhanced by continued housing developments.

  The collection spans from pre-history to the post medieval period, although Saxon and early Medieval periods are not well represented.

  Social History

  Harlow Museum’s social history collections mostly fall within these categories:

  • Local History (including textiles)
  • Ethnographic
  • Cycle
  • Note: some of our social history items date to the 17th century, and earlier. Some of these items may have been excavated, so there is in some instances a cross over between archaeology and social history.

  Most objects in the Social History collections have been acquired via public donation. The objects were in use in Harlow or typify objects in common use in the town, and are representative of the personal, social, domestic, trade and industrial development of the town and its inhabitants. This includes our textile collection.

  The Museum possesses a very small collection of ethnographic material, the majority of which was collected by one Harlow resident during the 1940s in Northeast Africa.

  The bicycle collection constitutes one of the museum’s key and unique collections almost entirely from John Collins, a local wheelwright cycle maker and collector. The collection represents the development of the bicycle, from the earliest hobby-horse in 1818 to popular bicycles of the 1980s.

  Archival

  The Museum’s library and archival collection extends over 8,000 photographs, 13,000 maps and plans, 4,000 books and substantial photographic slide, video, and audio collections. The archive is especially strong in information pertaining to the development of Harlow New Town.

  Research is undertaken by members of the community, along with information regarding properties and collections of donated ephemera.

  The collection also contains many of the archaeological excavation reports that have been carried out in the town. Natural History

  Much of the natural history was previously deaccessioned due to poor condition of specimens. The remaining collection includes the Herbert Mace butterfly, moth and insect collection, Fossils, Geology specimens, and Taxidermy specimens. The collection is in varied condition. Some items are on display, others are under review. Education

  The education collection is specifically for handling and lending to schools or community groups. It consists almost entirely of duplicate objects or replica items.

  Photography

  Photographic collections are held by Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens, and span from the late 19^th century to the present day; the bulk of collections are from the mid-20th century. Overall, they comprise a very significant visual record of the built environment and council activities which contributes significantly to regional photographic heritage.

  Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens will collect photographs which add context to or complement objects already in its own collections as well as collecting photographs relating to the Harlow area (both contemporary and historic). Photographs which fall outside of this remit will be directed to another suitable repository, such as Epping Forest District Council or Essex Record Office.

  The Essex Record Office is the primary repository of archives in Essex and collects material from across the county covering all historical periods to the present day and from all subject areas. Harlow Museum & Walled Garden will collect only archival material which adds context to or complements objects already in its own collections. Significant archival material, from single items to entire archives, will only be acquired in consultation with the Essex Record Office.

  Audiovisual and Digital Material

  The collection of audiovisual material is currently under review. Much of the analogue oral history collection has been transferred as of April 2023 to the Essex Records Office. Harlow Museum will hold digital copies of the material, depositing the originals with the ERO. Any future donations of audiovisual material will be considered with advice from the ERO, considering playback technology available to Harlow Museum and the Museum’s ability to store the material effectively.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date:

  Licence: CC BY-NC