The Munnings Art Museum

The Munnings Art Museum Dedham, nr Colchester, Essex. Former home of Sir Alfred Munnings PPRA and the only permanent retrospective of his work. Celebrating 65 years in 2026!

Open Wednesday to Sunday (and bank holidays) 1.30pm to 4.30pm until Sunday 25th October 2026. Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) is a major figure in the great tradition of British equestrian art and celebrated for his scenes of English rural life in the early 20th century. Immensely successful, yet controversial, he became the scourge of modern art in his position as President of the Royal Academy.

Visitors to The Munnings Art Museum at his former home, Castle House, can explore the life and work of this prolific East Anglian artist in the building he called ‘the house of my dreams’. Each year the museum presents a changing selection of 150 paintings and drawings hung chronologically throughout six rooms, from early poster designs to the explosive racing scenes for which the artist is renowned. All images of Munnings work on this page are copyright the Estate of Sir Alfred Munnings and should not be used without permission.

Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown” Admission on both Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, 1.30pm to 4.3...
04/06/2026

Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown” Admission on both Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
£4 entry (half a crown in today’s money) – soft toy companion essential! 🐶 

Violet Munnings’ favourite Pekingese dog Black Knight (1944-1955), was very famous. He went to the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II in a bag, was made a Freeman of the City of London and met Prime Minister Anthony Eden. He even wrote a book about his adventures. He was so loved by his mistress that, after he died, she had him stuffed and he still resides at Castle House, now the museum.

Before Black Knight’s sad demise, however, the animal loving Violet Munnings created an edition of plush toy replicas of the tiny VIP, which were sold to raise money for the PDSA. Violet’s own toy version of her beloved companion can be seen in the many photographs taken for her opening of the museum in 1961.

In honour of this inseparable duo the museum is offering the 1961 admission price of half a crown (£4 in today’s money) to anyone arriving at the museum with their own soft toy doggie!

(live doggies welcome in the museum grounds but we can’t offer entry into our buildings).

Dedham Residents Free Entry 2026🐴 🎨 We are running FREE entry for Dedham Residents from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 28th Jun...
04/06/2026

Dedham Residents Free Entry 2026🐴 🎨

We are running FREE entry for Dedham Residents from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 28th June 2026

Dedham residents are welcome to visit the museum during advertised opening times without charge for the month of June.

**Please bring proof of address. Two adult and up to four children per visit.**

Art Museum open:
Wednesday to Sunday, 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Tea Room open: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm.

Celebrating 65 years today of the Munnings Art Museum 🎉On 4th June 1961 Violet Munnings opened Castle House to the publi...
04/06/2026

Celebrating 65 years today of the Munnings Art Museum 🎉

On 4th June 1961 Violet Munnings opened Castle House to the public. It was the home she had shared with her husband, Sir Alfred Munnings, for forty years. Violet’s intention was to preserve the house as a “shrine” to him  which would “last a thousand years”.  Preparations for the opening included the redecoration of the house and the bringing of more pictures from their London home.

The response on opening day was overwhelming with six hundred people arriving and the house and roads surrounding unable to cope with the vast number. Police Officers were drafted in from Colchester to assist with the movement of traffic while Violet coped the best she could under the circumstances. The following day, the Daily Mail splashed the headline “Invasion Traps Lady Munnings”. Violet emerged from the fray to report: “I had the shock of my life when I saw all those people queuing. I still haven’t got over it…I got lost in the crowd. I couldn’t make myself heard. Several times I was trapped I got pushed against the wall and had to defend myself with a chair” 

Between the 4th June and end of October 1961 Castle House opened for two days a week with an admission price of half a crown. Initially paintings could only be seen in the studio on the ground floor of the house.

As part of our 2026 displays we are presenting a short overview of our history with items from the archive, objects and paintings from the both the original collection and later acquisitions.

Now, in 2026: Art Museum open Wednesday to Sunday (& bank holidays), 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Images:

1. Lady Mumnings in the Studio at Castle House (Munnings Art Museum), 1961.
This is a press photograph and was likely taken to mark the opening of Castle House to the public.

2, 3, 4 & 5. Photographs of our current displays marking our 65th anniversary.

Celebrating our 65th anniversary- today 🎉Since Violet opened the museum 65 years ago it has become more professional wit...
04/06/2026

Celebrating our 65th anniversary- today 🎉

Since Violet opened the museum 65 years ago it has become more professional with the aim of promoting the work of Sir Alfred Munnings more widely. In 2013, the introduction of the Artist Resale Right brought a new and substantial income stream which enabled the Board of Trustees to appoint the museum’s first full-time Director. Since then, a cohort of volunteers have catalogued museum’s paintings, drawings and archive material resulting in richer displays, publications and the provision of research and authentication services to individuals and major auction houses. 

In 2030, the 70th anniversary of Munnings death, the Artist Resale Right ceases and so the museum must raise funds for the future to continue it’s valuable work.

Support Violet’s legacy by making a donation today https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=T6Q7ATB89U56U

Images:
Press photographs of Lady Mumnings at Castle House (Munnings Art Museum), 1961, to mark the opening of Castle House to the public.

Discover the Side-Saddle edit 🐴 🎩 Shop the collection online nowhttps://www.munningsmuseum.org.uk/product-category/side-...
02/06/2026

Discover the Side-Saddle edit 🐴 🎩

Shop the collection online now
https://www.munningsmuseum.org.uk/product-category/side-saddle-edit/

“I wish I had painted more women riding side-saddle before the fashion died out. A good figure in a well-cut habit is the essence of grace and symmetry. But there must have been considerable discomfort in so riding. The passing generation gradually gave it up and rode astride. If the rider is a good horse-woman, how much better the astride seat must be for a horse!” - Sir Alfred Munnings in his Autobiogrpahy

On the 65th anniversary of the opening of the Munnings Art Museum, 4th June 1961, join Director, Jenny Hand for a tour o...
01/06/2026

On the 65th anniversary of the opening of the Munnings Art Museum, 4th June 1961, join Director, Jenny Hand for a tour of the museum.

The tour, which begins in the artist’s former studio in the grounds of the museum, includes exhibitions on the museum’s history, pictures from private collections and the influence of John Constable on the work of Alfred Munnings.

Curator’s Tour
Thursday 4th June
11am to 12.30pm
£17, concessions available
Buy tickets online https://www.munningsmuseum.org.uk/product/curators-tour-4-june-2026-copy/

A glorious afternoon in the museum grounds leading all about side saddle riding with members of the Side Saddle Associat...
30/05/2026

A glorious afternoon in the museum grounds leading all about side saddle riding with members of the Side Saddle Association, Area 4. 🎩 Thank you so much to all!

More information about the Side Saddle Association here: https://www.sidesaddleassociation.co.uk/areas.asp


Sidesaddle Demonstration *TODAY! Saturday 30th May*
1pm to 4pm
FREE
Drop in this afternoon (Saturday 30th May) and learn...
30/05/2026

Sidesaddle Demonstration *TODAY! Saturday 30th May*
1pm to 4pm
FREE

Drop in this afternoon (Saturday 30th May) and learn about side saddle riding with members of the Side Saddle Association, Area 4.

Live demonstrations with commentary take place at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Dress and equipment explanations in the marquee. 🐴 🎩

📍 Munnings Art Museum, Castle Hill, Dedham, CO7 6AZ

More information about the Side Saddle Association here: https://www.sidesaddleassociation.co.uk/areas.asp

Drop in this Saturday 30th May and learn about side saddle riding with members of the Side Saddle Association, Area 4. L...
29/05/2026

Drop in this Saturday 30th May and learn about side saddle riding with members of the Side Saddle Association, Area 4. Live demonstrations with commentary take place at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Dress and equipment explanations in the marquee. 🐴 🎩

Sidesaddle Demonstration 
Saturday 30th May
1pm to 4pm
FREE

📍 Munnings Art Museum, Castle Hill, Dedham, CO7 6AZ

More information about the Side Saddle Association here: https://www.sidesaddleassociation.co.uk/areas.asp


🖼️ ‘In Cornwall (Portrait of the Artist’s Wife)’

c.1911–1921, Sir Alfred Munnings, Birmingham Museums Trust

This current weather has got us feeling like: 🖼️ 1. ‘The Arbour’2. ‘Violet, My Wife, in the Garden’3. Study for ‘The Whi...
28/05/2026

This current weather has got us feeling like:

🖼️

1. ‘The Arbour’

2. ‘Violet, My Wife, in the Garden’

3. Study for ‘The White Canoe’

4. ‘Phyllis Vipond Crocker’

Address

Castle House, Castle Hill
Colchester
CO76AZ

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Friday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Saturday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Sunday 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441206322127

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Munnings Art Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category