Havering Museum (Romford)
If you like rummaging through antique shops and car boot sales, have I got the venue for you. Havering Museum in Romford tells the story of an area through the artefacts of its residents, often regardless of when or where they were made. It’s a lot like spending an afternoon at your nan’s house as she tells you the tales of her favourite, most precious things that she’s gathered over the course of her lifetime.
Items are frequently presented with personal stories, and are loosely arranged by theme. You’ll find walls of rusty gardening and blacksmith tools that bring to life the humble trades. A glass case full of decorative tiles and pottery shows the other end of the income spectrum that was to be found in the stately homes of Havering.
I suspect some of the residents from those homes are hanging on the portrait wall right next to it. Some are famous, but most are just a notable local, like the town rector from 1667-1734, and more recent resident Kenny Ball (1930-2013) who was the band leader of “Kenny and the Jazzmen”.
There’s a sports case filled with photos, pins and medals from various local league teams, like The Romford Bombers, who were speedway motorcycle stars from 1969-71. Ice skating and ice hockey (Romford Raiders) also seems to have been quite the draw back in the day. I particularly loved seeing the more recent London 2012 items, since it’s an event I attended myself.
Of course, no respectable local English museum would be complete without a nod to her Majesty. One of the largest cases is filled with memorabilia from the Coronation, including hand written invites for the local schoolchildren. There’s plenty more to see from the Silver, Golden and Platinum Jubilees, too!
My favourite item of all, however, is the exquisitely detailed doll house circa 1948 that took Uncle Fred three years to make for his niece Barbara. It has operable wood and glass sash windows and doors with working latches!
Though it’s a museum about the London Borough of Havering — and a thorough one at that! — by telling stories through objects and the people they’ve come from, it also portrays a pretty solid snapshot of the suburban British experience from the past hundred years. (And apparently it’s haunted — but you’ll have to buy the souvenir guide to get that story! 👻)
Plan your visit:
Only 45 minutes from Liverpool Street via the Elizabeth Line, Havering Museum is located within portions the former Romford Brewery, which closed in 1993 and used to cover 40 acres of the town.
The venue also has an Exhibition Hall and Learning Zone, either of which can be hired for a variety of small sized gatherings, functions or events.
Entrance fees: £3 adult / children up to 16 free
Please check the official website for opening days/times and to learn more about the collections.