Archaeology
From Bronze Age axeheads to medieval coins, Braintree Museum holds archaeological material from sites throughout the District.
Strengths of the collection include finds from the extensive excavations of Roman Braintree in the 1980s, as well as medieval material from nearby Cressing Temple Barns. Archaeological objects are also acquired via the Treasure Act 1996, and through individual donations.
Every year many thousands of new archaeological objects are discovered in the UK, either by metal detectors or by accidental means. The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary project which records these finds and gives information about the Treasure Act. Their website is an excellent all-round resource and includes a search feature: great for browsing local finds!
Art and Ceramics
Paintings
Braintree District Museum holds a diverse and varied range of different artworks and paintings. Two strengths of the Museum’s art collection are the Old Iron portraits commissioned by Crittall Manufacturing Company between 1926 – 1928 and the murals in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall Centre.
Braintree District Museum also holds a large and varied collection of local artist Cyril Hamersma.
Courtauld & Co.
Braintree District Museum has an important archive relating to the multinational Courtauld company which began in Braintree. On display in the museum are items including crape mourning outfits and items associated with the production of crape, the material that made the company famous. Other highlights of the gallery include a Courtauld Taylor and Courtauld loom and personal items of the family.
The Courtaulds and Braintree
The silk industry brought enormous wealth to the Courtauld family and they used this to endow buildings, schools, parks and gardens throughout Braintree and the Essex district during the 19th – 20th century. This included Manor Street School, in which the museum is housed, William Julien Courtauld Hospital and Braintree Town Hall. The crape trade was crucial to Braintree’s development and prosperity in the 19th century.
Crittall Windows Archive
The Museum is very fortunate to house the company archive of Crittall Manufacturing Company with over 2000 artefacts in our collections including catalogues, photographs and works of art.
A Brief History
The Crittall family lived in Kent from the fifteenth century and are thought to have taken their name from Crit Hall, situated between Benenden and Cranbourne. Francis Berrington Crittall’s family owned the ‘Swan Inn’ at Wickham but he left the family home to serve an apprenticeship with an ironmonger at Brentford. In Braintree there was an ironmonger’s business, originally established in 1635, at 27 Bank Street, which had been inherited by Mrs. Maria Shave and consisted of a shop with living accommodation above, a warehouse and a yard.
Geology and Fossils
The museum has a collection of fossils ranging from specimens that are 450 million to 1 million years old and from sea to land creatures, and a geological collection that includes shells and mineral specimens.
John Ray
Born on Bakers Lane in Black Notley in 1627, Ray, often referred to as the ‘father of natural history’, was a local man who revolutionised the way we understand nature. His work has been highly significant within scientific circles, but is also important in our everyday understanding of plants and animals. For example, he coined the use of the terms petal and pollen and discovered that trees could be dated from their rings. A prolific author, traveller and correspondent with life-long interests in linguistics and theology as well as the natural sciences his most famous work is the Historia Plantarum. The first two volumes were published in 1686 and 1688 and were over 1000 pages each covering the plants of Britain and Europe. To this was added a third volume in 1704 on parts of America, Jamaica, Africa, and Far East. Volume I is part of the collection at the Museum.
Photographs
Braintree Museum possesses a large collection of photographs documenting the District’s people and places from the 1880s to the present day.
Photographic evidence is an excellent resource for bringing local history to life. The Museum’s collection illustrates local industry, street views, schools and public life. Highlights include an important series of wartime images and a fascinating range of aerial views of Braintree.
Parts of our photographic collection can be reproduced at a cost. For more information please call 01376 328868
Warner & Sons
The Warner Textile Archive holds the collection from furnishing fabrics manufacturing company, Warner & Sons. Warner & Sons, as a business as we know it, was formed in 1870 by Benjamin Warner who was descended from a line of scarlet dyers from Spitalfields. From relatively humble beginnings in the textile industry, Warner & Sons would go on to become one of the most respected furnishing silk manufacturers in the UK.
WW1 & WWII
Braintree District Museum holds varied collections relating to both World Wars and their impact on Braintree District. This includes an archive relating to the vital role of Crittalls and the East Anglian Munitions Committee during World War I, photographs of bomb damage in Braintree during World War II and medals, identity cards and evacuee certificates beloning to local residents as well as many more artefacts.
A Collection of Ceramics from Edward Bingham
Edward Bingham was a remarkable potter. He progressed from the utilitarian goods his father produced, creating ornate and embellished pieces which show his love of history, archaeology, nature and Hedingham Castle where he lived.
Braintree Museum is one of many places where local history research can be carried out.
Other useful resources include:
Local History Societies
These groups are recommended for meeting enthusiasts and accessing knowledge and sources relevant to particular local history topics. An example of such a group is the John Ray Trust, for the appreciation of the Black Notley born eighteenth century naturalist.
The Essex Record Office
The ERO collects and preserves the written, oral and visual heritage of the County, and a good portion of this material is accessible online, via their SEAX user system.
The Essex Heritage Conservation Record
For research regarding historic buildings and archaeology, this resource is of great value. Their Unlocking Essex’s Past website is an excellent starting point for the study of local monuments or historically significant structures. Search for information on England's historic sites and buildings, including images of listed buildings.
The Heritage Gateway
This resource is another excellent destination for research into national and local sites and buildings, and their website is well worth visiting.
The National Newspaper Library
This collection is located at Colindale, London, and contains some 650,000 bound volumes of British national and local newspapers and magazines, and over 320,000 reels of positive microfilm. For further details, telephone 0171 412 7353.
Online Exhibitions
The online exhibition is a collaboration with the Courtauld Gallery, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Courtauld National Programme connects with partners across the UK with historic links to the Courtauld textile company to share the gallery’s collection.
Braintree Museum is one of many places where local history research can be carried out.
Other useful resources include:
