Vote for your top treasure at the Museum of Chelmsford
What object do you treasure most at the Museum of Chelmsford? That’s what curators are asking as part of a temporary display which invites visitors to help shape the museum’s new ‘Top 10 Treasure Trail’.
New top ten to showcase objects treasured by local communities
The display is part of the museum’s latest exhibition ‘Timeless Treasures: Unlocking the Great Baddow Coin Hoard’, which looks at changing concepts of treasure over millennia as it explores the story of the Great Baddow Coin Hoard.
As part of the exhibition, the museum has worked closely with local communities to tell the stories of their own personal treasures. From toys and hobbies to pets and special places, representations of those treasures are currently on display in the Discover Studio in the form of golden clay coins. Now, curators want local people to help co-curate a new Top 10 Treasure Trail; deciding which objects from the museum’s own collection are most meaningful to them.
Inspired by the Great Baddow Coin Hoard, local people created clay coins of their treasured objects. Images by Claire Naylor.
Visitors can explore a display of 20 shortlisted treasures – chosen by museum staff and volunteers – in the Discover Studio, before voting for their own favourite museum treasure. The results of the public vote will form the new Top 10 Treasure Trail, which will feature in the museum’s 2027 visitor guide.
Visitors can vote for their favourite object in the Discover Studio at the Museum of Chelmsford. Images by Claire Naylor.
Shortlisted objects cover Chelmsford’s rich history
Ranging from a prehistoric Mammoth tusk and jaw to Sir Grayson Perry’s 2003 pot ‘The Chelmsford Sissies’, the shortlisted objects cover thousands of years of Chelmsford’s proud history, featuring items with strong connections to the district’s varied communities.
For example, locals with fond memories of nights out at Dukes might vote for the sign from the famous nightclub, or perhaps residents of Danbury will decide that the Bronze Age Gold Diadem discovered there in 2016 is their favourite treasure.
Objects range in history from a prehistoric Mammoth tusk to the more recent Dukes nightclub sign.
Fans of the museum’s resident taxidermy bear, Boris the Bear, may wish to see him make the final list, whereas residents with connections to Chelmsford’s historic Marconi factory might feel the Luftwaffe Model of the Hoffman and Marconi Factories is one of the museum’s top treasures.
Sir Grayson Perry's 'The Chelmsford Sissies Pot' and the taxidermy Boris the Bear also feature on the shortlist.
Plus, those who have recently been entranced by the newly unveiled Great Baddow Coin Hoard will also find it among the shortlisted objects to vote for.
Curator, Claire Willetts, encourages visitors to have their say on Chelmsford’s treasures:
““As a community-focused museum – with displays, exhibitions and activities that are shaped by our local stories, memories and connections – we felt it right that local people should determine what objects best represent Chelmsford’s history.
Claire Willetts, Curator and Exhibitions Officer, Museum of Chelmsford
“I encourage everyone to cast their vote and help decide which treasures visitors must see when coming to the museum. This could be an object that came from your local village, an item that brings fond memories of previous visits to the museum, or simply a beautiful piece that ignites a strong feeling.”
Cast your vote at the Museum of Chelmsford
You can vote for your favourite object in person at the Museum of Chelmsford. Simply request a token on admission and cast your vote in the Discover Studio on the ground floor. If you think a key object is missing from the shortlist when casting your vote, you can also write down a suggestion for the team to consider.
Voting is live until April 2027 and for those who can’t make it in person, there’ll be a chance to vote online for one weekend only this September. Follow the Museum of Chelmsford on Facebook or Instagram to take part.
Visit the museum for free this September
Chelmsford’s Heritage Open Days also returns this September, and the Museum of Chelmsford will be taking part with one weekend of free admission from 19-20 September. It’s the perfect opportunity to pop by and cast your vote for the Top 10 Treasure Trail!
Free activities will also be taking place across the weekend, including a treasure screen printing workshop with artist Katie Kennedy and a Collecting Our Future wax workshop with sculptor Caitlin Hazell. Plus, tour guide Rachel returns with her popular talks as Mrs Wells, exploring what life was like at Oaklands House during the Victorian period.
Find out more about Timeless Treasures: Unlocking the Great Baddow Coin Hoard on the museum’s website: www.museumofchelmsford.co.uk/events/timeless-treasures.
See the full list of Chelmsford Heritage Open Days events coming up this September at: www.chelmsfordhod.co.uk/events.
