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 this week 🏇🐎“Looking down on that vast crowd of people stretching far to the right and left, I realised th...
16/06/2026

Celebrating this week 🏇🐎

“Looking down on that vast crowd of people stretching far to the right and left, I realised that of the thousands who go to Ascot, only the few in the stands see the whole race; and what a spectacle on that fine circular course! I can picture it now: Arbar, last but one; then, coming along round the bend into the straight, he closes up, creeping nearer and nearer to the leaders, until a quarter of a mile from the finish he passes them all. A wonderful sight.”
- Sir Alfred Munnings in his Autobiography.

🖼️:
Ascot Sketch, Sir Alfred Munnings.

‘The State Procession to Ascot, 1925’, Sir Alfred Munnings Royal Collection Trust, The Royal Collection Enterprises LTD.

Ascot, 1933, Sir Alfred Munnings.

Ascot Sketch, Sir Alfred Munnings.

Join our Curator’s Tour on Wednesday 24th June 🐴 The tour begins in the artist’s former studio in the grounds of the mus...
13/06/2026

Join our Curator’s Tour on Wednesday 24th June 🐴

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

11am to 12.30pm
£17, concessions available
Buy tickets online https://www.munningsmuseum.org.uk/product/curators-tour-24-june-2026/

The dining room at Castle House is currently hung with racing paintings and studies by Sir Alfred munnings 🏇 “I do love ...
11/06/2026

The dining room at Castle House is currently hung with racing paintings and studies by Sir Alfred munnings 🏇

“I do love racing. I love the interest created as the horses are led around after saddling up…I love the sight of the members’ stand, from the roar ‘They’re off!’, to the terrific finish”

We are open Wednesday to Sunday (and Bank Holidays), 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Our Tea Room (situated in Munnings’ former studio) open Wednesday to Sunday (and Bank Holidays) 10am to 4.30pm

“What do you think of our leading hound?” and there at the head of the pack was my small dog, trotting along in the midd...
09/06/2026

“What do you think of our leading hound?” and there at the head of the pack was my small dog, trotting along in the middle of the road with the hounds in his wake, as though he had done this sort of thing all his life!’

Details of Hounds spotted in paintings on display for our 2026 season 🐶

More soft toy doggie friends who visited us (and Black Knight) this afternoon - Taking inspiration from Violet Munnings’...
07/06/2026

More soft toy doggie friends who visited us (and Black Knight) this afternoon - Taking inspiration from Violet Munnings’ beloved Pekingese, Black Knight, whose toy replicas once helped raise money for the PDSA.

Thank you so much to all who visited Castle House this weekend and joined us in celebrating our 65th anniversary 🥳

*Final day of our “Half A Crown Admission today, Sunday 7th June* Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown”...
07/06/2026

*Final day of our “Half A Crown Admission today, Sunday 7th June*

Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown” Admission this weekend 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).

We are so delighted to have so many of you visiting the museum this weekend with your soft toy doggie friends - inspire...
06/06/2026

We are so delighted to have so many of you visiting the museum this weekend with your soft toy doggie friends - inspired by Lady Munnings in celebration of our 65th anniversary! 🐩

Join us this weekend (6-7 June, 1.30-4.30pm) for “Half A Crown” Admission - just £4 entry (the equivalent of the museum’s 1961 admission price) & bring your own soft toy dog!!!

Taking inspiration from Violet Munnings’ beloved Pekingese, Black Knight, whose toy replicas once helped raise money for the PDSA. Soft toy companions essential - real doggies welcome in the grounds too but we can’t offer entry into our buildings.

A wonderful re-creation of Lady Munnings’ famous “Dog Tea Party” took place in our Tea Room Munnings Tea room Dedham , w...
06/06/2026

A wonderful re-creation of Lady Munnings’ famous “Dog Tea Party” took place in our Tea Room Munnings Tea room Dedham , with guests bringing their own soft toy companions to celebrate our 65th Anniversary! 🐶☕

Join us this weekend (6–7 June, 1.30–4.30pm) for “Half A Crown” Admission – just £4 entry (the equivalent of the museum’s 1961 admission price) & bring your own soft toy dog!!!

Inspired by Violet Munnings’ beloved Pekingese, Black Knight, whose toy replicas once helped raise money for the PDSA. Soft toy companions essential – real doggies welcome in the grounds too but we can’t offer entry into our buildings.🐾

Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown” Admission this weekend on both Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, ...
06/06/2026

Celebrating our 65th Anniversary with a “Half A Crown” Admission this weekend 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).

Celebrating the Epsom Derby today 🏇The unsaddling enclosure at Epsom, like the start at Newmarket, was another of Munni...
06/06/2026

Celebrating the Epsom Derby today 🏇

The unsaddling enclosure at Epsom, like the start at Newmarket, was another of Munnings’s favourite subjects. In the studies and the finished painting of the Enclosure at Epsom, he experiments with the bright light contrast of the stands, the dark coat of the horse and shadows. The colouring of the jockey’s silks is placed nearly central in order to bring a focal point to the composition.

‘The Unsaddling Enclosure, Epsom’,
1948, Sir Alfred Munnings

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

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