This bold and bright rainbow shawl was crocheted by Heather Wright in the first week of the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. In the second image, Heather is wearing the shawl during the Easter weekend in 2021 🌈 The shawl is now on display in the Moving Stories section of Redbridge Museum. #Museum30

A lovely piece from our collection for today’s #Museum30 theme of Stitch – a ‘Friendship Cloth’, owned and used by the donor’s grandmother, Sylvia Ashbridge of Grove Park, Wanstead, who had friends visiting for tea sign and embroider (or embroidered herself) their names from around the year 1870. 🪡

To remember Ilford citizens killed in the war, a memorial plaque and book was unveiled in Ilford Town Hall in April 1949. This is now available to view at Redbridge Heritage Centre.

It may not have been built for Bonfire Night, but this bonfire in Ilford on 9 May 1945 was for a bigger celebration – Victory in Europe after the Second World War. Resourceful as ever, residents have laid down the remains of an Anderson shelter to protect the road tarmac from the fire.

For today’s #Museum30, we’re re-sharing this Reel we made for National Doodle Day revealing the pages of an Ilford pupil’s school sketchbook from 1910! ✏️ www.instagram.com/p/DPEB_tZDCb5/

Spooky season may be over but there’s more than meets the eye to this miniature carved wooden figure from our collection! This is an example of a mechanical Kobe toy or doll produced as a souvenir in Japan in the early 20th century 👹 #Museum30

Excited for our first #Museum30 on Bluesky! 🏦 To reintroduce ourselves – Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre is the local history museum and archive service for the London Borough of Redbridge. We explore stories of the diverse local people, places and events that make up the history of Redbridge.

Happy Halloween! Watch out for all things creepy crawly in your travels tonight 👀 These spooky spiders were handmade by local resident Gladys Harrison and now live very harmlessly in our museum store! 🕷️

See Black History Month out this week with our short film ‘Memories of Windrush’, exploring the memories and experiences of Redbridge’s Windrush generation using interviews by Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre from 2002 to 2018. 🔗 Watch online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYC1...

The next talk in the series is, well you can see - it's one of mine and I'll be speaking on the subject of Parks & Recreation. 7 for 7:30pm start on Monday 10th November in the Gloucester Room in the library in Ilford.

Excited for the half term? Join us everyday this week for our fun, free Families Trail! 🔍 📅 Saturday 25 October to Saturday 1 November 🕚 11:00-16:00 (drop in) 📍 Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library

Today is Ilford’s Charter Day – when the town officially became a Borough by Royal Charter on this day in 1926 📜 Crowds lined the streets to welcome the Duke & Duchess of York who visited Ilford to mark the occasion. 🔗 Visit 'Village to Suburb' at Redbridge Museum to discover more: vrcl.uk/museum

Here’s a spotlight on some of the objects in our display about South Asian Life in Redbridge – glass bangles worn by Gujarati women on special occasions and an incense holder featuring the Hindu deity Ganesh used in religious ceremonies. Happy Diwali to all our friends celebrating tonight! 🪔

A wonderful blog about our collections and display on Redbridge's Jewish stories by Dr Rachel Lichtenstein 👇

This Black History Month, discover Redbridge’s historic connections to the transatlantic slave trade and the campaign for abolition in our permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. Open Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 – 17:00, Free admission 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/museum

A new acquisition! We were recently bequeathed a collection of material relating to Little Gearies of Barkingside, including this album of photographs compiled by the donor who carried out extensive and detailed genealogical research into the Edenborough family that once lived there.

Recently spotted on Ilford High Road – the F. W. Woolworth ‘ghost sign’ still in place beneath the new Superdrug store signage being installed this week. Woolworths opened in Ilford in 1912. In 1938, the exterior was renovated in the attractive white Art Deco style that still stands today.

On 22 June 1948, the Empire Windrush docked in Essex, the first of many ships and planes bringing around 500,000 Caribbean migrants to Britain from 1948 to 1971. Discover the stories of Redbridge’s Windrush generation in this new permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/museum

We've been nominated for the Redbridge Arts & Culture Award in the Ilford & Redbridge Business Awards 2025. If you've enjoyed our Museum displays, temporary exhibitions, schools sessions, events, or our friendly and accessible Heritage service, give us a vote! 🔗 bit.ly/4ocW2Tk

OPEN NOW: Redbridge and the Second World War An exhibition by Redbridge Museum marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. 📅 Until Saturday 30 August 2026 📍 First floor, Redbridge Central Library 🎟️ Free admission 🔗 vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

Sylvia Pankhurst is known for her fierce fight for the women's vote but her activism went further than the Suffragettes - she also opposed fascism and colonialism, campaigning against the Italian invasion of Ethiopia while living in Woodford in the 1930s. 🔗 Discover her story: sylviapankhurst.com

Celebrate Black History Month with Redbridge Museum through our exciting displays, film screenings, and more! 🔗 See what’s on: visionrcl.org.uk/black-history-month

A great action shot of Woodford Rugby Club players in 1983! 🏉 The Club was formed in 1924 and used a pitch next to the Woodford Wells Cricket Club in Monkhams Lane, Woodford. They later moved to a ground in Highams Park, where they still play today. #NSHD2025 @sportingheritage.bsky.social

‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ opens soon on the 1st floor of Redbridge Central Library, Ilford. Visit our website or follow this account to stay tuned for more updates. 🔗 vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

Today is the Autumn Equinox, marking the arrival of a new season. This photo from our collection shows the lengthening shadows and falling leaves in Valentines Park, Ilford, in 1987 🍂

The Empire Kinema (later Cinema) opened on Ilford Lane in April 1913. It was destroyed by a fire started by wartime incendiary bombing on 17 September 1940. The building was later demolished and the site lay disused for many years. 🔗 Find out more in our upcoming exhibition: vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

We were pleased to welcome our first classes of the new school year to Redbridge Museum last week! In the last academic year (2024-25), we delivered education sessions to 5,040 pupils! Swipe for some highlights from comments left by schools… 🔗 Book a session: visionrcl.org.uk/museum/schools

Today is Roald Dahl Story Day! Can you figure out which of his stories are represented here with objects from our collection? 📚 Hint: the last object is related to one of his short stories for adults!

In 1979, Gearies School in Gants Hill, Ilford, celebrated their 50th birthday by producing a school magazine about the school’s history, with contributions from present and former pupils. Here are three 'Poems Dedicated to Teacher' from the magazine 🍎 #EYAEducation @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

Who’s ready for Biscuit Week? 🍪 Wouldn’t it be nice to dip into this delightful 1960s/70s flower power biscuit tin from our collection for a nibble as you watch! #GBBO

On this day in 1940, the Blitz began – a fierce bombing campaign by German aeroplanes flying over Britain from September 1940 to May 1941. 📸 Bomb damage at South Woodford Station, 14 October 1940 🔗 Find out more in our upcoming exhibition about Redbridge & the Second World War: vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

Lots of ceramics in our collection to choose from for @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange but we’re going with our showstopper – this decorative Victorian porcelain toilet bowl on permanent display at Redbridge Museum! 🚽

Back to school for pupils in Redbridge this week! 🏫 Why not brighten up any glum little faces like these ones at Goodmayes Junior School in about 1935 by bringing kids out of the classroom for a fun fact-filled trip to Redbridge Museum this term! 🔗 Book a session: visionrcl.org.uk/museum/schools

Last chance to take part in our families trail before the end of the summer holiday! Drop in anytime from 11:00 – 16:00 today or tomorrow and pick up a free trail from the Museum desk to start exploring the history of Redbridge through our displays.

Thanks to everyone who dropped by for a game of carrom to see off South Asian Heritage Month with us! We were pleased to be joined by fellow heritage colleagues from Newham Heritage Centre who were on a research trip to Redbridge Museum - thanks for dropping by!

For International Dog Day, here’s a photo from our collection of Growler, a perhaps slightly spoiled pup, in the special basket made for him by Mr and Mrs Willis so that they could cycle around with him! 🐶

Taking place today!

Going into London for Notting Hill Carnival this weekend? 🎉 This clip from our film ‘Memories of Windrush’ looks at Joyce Guy who moved to Ilford from Trinidad in 1958 and made food and costumes for her own Carnival band in the 1970s. 🔗 Watch the full film here: youtu.be/dYC1ZQxv3j4

Missed out on our first Make & Take activity earlier this summer? Not to worry – we’re running it again next Tuesday, plus a few more activities left over from each week! 📅 Tuesday 26 August 🕚 12:00 - 16:00 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/museum-make-and-take

Something is in the works! You may have noticed our 1st floor exhibition area blocked off while we install our upcoming exhibition on Redbridge and the Second World War. Here are some sneak peeks behind the scenes as we carefully place objects from our collections into the displays!

A very happy National Potato Day to our fellow spud-lovers with this fragment of a photograph in our collection revealing Daniel Cook, Head Cowman at Monkhams Farm, Woodford, sorting through a mountain of potatoes in the late 19th to early 20th century 🥔

Starting soon! Come along to make your own scrumptious season wheel at the Heritage Centre this afternoon!

Another South Asian Heritage Month comes to an end today – but our displays about South Asian Life in Redbridge & the East India Company and Redbridge are still free to visit in our permanent exhibition, open Tues–Sat 11:00–17:00. And don't miss our free drop-in carrom event on Wednesday 27 August!

Make your own scrumptious season wheel to find out what fruit and veg is growing now! 📅 Tuesday 19 August 2025 🕚 12:00 - 16:00 (drop-in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 👤 Ages 6+ 🎟️ £1.00 (no need to book!) 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/event/museum-scrumptious-seasons

Today is the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, when the Second World War came to an end. Redbridge Museum will soon open a new exhibition marking 80 years since the end of the War. 🔗 vrcl.uk/museum-ww2

Employees of H. Chappell & Co chocolate manufacturers on Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, dig for victory at the firm’s allotment, about 1940. What are you growing for National Allotments Week? 🥬🍅🥕

It’s a scorcher today! Remember to keep cool indoors and out 🪭

Taking place tomorrow! Drop in anytime from 12:00 – 16:00 to make and play your own blow football game based on a classic 1950s tabletop game from the collections of Redbridge Museum!

For @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social #ExploreYourArchive Day on #EYAHumour, here’s ‘Never Too Late’ a poem from the collection of Fred James, an amateur photographer and local joker from Wanstead who volunteered as an ARP Warden during the Second World War. Open up this thread to read! ⬇️

On the Ball! ⚽ Make and play your own blow football game with Redbridge Museum! 📅 Tuesday 12 August 2025 🕚 12:00 - 16:00 (drop-in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library 👤 Ages 6+ 🎟️ £1.00 (no need to book!) 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/event/museum-on-the-ball