Chelmsford Museum 34/55 - Essex Regiment + Victoria Cross sword and spurs

The newly refurbished and extended Chelmsford Museums, including the Essex Regiment Museum, welcomed its first visitors on Saturday January 23, 2010.

Despite the 'orrible weather, a good crowd witnessed BBC Essex presenter Dave Monk, enthusiastically launched the event that marked the start of a week full of events, celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Museum.

Visitors wandered through refurbished galleries and brand new contemporary two-storey extension - featuring full-height glass walls with views of the beautiful Oaklands Park through and beyond.

As visitors arrived through the Museum's new, fully accessible entrance, they will found themselves immersed in the 'Bright Sparks' gallery space, dedicated to the work of Chelmsford's industrial pioneers Gugliemo Marconi and Colonel R.E Crompton.

They saw Marconi's first self-tuning radio transmitter, a Crompton arc lamp made in 1890s and other special displays.

Visitors also tried their hand at sending Morse coded messages to the first floor gallery and experience electrifying interactive exhibits that encourage users to see, feel and hear the history of science and technology in Chelmsford.

Amongst the gallery exhibits, a number of important artefacts have been loaned to Chelmsford Museums from the Marconi collection at the Museum of History of Science in Oxford; an ornate 1920's Marconi dealer's sign, a bronze bust of Marconi, replicas of early spark transmission equipment and the sign from the New Street Marconi factory gates.

Across its new upper floor, the Museum offers an insight into the history of the Essex Regiment and Essex Yeomanry with historical models and displays painting a picture of Chelmsford's military past; including the Salamanca Eagle, a military standard taken in battle from the French, by a party of the 2/44th, under the command of Lieutenant W. Pearce in 1812.

The following day , Sunday 24 January, the military theme continued.

Guides dressed in period costume handed out information and a war re-enactment took place in the new education room.

Chelmsford Museums also played host to the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year touring display - which is beset by controversy since the winning photo, of a supposedly wild wolf jumping a style, was found to be faked and the snapper relieved of his prestigious title,

A range of talks and shows are also included as part of the new building celebrations.

Chelmsford Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Parks and Heritage, Councillor Christopher Kingsley who helped to guide the redevelopment project from the start of the process in 2006 talked with excitement about the forthcoming celebrations

He said: "At last, Chelmsford has the sort of museum that befits its rich and prestigious heritage, and that people of all ages can enjoy.

" I am very happy with the finished look and feel of the building which can now offer bigger displays for the people of Chelmsford and visitors alike."

Check out - www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums.

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