Hollytrees Museum
Hollytrees Museum, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG
It was built in 1718/19 for Elizabeth Cornelisen, a wealthy widow, on the site of an earlier house. It was later the home of Colchester's MP Charles Gray (1696-1782) who commissioned the local architect James Deane to extend the building in 1748. It now houses Colchester’s Visitor Information Centre and a museum of family life and childhood in the city over the past 300 years. Displays include a celebration of the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' which was written in Colchester in 1806 by Jane Taylor who, with her sister Ann, is the subject of a new statue erected in Colchester High Street in 2024. The museum also has a clock gallery displaying clocks and watches made by Colchester craftsmen and a small selection of portraits from the city's art collection.
Do not miss 'Discover: Museum Wonders' — a major new exhibition featuring the first real dinosaur skeleton ever displayed in Colchester. Over six-metres long, this remarkable fossil, known as 'Juliasaurus', has never been seen publicly anywhere in the world. Early research even suggests it may represent a species new to science. This colossal prehistoric guest has travelled an immense distance from North America and is considered one of the most important dinosaur finds of recent years. Its arrival in Colchester is a rare and exciting moment — offering residents, families and visitors a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to meet a real dinosaur up close.
Timings
- Saturday 19 September:
- 1000-1600
Location & directions
Hollytrees Museum, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG
- Directions:
- Adjacent to Colchester's War Memorial at the entrance to Castle Park.
- Contact on day:
- VIC Team
- Telephone number:
- +441206282920
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Time slots at: 1000, 1130, 1400 and 1530. Tickets will be allocated by ballot. There is a maximum of 4 tickets per applicant. Successful entrants will be informed the week beginning 31st August.
- Booking telephone number:
- +441206282920
- Booking opens:
- 01 Aug 2026 12:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 29 Aug 2026 12:00 AM
Accessibility details
Disabled toilets located immediately next to the museum in Castle Park. Access via RADAR key (available at museum front desk). There are a limited number of disabled bays by the Museum Street entrance to Castle Park. Please note only one wheelchair user can access the building at any one time.
Additional information
Other buildings open nearby for Heritage Open Days on the same day are Roman Theatre (Maidenburgh Street), Colchester Town Hall, 7 Queen Street (The Brewhouse), St James the Less Catholic Church (Priory Street) and St Peter's Church (North Hill).
- Estimated duration:
- 1 hour(s)
