Entrance to the shop, museum and cafe
Retail heaven
Some of the damage
Entrance to the museum
A winning curd at the Earls Colne show, sponsored by Tiptree

A pilgrimage to Wilkin's Jam Factory

16th August 2026

Tiptree, Essex

The Master Fruiterer, Chris Newenham, is Managing Director of Wilkin & Sons Ltd, the famous fruit-growing, jams and preserves company founded in Tiptree, Essex, in 1885. I’ve always loved their marmalade, so we were delighted when Chris offered to arrange a very special Masters’ and Consorts’ outing to Wilkin & Sons to take place on 30 September: a behind-the-scenes factory tour, with the added excitement of seeing jams and marmalades in production, visiting the fruit fields and exploring the company’s museum. All proceeds from the day will be donated to the Lord Mayor's Appeal.

I was disappointed when I discovered that the date Chris had arranged clashed with another commitment, and I had to decline this tempting opportunity.

So imagine our delight when we went to stay with friends in Earls Colne at the weekend and discovered that we were practically on Tiptree’s doorstep. How could we possibly pass up the opportunity? We might not be getting into the factory, but at the very least there was the factory shop — and, of course, the museum.

We spent Saturday afternoon at the Earls Colne village show, where it was great fun to discover that Tiptree had generously sponsored the popular jams and preserves categories.

And then it was Sunday, and what a worthwhile pilgrimage it proved to be. I eventually emerged from the shop with enough Tiptree marmalade and raspberry jam to see me through until next year, as well as a Christmas pudding, some excellent gin, several bags of fudge and — naturally — a jar (or two or three) of Tiptree’s legendary lemon curd. Then into the museum to marvel at the ancient equipment that was once used to produce such fabulous preserves, and to look at the many Royal Warrants that Wilkin's & Sons have been awarded dating back to the early 1900s.

We may not have had the behind-the-scenes experience that the Master Fruiterer has planned for everyone, but it was a delicious consolation prize! If you’re in the area, don’t miss it!