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redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre
@redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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Redbridge Museum explores the many different people, places & events which are part of the history of Redbridge.

Open Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 - 17:00

🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/museum
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · Oct 7
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ exhibition featuring a black and white photograph of two Air Raid Precaution wardens wearing gas masks
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Photo of a long crocheted shawl in rainbow stripes draped on a mannequin Photo of Heather wearing her rainbow shawl along with an Easter-themed straw hat
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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. 🪡
Photo of a square-shaped cloth with signatures embroidered in different colours scattered all around. The names of the creator's immediate family appear at the centre of the cloth.
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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.
Black and white photo of the Bishop of Chelmsford speaking to a group of people gathered around the Book of Remembrance at Ilford Town Hall Black and white photo of a group of people looking at a memorial plaque at Ilford Town Hall Black and white photo of a group of people gathered around the Book of Remembrance at Ilford Town Hall Photo of a wooden memorial with a glass display showing Ilford's Book of Remembrance at Redbridge Heritage Centre
November 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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.
Black and white photo of an unlit bonfire built on top of sheets of corrugated iron in the middle of a road with houses in the background and groups of children standing around the fire.
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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/
November 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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.
Photo of interior of Redbridge Museum Photo of Grand Houses section of Redbridge Museum Photo of Mini Museum at Redbridge Museum Photo of searchroom at Redbridge Heritage Centre
November 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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! 🕷️
A small open cardboard box containing four brown handmade spiders
October 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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...
Memories of Windrush
Using interviews conducted by Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre from 2002 to 2018, this film explores the memories and experiences of the Windrush generation who settled in the London Borough of…
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre
ilfordhistory.bsky.social
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.
Parks & Recreation Monday 10th November 2025 Gloucester Room, Redbridge Central Library
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s families trail reading 'Families trail / Follow our fun, free family trail around Redbridge Museum to discover the history of Redbridge! For ages 4+ / Saturday 25 October to Saturday 1 November 2025 / 11:00 - 16:00 (drop-in) / Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library'
October 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Black and white photo of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) and the Mayor of Redbridge. Black and white photo of the Duchess of York, cutting into a long ribbon, with the Duke of York standing by her side. Black and white photo of smiling police officers struggling to hold back a crowd of cheery spectators, mostly women in hats and coats. Black and white photo of huge crowds outside Ilford Town Hall decorated with bunting and a sign reading “Ilford welcomes the Duke & Duchess".
October 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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! 🪔
Photo of objects on display including an open box of coloured glass bangles, a trophy with the Om symbol and an ornate metal incense stick holder with a small figure of Ganesh on one end.
October 20, 2025 at 4:26 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
A wonderful blog about our collections and display on Redbridge's Jewish stories by Dr Rachel Lichtenstein 👇
October 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and Slavery’ display reading ‘Uncover Redbridge’s connections to the transatlantic slave trade and campaign for abolition in this new permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. / Wednesday 1 to Friday 31 October 2025 / 11:00 - 17:00 / Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library’ featuring a photo of Museum displays.
October 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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.
Photo of an open album containing black and white photographs of a large house, documents in secol sleeves, a photograph of a man, letters in a small box, and a fold-out paper ‘snowflake’ souvenir with illustrations of buildings
October 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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.
Photo of an old ‘ghost’ shop sign made up of red mosaic tiles with the name ‘F. W. WOOLWORTH’ faded but visible, over a shuttered Superdrug store under refurbishment, taken 8 October 2025 Black and white photograph of Ilford High Road showing F. W. Woolworth’s far right beside the Town Hall, taken c.1930 Photo of Ilford High Road showing F. W. Woolworth’s far right in white Art Deco style exterior beside the Town Hall, taken c.1970 Photo of Ilford High Road showing F. W. Woolworth’s storefront with faded sign and painted-over windows, taken January 1983
October 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge’s Windrush Generation’ display reading ‘Discover the experiences of Redbridge’s Windrush generation in this new permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. / Wednesday 1 to Friday 31 October 2025 / 11:00 - 17:00 / Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library’ featuring a photo of a woman looking at the Museum’s Windrush display.
October 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Photo of Redbridge Museum displays behind a quote reading: “This is an outstanding local museum, both fascinating in content and very well provided. I wish my borough had something half as good!” – Redbridge Museum visitor Photo of Redbridge Museum displays behind a quote reading: “Amazing, my kids were thoroughly entertained, as were parents. Love the interactive elements throughout. It was very cool to see the local history, especially being born locally, good to show the kids stuff you can relate to.” – Redbridge Museum visitor Photo of a Redbridge Museum display behind a quote reading: “Wonderfully diverse, covering all aspects of an area that’s changed phenomenally in a very short time.” – Redbridge Museum visitor Photo of Redbridge Museum displays behind a quote reading: “The redevelopment and refurbishment of Redbridge Museum is so much better. The whole layout is easier to browse along and the displays are beautifully arranged, and clearly marked and labelled. There is something here for everyone.” – Redbridge Museum visitor
October 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ exhibition featuring a black and white photograph of two Air Raid Precaution wardens wearing gas masks
October 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s Sylvia Pankhurst website reading ‘Essex to Ethiopia: Sylvia Pankhurst / Discover Sylvia Pankhurst’s connections to Ethiopia through a new website about the local campaigner by Redbridge Museum.’ featuring a black and white photo of Sylvia Pankhurst and other women picketing outside Parliament about the possibility of Italian trusteeship of Ethiopia, 1946, c/o the LSE Library.
October 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Memories of Windrush' film reading ‘A film by Redbridge Museum exploring the memories and experiences of Redbridge’s Windrush generation. / Wednesday 1 to Friday 31 October 2025 / Screening all day / Foyer, ground floor, Redbridge Central Library’ featuring a black and white photo of a Caribbean family. Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge’s Windrush Generation’ display reading ‘Discover the experiences of Redbridge’s Windrush generation in this new permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. / Wednesday 1 to Friday 31 October 2025 / 11:00 - 17:00 / Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library’ featuring a photo of a woman looking at the Museum’s Windrush display. Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and Slavery’ display reading ‘Uncover Redbridge’s connections to the transatlantic slave trade and campaign for abolition in this new permanent exhibition at Redbridge Museum. / Wednesday 1 to Friday 31 October 2025 / 11:00 - 17:00 / Redbridge Museum, 2nd floor, Redbridge Central Library’ featuring a photo of Museum displays. Poster for Redbridge Museum’s Black history schools programme reading ‘Redbridge Museum offers education sessions on Black history for schools, exploring topics including Caribbean migration in the 1960s and Commonwealth contributions to the Second World War.’ featuring a photo of a group of children in green school uniform holding clipboards with education worksheets, looking into a Second World War display at Redbridge Museum.
October 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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
Black and white photo of three players of the Woodford Rugby Club team in action
September 30, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre
redbridgemuseum.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
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ exhibition featuring a black and white photograph of two Air Raid Precaution wardens wearing gas masks
August 20, 2025 at 10:01 AM
redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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 🍂
Photo of trees with golden leaves casting shadows on the grass in a park
September 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM