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. Children are welcome, with puzzles and quizzes available. More details

Heritage Lottery Fund grant - November 2009
We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £45,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the new Resource Centre. Building started in January 2010 and was completed early June. For more information, see The Future.

BBC: A History of the World - January 2010
Mersea Museum is taking part in the BBC "A History of the World" programme.
Our object is a portion of the tow rope which severed in 1937, leaving the yacht ENDEAVOUR adrift in the Atlantic.
For more of the story, go to Yacht ENDEAVOUR missing
For more on the BBC series of programmes, go to A History of the World

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 Multimap (in a new window).
If you come on the bus (First National 67 from Colchester), the museum is a short walk straight ahead from the terminus.

Opening hours:

2pm to 5pm Weekends and weekdays Wednesday to Friday inclusive (also Bank Holiday Mondays). The Museum is open for the summer months and will close after 30th September 2010. School and Group visits can be organised outside these hours during the season - see School and Group Visits.

Admission Charges:	ADULTS	£1.00
	SENIOR CITIZENS	50p
	CHILDREN	50p (under 5 years old are free)

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, Disabled Access, Audio Guides, 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 5th June 2010. There is no walk on Regatta Day, August 14th.
£1.50 per person. Tickets available from the Museum on the day.

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