These are very exciting times for the Ingatestone Museum. Ingatestone Museum Trust has now been awarded charity status by the Charity Commission and Greater Anglia has agreed heads of terms on the lease for the Gatekeeper’s Cottage with Ingatestone and Fryerning Parish Council, who will sublease the building to the museum trust.
This will enable the Railway Heritage Trust to release its grant for the renovations to the cottage and work will start soon. Some of the renovations will also involve local builders and craftspeople who have volunteered their time- many, many thanks for everyone’s help. We hope to show the renovations on our new website www.ingatestonemuseum.org.uk
The Trust have now started to plan for the inside having recently gone on an away day to see example exhibitions, fit out, and decorations for the museum. We are hoping to build up a base of people’s memories and experiences of growing up and living in Ingatestone and Fryerning. We would appreciate any records/letters/photos of life here in the parish from Victorian times onwards, experiences of the First and Second World Wars, evacuees, VE Day and the days of the tea rooms and inns during the time of the A12 running through the High Street.
Any donations on these themes or any local history artefacts would be very welcome. Please contact secretary@imt.gb.net to discuss.
