What's been going on at Halstead Museum? - Autumn/Winter 2024
This autumn has seen no let-up in the work of the museum. Donations and acquisitions continue to trickle in. We were able to purchase from eBay eleven vellums all dated to the early 1700s. They record the purchase and leasing of land off the “street” later called The High Street. These documents are a treasure trove of information, detailing place names, people’s names and occupations. Long have we been frustrated not having the time to study and record all this fascination information. Now this society has something in common with Dracula. The desire for a supply of fresh youthful blood. Enter stage left, Jack Williamson, a Halstead lad, eighteen years of age with an overwhelming interest in local history. He comes with a most valuable skill in great demand in this modern age. He can type like the wind blows and with no spelling mistakes. Jack has taken on the task of collating any information that these many vellums in our collection might deem useful for research. Much consideration has been had about locking him away in our archive room, so that he cannot leave this place! A working builder alongside his Dad means he spares us time when at rest and not taking driving lessons. Halstead watch out!
Another of our invaluable volunteers has come our rescue again. Stuart Lock our technical wizard sorted out some issues with our present systems. In doing so he has set up another terminal for us to use, as well as another laptop. Stuart has aided us with his skills and knowhow, along with valuable hardware. We would struggle without his generosity in time and money.
Many of you will be familiar with the word Rayon. A product manufactured by Courtaulds, and a substitute for silk. Its original name was Viscose, which was not invented locally but acquired from another company in about 1904/1905. Courtaulds then renamed it, making it a global success.
The family of Edwin J Beer have gifted the museum some artefacts relating to the invention of viscose. Mr Beer was at the forefront of its invention, which he felt was not attributed to him nor his efforts. He put pen to paper and recorded the history of viscose development, along with many of his other achievements. The Society has several copies of Mr Beer’s memoirs to loan or to purchase.
We now have a fabulous collection of photos (450) documenting the development of the Halstead Baptist Church through the 1950s and 1960s. The Society utilises the Baptist Church for our monthly meetings and so many of you will be familiar with the building. On the passing of Colin Ridgewell, a Baptist Church stalwart, some of his personal effects have been passed to our museum. They document the demolition of the old Baptist Church by the parishioners and contractors. Then the rebuilding, almost brick by brick, into what we now recognise as the modern Baptist Church.
Also gifted is a collection of photos recording the Halstead floods, along with the enormous fire that engulfed the paint shop on the Broton Industrial Estate. Chris Angel has allowed us to copy the paperwork surrounding his father’s involvement as an ARP warden, working out of Nether Priors in the last war.
