Tiptree Jam Museum

About the museum

The Tiptree Jam Museum is at the Tiptree visitor centre on Factory Hill, next to the Tiptree Tea Room and the Wilkin & Sons preserve business. It is based on a collection of pictures, documents and machinery gathered over more than fifty years by Mr J. S. Wilkin, known as Mr John. The collection began in a private room inside the preserve factory before it moved to its present home, a renovated farm building at Tiptree. His wife, Daphne, recorded each item and wrote the explanatory notices.

The displays show how jam and preserves have been made over the years and what village life in Essex was like. A short video explains how fruit is grown and how traditional preserve making continues today.

Visitors can walk round the museum at their own pace and entry is free. A quick visit takes about 15 minutes, but 30 to 45 minutes is more usual. Factory tours are no longer offered.

Highlights

• History of jam and preserve making at Tiptree
• Pictures, documents and machinery collected by Mr John Wilkin
• Items from Essex village life
• Short video on growing fruit and traditional preserve making
• Free entry; tea room and shop next door

Permanent exhibition

• Jam making and Essex village life – Pictures, documents and machinery showing how preserve making has changed over the years, together with items from village life in Essex and a short video on growing fruit.

Operated by

Wilkin & Sons

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the museum is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Tiptree website gives no accessibility information; a regional tourism listing mentions disabled access. Visitors with specific needs should phone 01621 814524.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

From the A12, leave at Kelvedon and follow the B1023 towards Tiptree; the entrance is after the red brick wall. The nearest railway station is Kelvedon (regional tourism listing).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Tiptree Tea Room at the visitor centre serves lunches and cakes, and there is a Tiptree jam shop. Dogs are not allowed in the tea room but are welcome in the Secret Garden, which closes from 1 November until spring.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit