Mersea Museum in 2019

Exhibitions

The history of Mersea and the surrounding areas. The many exhibits include sections on Local History, Natural History, Social History, Marine and Geology.

The main exhibition is new every year.

Revealing the Past

Sea Cadets
Mersea Island Sea Cadet Corps was active from 1950 to 1968. Its Band was well known and played at Earls Court. Photos, memories, memorabilia ...

The Horticultural Society - 100 years
The Horticultural Society started in 1876, but is now celebrating 100 years of Summer Shows.
See the Display online

Stained Glass
From Mersea churches and some other local churches

80 years ago - the beginning of World War 2
Mersea in 1939, preparations for War, Evacuees, local men lost at sea.

Churches - Mersea and nearby villages
Parish Churches, chapels, some of them now gone ...

Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative (ENORI)
Working to build the Native Oyster into a sustainable fishery.

Found on beach
Bones found in recent years - Iron Age skull, Bison, Wild Boar, Mammoth, Sperm Whale ...
Red Hills, Fish traps

Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeological Network (CITiZAN)
Volunteers from CITiZAN recorded local people talking about finds on Mersea and in the Blackwater Estuary. The recordings can be played in the Museum.

Benefactors
Some gifts to the community.
Dr & Mrs Ruddock, Mrs de Manby, Stanley Hills ...

The Board Walk
Timbers from what is thought to be a Bronze Age board walk were found in the mud off Mersea in 2017. Since then they have been undergoing a preservation process, and we hope to have them in the Museum for the 2019 Summer Season.
See In the mud

Summer 2019 exhibition
Mersea Island Sea Cadet Corps
East Mersea Church
Horticultural Show 1982
Bison bones found East Mersea 2011
P&O liner RAWALPINDI converted to Armed Merchant Cruiser
East Mersea Baptist Chapel
Whale washed up on beach July 1939
Stained glass window by Lisa McFarlane, 2005
Board walk timbers found off Coopers Beach