The Mersea Island Museum is an independent museum established in 1976 and occupying purpose-built premises in the centre of West Mersea, just to the east of the Parish Church. The traditional local activities of fishing, oystering, wild fowling and boat building are represented. The reconstruction within the museum of a typical weather-boarded fisherman's cottage provides an interior display centred on a Victorian coal-fired kitchen range, with adjoining facilities for washing clothes using old-fashioned manual equipment.

Computers in the Resource Centre can be used to access over 25,000 images, slideshows, articles, parish records, local census contents, audio files, video.
Children are welcome, with puzzles and quizzes available.

2013 Summer Exhibition
 Mersea Museum's 2013 Summer Exhibition Catastrophe to Celebration is now open.
    1953 the great tide, Coronation, pageant.
    1963 the big freeze.
    50 years of West Mersea Lifeboat.
    Some local personalities.
    More...
 
  See Exhibitions for more details.

Where to find us: Mersea Island is on the Essex coast, about 9 miles south of Colchester on the B1025.
The museum is in West Mersea - follow the main road through the village to the High Street and down as far as the parish church. Turn left in front of the church to reach the entrance gates of the museum.
Show local map or Link to Google maps (in a new window).
If you come on the bus (67 from Colchester), the museum is a short walk straight ahead from the terminus.

Collections: Local history, social history, natural history and geology, local photographs, oral history, family history, parish records, marine, John Leather Memorial Collection, engineering and costume.

Facilities: Activities for children, Audio Guides, Disabled Access, Disabled Parking, Shop

Shop: The Museum Shop has a varied selection of books, postcards, souvenirs and mementos.

Guided History Walks in West Mersea: Tours start and finish at the Museum. Saturday afternoons at 2.30pm during the summer season.
- first walk 18th May 2013. There is no walk on Regatta Day, August 24th.
£1.50 per person. Tickets available from the Museum on the day.

Access Statement: Our Access Statement gives more about access to the Museum.

Download our latest brochure:
Click Here to view the 2013 brochure (2.3Mb). It will open in a new window and you can then print it.

Helping the Museum: You can help Mersea Museum by becoming a member, volunteering, joining the 100 Club or just by a Donation. See About Us for more information.