Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre

Half term means one thing for us – our fun, free Families Trail! Collect a trail sheet from the front desk to discover the history of Redbridge through our exciting interactive displays! 📅 Until Saturday 31 October 🕚 11:00-16:00 (drop in) 📍 Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library

Clocks go back tonight – don’t forget to change your alarm clocks, microwaves and pocket watches! ⏰

And to coincide with the exhibition, Museum & Heritage Centre Manager Gerard Greene has written the first of a two part look at Ilford in the 1920s for the IHS newsletter (pp 7-11): ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/...

Be sure to tune into Antiques Roadshow tonight! Our Collections Officer talks to presenter Fiona Bruce about the history of Ilford Limited and shows some of the objects and archives from our collection in this exciting episode filmed at Valentines Mansion. 📅 Sunday 18 October 🕗️ 8pm 📺️ BBC One

Celebrating 100 years of Winnie the Pooh today! 🍯 This contact sheet from our collection throws it back to the Central Library celebrations for the beloved bear’s 60th anniversary in October 1986. How many Rabbit ears can you spot?

This Black History Month, watch our short film ‘Memories of Windrush’ about the experiences of Redbridge’s Windrush generation, screening all day throughout October at Redbridge Central Library.

Read @seethetreasures.bsky.social's Collection Encounters blog by writer Rachel Lichtenstein about her visit to Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre to view the Newbury Park Synagogue archive, local newspaper cuttings about the Jewish community, and our display about Jewish Redbridge!

It's National Poetry Day - let's revisit this light-hearted poem about the work of Air Raid Precaution Wardens in Wanstead during the Second World War 👇

Today is National Sporting Heritage Day. This photo from our collection shows the ladies team at Wanstead Cricket Club in about 1890🏏 #NSHD2026 #SportingHeritage @sportingheritage.bsky.social

For World Heart Day, a lesson on the heart for nurses at King George Hospital in Newbury Park, about 1960 🫀

A classic view of Ilford High Street on this postcard from our collection, postmarked 28 September 1910. On the far left is The Angel Hotel, once a popular stop for travellers between London and Essex. You can still see the inn’s exterior close to Boots – just look up!

Who enjoyed Cake Week last night on the Great British Bake Off? 🍰 📸: Cakes are decorated for a nurses’ prizegiving and reunion in the Bakehouse at Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, about 1961

This photo from our collection shows the changing leaves on the trees surrounding the Lake at Valentines Park in September 1981 – a classic autumn scene to celebrate the Equinox and the arrival of a new season 🍂

Today is World Rhino Day! 🦏 Did you know that the remains of over 36 prehistoric rhinoceroses have been found in Redbridge! Can you spot some of their bones in our Early History section?

This week we welcomed schools back into Redbridge Museum for another year of learning about local history! 🔗 Find out about our education programme and book a session for your class: vrcl.uk/rm-schools

The men and boys in this photograph from our collection are ‘beating the bounds’ of Ilford, on this day in 1911. This was an ancient tradition where local people walked in procession around the periphery of the town or parish, hitting markers along the way to remember its physical boundaries.

We joined Colours of Redbridge for their ‘Here We Share’ poetry workshop at One Place Sight Support Group’s Coffee Morning earlier this week. Objects from our handling collection, including a 1930s enamel teapot, 1912 Kodak Vest Pocket camera, and a 1960s Barbie doll served as prompts for the poems!

Back to school this week for pupils across Redbridge – enjoy the start of the new term! 📸: Maths class in session at the Gregg School on Oakfield Road, Ilford, about 1952

How many friends or family can you pile onto one large tree stump today? This group managed seven at Valentines Park, Ilford, on this day in 1912! 🌳 Enjoy the bank holiday!

Happy National Dog Day from local soldier Ron Harrison and this sweet pup, taken in July 1946 when Ron was with the Royal Fusiliers in Germany 🐶 🔗 Find out more about local soldiers’ experiences of war in our exhibition ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’, ending this weekend: vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

Come along to make and take away your own bobbing barge in our last Terrific Tuesday of the summer! ⛵️ 📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/bobbing-barge

Come along to make and take away your own bobbing barge in our last Terrific Tuesday of the summer! ⛵️ 📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/bobbing-barge

BOBBING BARGE ⛵ Don’t miss our last Terrific Tuesday of the summer next week! Come along to make and take away your own mini historic floating barge! 📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/bobbing-barge

Crisp ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in the chipper… how are you having yours on National Potato Day? 🥔

Not long left to visit our exhibition on Redbridge & the Second World War! Come along to see it, then join us to make and take away your own wartime Spitfire plane craft! 📅 Tuesday 18 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/speedy-spitfires

Best of luck to everyone receiving their A-Level results today! Hoping for high spirits, like these students at Caterham High School in 1961 🎉

Did you know you can safely view Wednesday’s solar eclipse through a pinhole camera? ☀️🌙 Come along to Redbridge Heritage Centre tomorrow to make your very own one inspired by the camera and photography collections at Redbridge Museum! 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/crafty-cameras

CRAFTY CAMERAS 📸 Make and take away your own pinhole camera with Redbridge Museum! For ages 6+ 📅 Tuesday 11 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/crafty-cameras

CRAFTY CAMERAS 📸 Make and take away your own pinhole camera with Redbridge Museum! For ages 6+ 📅 Tuesday 11 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/crafty-cameras

Happy Playday! 🪀 Why not bring along your under 5s to our Mini Museum today to play as a Victorian shopkeeper, cook in a mini-1930s kitchen, climb aboard a vintage London bus, and dress up in costume from the past!

Exciting! Don't forget you have unlimited access to newspapers when you use the British Newspaper Archive from Redbridge Heritage Centre and other Redbridge libraries 📰 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/heritage

What a wonderful window! Come along to make and take away your own stained glass craft just like this tomorrow at Redbridge Heritage Centre. 📅 Tuesday 4 August 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/wonderful-windows

WONDERFUL WINDOWS 🪟 Come along to design your own stained glass window craft based on real windows on display at Redbridge Museum! For ages 6+ 📅 Tuesday 4 August 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/wonderful-windows

Happy Friendship Day! 🫂 Here are members of the Ilford Women’s Co-operative Guild ready in an open-topped coach for an outing to Brighton on 24 June 1926.

ENDING SOON: Redbridge and the Second World War Just one month left to visit our exhibition marking the 80the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. 📅 Until Sunday 30 August 2026 📍 First floor, Redbridge Central Library, Ilford 🎟️ Free admission 🔗 vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

WONDERFUL WINDOWS 🪟 Come along to design your own stained glass window craft based on real windows on display at Redbridge Museum! For ages 6+ 📅 Tuesday 4 August 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/wonderful-windows

Thanks to all who dropped in yesterday to play a game of carrom with us! 🔗 Look out for more Terrific Tuesdays with Redbridge Museum this summer holiday: visionrcl.org.uk/events/rm-terrific-tuesdays