Colne Valley Postal History Museum
Private museum of post boxes and postal memorabilia in a suburban garden in Halstead, open by arrangement and on an annual open day.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Colne Valley Postal History Museum is a privately owned museum in the garden of a house in Halstead, in the heart of East Anglia. It grew from the collection of a single enthusiast and is looked after by a small team of volunteers who restore and move the heavier exhibits.
The collection includes 167 post boxes from the former British Post Office and from overseas postal administrations, together with 25 stamp vending machines, 75 posters, 135 enamel signs, 27 postal balances, two telephone kiosks, three bicycles, thousands of documents and many uniforms. The oldest box dates from 1859 and the newest from 2015, so every reign in between is represented. The museum describes itself as the second-largest private collection of post boxes in the United Kingdom.
The museum is also home to the National AA Village Signs collection, with more than 72 of the round village-name signs from across the country, said to be the largest display of its kind. Covered sheds protect the oldest iron boxes, documents and fragile items such as the stamp machines, while later cast-iron boxes stand in the garden. The museum supports teaching and historical research.
Highlights
- 167 post boxes from 1859 to 2015
- Stamp vending machines, posters and enamel signs
- National AA Village Signs collection
- Telephone kiosks and postal uniforms
- Hands-on school visits and research support
Permanent exhibitions
- Post box collection – 167 post boxes from the former British Post Office and overseas postal administrations, from 1859 to 2015, with stamp machines, posters and enamel signs.
- National AA Village Signs collection – More than 72 of the round village-name signs of the Automobile Association from across the country.
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Pre-arranged school groups can handle most of the exhibits.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the grounds of The Laurels, 109 Head Street, Halstead. The what3words address is alley.outsiders.refusals.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Schools and colleges can arrange visits in advance, limited to twenty participants at a time because the museum is in a suburban garden. Students can handle most exhibits. The museum has a qualified teacher on its staff, can bring artefacts into schools and offers a talk on British post box design for groups. |
