Hollytrees Museum

Built in 1718, Hollytrees Museum is a Georgian townhouse in Colchester that offers a glimpse into everyday life across three centuries. Its rooms explore the differences between rich and poor households, from domestic routines and clothing to childhood and leisure, using objects that bring ordinary lives into focus. The collection includes historic toys, costumes, portraits and the Bernard Mason collection of clocks made in Colchester. The house itself is part of the story: once a private residence, it became a museum in 1929. Today, its changing displays connect the city’s local history with the people who lived it.