Museum of Chelmsford launches its first podcast series
The Museum of Chelmsford has launched its first ever podcast series. Hosted by Learning Officer Helen Brown and Museum Duty Manager Rachel Webber, with contributions from the wider museum team, The Chelmsford Broadcast explores the people, places, objects and memories that have shaped Chelmsford’s story.
Podcast pays tribute to Chelmsford’s radio heritage
The Chelmsford Broadcast pays homage to Chelmsford’s identity as the birthplace of radio, featuring regular ‘segments’ in the style of a news broadcast. Even the podcast music – created by Chelmsford-born musician Chester Tribley – features a nod to the city’s transmission heritage, with the title music spelling out ‘Chelmsford’ in morse code.
Each 30-minute episode creates tangible links between the events of Chelmsford’s rich and varied history and the modern-day Museum of Chelmsford. From curators sharing stories of objects in the museum’s collections, to Rachel’s tales of Oaklands House and Park before it became home to the Museum of Chelmsford.
Another segment, ‘Chelmsfordian of the Week’, looks at some of the important and sometimes little-known figures who were born or lived in Chelmsford, while ‘Overheard at the Museum’ sees volunteers muse on recent developments and events at the museum.
Councillor Jennie Lardge, Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said:
““Podcasts are an excellent means of reaching new audiences. For museums, they provide an entertaining way to share stories of our heritage and culture with people from all over the world who might not be able to visit us in person.
Councillor Jennie Lardge, Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure
“As a fan of history podcasts myself (I find they make routine household chores a much more enjoyable experience!), I am personally very much looking forward to following the museum’s first venture into the world of podcasting, finding out more about its varied collections and Chelmsford’s rich history.”
Listen to episode one now
The museum team worked with freelance museums podcast producer, Megan Jones (creator and host of the Museums ‘n’ That podcast) to design and create a four-part series celebrating the Museum of Chelmsford and its diverse collections. This pilot series has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England’s Museum Renewal Fund.
Launching today, the debut episode explores Marconi history and Chelmsford’s role in the development of radio broadcasting over 100 years ago.
Coming up in future episodes, Museum Duty Manager Rachel Webber delves into the eccentricities of previous Oaklands owner Fred Wells; Community Engagement Officer Maxine Dempster shares the story of the first woman in the UK to be fined for speeding; and Curator and Exhibitions Officer Sarah Harvey reveals an interesting discovery about the museum’s beloved taxidermy mascot, Boris the Bear!
Plus, to coincide with the launch of the museum’s next exhibition, Timeless Treasures: Unlocking the Story of the Great Baddow Hoard, in episode two (releasing 17 July) Curator and Exhibitions Officer Claire Willets will explore the mystery of this Iron Age gold hoard.
Podcast co-host Helen Brown said:
““Rachel and I have had such a blast recording this podcast with the wider team! We are so proud of Chelmsford’s rich heritage, particularly its role in the birth of radio, so what better way to pay homage than through a radio-inspired podcast! We can’t wait for listeners to hear all about Marconi in episode one and more incredible stories beyond that. We’ve got some great episodes recorded and even more exciting ideas to come as we continue on this new podcasting journey.”
Helen Brown, Learning Officer at the Museum of Chelmsford and co-host on The Chelmsford Broadcast
Episodes of The Chelmsford Broadcast will release monthly, with episode one launching today, 19 June 2026. Listen for free on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
