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One of our museum volunteers looking after a red 1930s Merryweather fire engine.

The Essex Fire Museum

The Essex Fire Museum gives visitors the opportunity to take a fascinating look at the history of the Fire Service here in Essex.

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More about the museum

Housing a collection featuring historic fire engines, firefighting equipment, uniforms and photographs. Visitors to the museum will see for themselves how firefighting has changed over the years as the technology has advanced.

Originally created by former Grays Firefighter Roger Pickett having collected a large personal collection, the Essex Fire Museum provides a fascinating look back in to the history of the fire service and the men and women who fought fires to keep the public safe.

The museum plays a key role in our educational work with schools in the area, where it is used not simply as a repository of artefacts but as a living, breathing historical experience.

Our museum volunteer team have carried out a considerable amount of research into the history of the fire service, particularly in Essex. 

The creation of the Essex Fire Museum has required energy, dedication, true commitment and vision.

A museum volunteer gives a talk to some school children. They are trying on old fire helmets.

Museum opening dates/times

The museum is open every Tuesdays and occasionally also Sundays throughout the year including school holidays. If you would like to visit us on a Tuesday or Sunday please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page. 

 

Museum Open Days

We also organise a number of special open days where we will have lots of themed arts/crafts, activities and displays. They are a great day out for all the family.

  • Tuesday 14 February
  • Sunday 26 February
  • Saturday 1 April | Special Open Day to celebrate 75th anniversary of our fire service
  • Tuesday 11 April | Easter Special Open Day
  • Sunday 30 April
  • Sunday 28 May
  • Tuesday 30 May
  • Sunday 25 June
  • Sunday 30 July
  • Tuesday 15 August
  • Sunday 27 August
  • Sunday 24 September
  • Tuesday 24 October | Halloween Special Open Day
  • Sunday 29 October | Halloween Special Open Day
  • Sunday 26 November
  • Sunday 17 December | Christmas Open Day - Santa's Grotto

 

All visits to the museum must be pre-booked as it is on the site of an operational fire station.

How to find us:

Essex Fire Museum
Grays Fire Station
Hogg Lane
Grays
Essex
RM17 5QS

How to get in touch:

Or by post:

Dan Bailey, Heritage and Volunteer Lead
Essex Fire Museum
Grays Fire Station
Hogg Lane
Grays
Essex
RM17 5QS

Children looking on as a museum volunteer describes an artefact.
Our museum has a host of educational information for school projects.
A pretend shop front from the 1930s with dummies dressed in unforms.
A living history exhibit from the war years.
Old photos of former firefighters laid out on a table.
Historic photos from a display.
Man learning into the engine of an Albon Merryweather fire engine.
Keeping our exhibits pristine is hard work.
A grey appliance used during the Second World War.
A glimpse of firefighting in the war years.
Two fire engines parked in front of the museum with two rows of volunteers lined up.
Our museum is run by hard working and passionate volunteers.

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