Join us at The Mersea Museum where we are gaining momentum with the plans for the exciting Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail which is being held over the bank holiday weekend 23/24/25 May 2026.

The kettle is always on and there is a lovely choice of biscuits to help with the creative proccess !

The Resource Centre is open on alternate Saturday mornings throughout the Winter.
Call in to talk about local history, view photographs and articles on the computers, have a coffee, use the shop. Free admission.

Tuesday 9th December 10:30am - 12:30pm

By this stage it is hoped that we have a clear path of how we can share our findings with a wider audience and how we can put this together. We will be looking for many talents to make this a reality so please pop in if you have a flair for writing , photography, event planning and/or just being amazing ! We have an idea for an exciting community immersed project which is very important is led by the Hub, do drop in to help make it happen.

We really hope you can join us in continuing to uncover the stories connected to the vessels and of course there is tea, homemade biscuits and lots of tales to share. We can’t wait to get going again with this amazing chatty hub and we really hope you can pop in and join in for any one or even all of the sessions.

Everyone is very welcome to join us in our mulling !

We hope to continue into 2026….

Tuesday 25th November 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm

Continuing to explore the boats built to work from Mersea we will be exploring the markets that the catches were sold to and the effects on the industry by weather, disease and market forces. In particular we would like to explore the Companies connected such as Bentley’s and The Tollesbury & Mersea Native Oyster Company.

We will also look to the connection each of these have with familiar ladmarks along the Coast Road.

Smacks Class II- Our Boys, Smacks Class III - Boadicea, Mayflower, Dorothy, Gracie, Peace, Puritan, Pricilla, Hyacinth, Electron, G&A, Ida, Phathom, Primrose, Skylark and Cybil.

News from the Boatshed - Peace, Ida and Mayflower.

Tuesday 11th November 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm

The Boats that were built to work from Mersea have of course a long connection to the fishing companies that were based on the Island either built specifically for the owner such as the Banks family or brought later in their working lives for the likes of Leslie French.

Oyster Bumkins - Gipsy & Boy George, Sprat Skiffs - Mystery, Lilian, Marie & Alice,
Tow Haul - Bumble, Motor Skiff - Pyefleet. Winklebrigs -Jack , Winnie, Wheezy Anna and Genesta. Tenders - Ally Lump

It will be interesting to explore the companies further and where along Coast Road they had a link to and discover what is still in place to explore.

- In respect to Armistice Day we will be remembering those that lost their lives, in particular we will spend time learning more of George Stoker who gave his name to the sailing oyster bumpkin Boy George

News from the Boatshed - Boy George, Mystery and Wheezy Anna

We are back for a new series of drop in sessions at The Mersea Museum.

By continuing with our quest for a deeper understanding we are keen to host another series of EHWB Hub in West Mersea. With the support of The Mersea Island Museum Trust we would love to invite you along to join us for drop in sessions at the Museum to continue to learn more about your families and their connections to the working vessels of the past.

Starting on the 28th October 2025 at 10:30h to 12:30h we will give an outline to the coming weeks. Last time we discussed the boats built to work actually on the Island to the ones built in the Colne and Tollesbury who were worked from the island. Building on that we would love to hear your connections and see any photos or papers that help to bring the people that were involved with them. By telling their stories once again and sharing their lives it means that the custodians of the vessels can learn more of the rich history connected to them and inspire more to get involved in their care to ensure they continue to exist for many generations to come.

We covered last time the The Boats built on the Island

Oyster Skiffs - Mersea Native, Silver Spray, Spray, Golden Chance, Jinny, Winkle Brigs- Ino, Lizzie, Tenders - Betty Mary and Native.

We will be exploring further the history of Wyatts by finding out about the other boatbuilders that served their time alongside Wyatt and Emery, with more delving into the families and companies connected to these rare Mersea working boats. The sites on which the boats were built along the Coast Road is of particular interest together with the sites of processing the catch and the businesses and trades connected to this.

NEW ! News from the Boatshed - Each session we will give an update on the work being carried out on the Mersea boats. This week it will be Silver Spray, Mersea Native, Jinny and Golden Chance.

West Mersea Town Regatta takes place on Mersea Island in Essex, and has been running since 1838

Sailing, Watersports and Fireworks and even an Essex Heritage Workboat taking centre stage. SB Wyvenhoe will again be the Regatta Barge.

More details at https://www.mersearegatta.org.uk/