-  Image Collection

Ship Ahoy, Tollesbury. Gowers Postcard No.243 posted before 1910.
The 17th Century inn was formerly named 'The Crooked Billet', then variously as 'The Hoy' and the 'Ship Ahoy'. It was closed after the First World War. Once part of the Guisnes Court estate, it was a rendezvous for smugglers with their illicit cargoes. 
The building, along with Old Hall marshes, is now owned by RSPB, bought as a result of the Eric Morecambe Memorial Appeal in 1985.
Old Hall, Tollesbury. 
Ann Jones wrote (May 2014):
This was the home where my Great Grandfather Richard Banyard grew up. He was born in 1865. His parents were Richard Banyard and mother Sarah maiden name Walford, who also lived in Tollesbury. Young Richard was 8 when his mother died, and 14 when his father died in 1879 so we have not yet checked the census as to whether his father had already left the pub when he died. We do know that young Richard went to live with his uncle John Banyard who we think was a grocer in Tollesbury.
Photograph used in Tollesbury Past by Keith Lovell, plate 62.
</p><p><b>Read More</b>
<a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&pid=FGD_102&rhit=1 ID=1>Recollections from Fred Garrod </a></p> Before 1910. Photo: Cedric Gurton Tollesbury
Girl Guides - Camp 1934. Brownies.
Winifred Joan Mussett standing on the left. 1934. Photo: Girl Guides
A barge leaving Mersea having discharged timber on the Hard. Two packing sheds are visible on the left. 
A picture from one of the slide shows run in Mersea Museum during opening hours. Photo: Martin Wade Collection
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.
A pre-war West Mersea Town Regatta - the sailing barge is the VOLUNTEER.
A picture from one of the slide shows run in Mersea Museum during opening hours. 1930s. Photo: Lil Clarke Collection
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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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