-  Image Collection

WW1 Memorial Soldiers and sailors at the Strood. There were 51 steel soldiers and sailors lining the Strood, from November 2018 to November 2019. They were then auctioned - and many can be seen around the Island. There are two at Mersea Museum. 17 November 2018. Photo: Chrissie Westgate
West Mersea School - chick rearing. Connie Smith, Joan Mole, Eva Harmer - Eleanor Geddes
The house in the background is on Barfield Road, next door to the school. c1930. Photo: Rose and Len Harvey Collection
Birch Church of England School. 3rd Form. 1947 ?
Back Row (row 4) L-R 1. John Clark, 2. Michael Williams, 3. David Whybrow, 4. Jimmy Ponder, 5. Tony Partner, 6. Roy Vauhan [Vaughan ?], 7. Ronnie Burmby.
Row 3 standing 1. Pat Bishop, 2. Russell Pulford, 3. Kenneth Graham, 4. John Smith, 5. Mrs Cornhill, 6. Tony Playle, 7. Dennis Johnson, 8. Peter Jones, 9. John Pullford.
Row 2 1. June Mills, 2. Violet Shepperd, 3. Evelyn Hyam, 4. Connie Mansfield, 5. Hazel Ponder, 6. Pamelar White, 7. Dorothy Theobald (Buckle), 8. Ann Fensom.
Front row 1. Tony Andrews, 2. Eddie Theobald, 3. Barry Smith, 4. Ronnie MacClellen, 5. Ray Smith, 6. Andrew Strathern.
Photo 8 TBM B.S. c1947. Photo: T.B. Millatt
Birch Church c1905. <b>This church is about to be demolished! Feb 2014</b> 
The back of the card is divided, saying this space may now be used for communication - a change introduced in 1902.
The church is now [2013] derelict.
</p>
<p>
February 2014 the church is likely to be demolished. There is a petition to try and save it. Colchester & NE Essex Building Preservation Trust have written:

St Peter's Church, Birch has stood empty for more than 24 years.

It is now derelict and the Diocese of Chelmsford wish to demolish it.

The Trust is campaigning to save the building and has recently completed a viability study. This has identified a proposal to convert most of the building into a family home.

Regrettably, despite having found a willing buyer for the church who is prepared to spend £1,200,000 restoring this iconic landmark, the Church Commissioners in consultation with the Diocese of Chelmsford, have decided to proceed with their plans to demolish.

In our opinion, this is unnecessary destruction of local heritage. The resultant harm will not only be in the loss of this Grade II listed building but also the detrimental impact of the loss on the Birch Conservation Area and the surrounding landscape.
</p>
<p>Sign a petition to save the church:
<a href=http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-birch-church.html target=_new>
www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-birch-church.html</a> (Opens in a new window) c1905.
The urn and cremated bones from Mersea Barrow, back in Mersea after 100 years. The green glass urn was made by the Romans, about 1,900 years ago. The urn was taken to Colchester 25 May 1912 after the excavation of the Barrow, and returned to Mersea on loan from Colchester Museum 23 April 2012.
Hazzledine Warren records the bowl as being height 11 6/16 inches, diameter 12 14/16 inches, opening of mouth 3 2/16 inches, across ring 7 2/16 inches, width of ring 2 inches, thickness of sides 1/16 inch. 23 April 2012. Photo: Tony Millatt
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Mersea Museum has a large collection of images, mainly of Mersea Island and the surrounding area. Those shown here are a small sample.
The images are divided into categories - click on a Category to view a selection.
Each year, a selection of the images with an accompanying audiocommentary form an audio-visual display that is run when the Museum is open.
If you can add to the information we have about an image, such as the names of the people, the place or the date, please Email us.
The collection is always increasing thanks to the kindness of may individuals. If you have photographs that are suitable for our collection, we would be pleased to hear from you. We can just take a digital copy of a photograph and return the original to you.
The images above are copyright Mersea Island Museum unless otherwise stated.


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