HISTORY enthusiasts can take a step back in time when a museum re-opens its doors following a £40,000 refit.

The Cater Museum will open to the public tomorrow. Renovations have been paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The building, in Billericay High Street, can now be explored in its original 18th century condition and through a new virtual tour which allows disabled users access to the museum.

Christine Brewster, curator, said: “The town has no other museum and the people of Billericay have not been able to use it for a few months.

“We hope they are as excited as we are to have it open again and we’re inviting everyone to come and see what’s new.”

A team of around 15 builders and six volunteers carried out the refurbishment of the building.

Modern concrete rendering on the rear facade of the building was replaced with lime render containing goat hair, which would have been used by original builders from the period.

A listed garden wall was repointed and found to be Georgian, and not Victorian, as was originally thought.

A flat screen TV displaying more than 90 images of the museum was also installed. Mrs Brewster said: “The volunteers were priceless and our biggest asset. I can’t really say how important they were.

“The builders we employed are experts and specialise in period building.

“Our virtual tour is something we had hoped to do for a long time to offer insights to people unable to navigate the 18th century staircase, and the grant has allowed us to provide it.”

Volunteers also unearthed Victorian artefacts from a garden rubbish tip.

They may belong to the Eales family, who lived in the building from the 1860s.

Many of the pieces discovered, including original Tudor timber beams, bottles, ceramics and even a dog collar, will feature in the museum.

They will be displayed alongside the existing 6,000 items spread across the building’s six themed rooms, which include a kitchen, bedroom and parlour.

Mrs Brewster added: “The museum isn’t just the objects, but is the building itself, and maintaining as much of it in its original state was our primary interest.

“The opening will be the culmination of months of hard work.”

The museum will open at midday tomorrow and will feature a 1961 Ford Zodiac, to mark the first year the museum opened.