Local and Social History Collections

The local and social history collections reflect life in the rural and market-town communities of north-west Essex over the last few hundred years. Life on the land is represented by agricultural tools and a small number of horse-drawn vehicles, while town life is represented by objects from various local trades, shops, civic authorities and public amenities, and domestic items. Subjects featured include local clock-makers, local building traditions and materials, and 17th century Essex tradesmen's tokens.

There is an extensive collection of documents, ephemera, photos and prints. Many of the documents relate to the administration of Saffron Walden in the 19th century. Significant among these is the collection of John Dane Player, which covers poor law administration and other topics. Important individuals represented include the poet Robert Southey (manuscripts, particularly his Commonplace Books), Henry Winstanley (prints and information relating to the Winstanley family), and letters of William Penn.



Print of Saffron Walden Parish Church, 1841 by T C Dibdin
 

Iron Cello made about 1830 by Thomas Barker, blacksmith of Wimbish.