Exhibitions The aim of the Museum is to present to residents and visitors the history of Mersea and the surrounding areas. The many exhibits include sections in Local History, Natural History, Social History, Marine and Geology. The main displays are changed each year and there is always something new to see. 2011: The Happiest Days of your Life ? Mersea Schools There were at least 11 different schools of varying sizes on the island. Royal British Legion Both the British Legion and the its Mersea Branch are 90 years old in 2011. Dabchicks Sailing Club Founded in 1911 and still going strong. From Winkle Brigs to Optimists, the display shows some of the people and boats over 100 years. Finds from digs A display of objects found by the Higher Education Field Academy during their visits to Mersea to dig test pits. Sailing Dinghy West Mersea One Design dinghy from 1930 with shipwright tools. The dinghy is the KALI, later renamed BUZZING BEE. She was bought by John Leather about 45 years ago and is still owned by the Leather Family. Old Mersea shops and businesses Digby's Ironmongers. Clifford White - builders merchants, brickmakers, insurance agents, undertakers. Samuel Cant White. Oysters Oyster cultivation is still a major business on Mersea Island. Wildlife display Wildlife of Mersea's Marshes and Mudflats. Audio Visual slideshow Slideshows will be running - "Mersea Past at Rest and Play" by Brian Jay and "The Blackwater" by Ron Green. All old slideshows are available in the Resource Centre.

Local History

A changing selection of pictures, maps, photographs and postcards showing the history of Mersea and its residents from the 19th Century is displayed. A model of a beach hut illustrates a feature of holidays in Mersea that is close to many people's hearts. This section also includes Archaeological finds such as Roman remains, tiles and pottery. Bellamine and Matabani Jars (17th Century) and Amphora (Roman Vase) are also on show.

Natural History Wildlife of Mersea Marshes and Mudflats. A new display for 2011 showing some of the birds and shellfish to be found on the marshes and mudlflats surrounding Mersea Island.

Social History

This is the largest section in the Museum because of the amount of material, with exhibits covering a period of two centuries. Displays of fishing equipment and a Fisherman's Cottage help to create the "Old Mersea" atmosphere, together with many articles used by local people in earlier times.

Marine

Models of boats and local craft, together with old fishing equipment and boat building tools. Photographs of smacks at work, yachts, houseboats, barges. The Museum holds a fine 1919 Punt made locally by William Wyatt complete with its original gun, used in Mersea for many years. The John Leather Memorial Collection contains John's library of books, boat plans, research papers and photographs. It is currently being catalogued.

Geology

Fossil and fossilized material drawn from a wide range of locations, together with a collection of rocks and minerals, are on display including crystals and ore deposits, and all are well documented.

Family History

We have copies of parish records and other information and so are able to answer many family history queries. Family trees have been built for several well-known Mersea families. A database is being built containing Mersea names recorded in parish records, tithe maps, baptism records and censuses.

Photographic Collection The Museum has over 16,000 historic photographs which can be displayed on computers in the Resource Centre. The collection covers Mersea and the surrounding area, local people, fishing, oystering, shipping, barges, smacks, farming yachting and more. Most of the photographs in the John Leather Memorial Collection have now been digitised and can be viewed. An audio-visual slide show on Mersea runs in the main museum and other themed slideshows can be run in the Resource Centre.

For Children...

We have a variety of picture quizzes, puzzles, sketching activities etc. around the Museum for children (and for adults).

This gentleman had a few adventures before coming to rest in the punt in the Museum...

Exhibitions from earlier years Click on the following links to see some exhibitions from previous years. 2010 - Odd Objects 2009 - Century of Memories 2008 - Mersea's Recent Past 2007 - Roman Mersea 2006 - Fire Service, Lifeboat, Essex and the Sea 2005 - Lord Nelson, William Wyatt, Mersea at War See also 2010 - the new Resource Centre