An independent museum established in 1976 and occupying purpose-built premises that have been steadily expanded. We are 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. 2,000 year old contents of Mersea Barrow. The exhibition in the main hall is new each year and features a number of different displays.
Computers in the Resource Centre can be used to access over 40,000 images, slideshows, articles, parish records, local census contents, audio files, video.
Children are welcome, with puzzles and quizzes available.
The Museum is now closed and will re-open to visitors 1st May 2019.
We are getting ready for the new summer exhibition - Revealing the Past".
If you are interested in local history, there is much on this website. See HISTORY.
The Spring 2019 Newsletter looks forward to the Museum's Summer Exhibition.
Click Here to view the Newsletter (178Kb) - it will open in a new window.
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 (63, 67 or 68 from Colchester), the museum is a short walk straight ahead from the terminus.
Wednesday to Sunday inclusive and on Bank Holiday Mondays.
School and Group visits can be organised outside the normal hours during the season - see School and Group Visits.
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.
Shop: The Museum Shop has a varied selection of books, postcards, souvenirs and mementos.
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.
Mersea Island Museum Trust is a Registered Charity, No. 271818.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this website, but no responsibility can be taken for errors or the consequences thereof.
We endeavour to establish the copyright of photographs before they are shown on the site, but with many old photographs this is difficult. If there are photographs where you own the copyright, please contact us. We will remove them if necessary.