Burnham-on-Crouch & District Museum facts for kids

The Burnham-on-Crouch and District Museum is a special place in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. It is run by the Burnham History Society. The museum helps everyone learn about the town's past. It shows how people lived and how the area grew over time.

Where to Find the Museum

The museum is right by the water. You can find it at the end of Coronation Road. The building itself has a cool history. It used to be a workshop where people built boats. This workshop was built around 1910.

A New Home for History

The museum moved to this waterfront spot in the late 1990s. Before that, it was in a small room off the main street. With some help, the old boat workshop got bigger. A new large area was added downstairs. This area shows how people lived in their homes long ago. Upstairs, there is a special section. It teaches about farming in the Dengie area.

What You Can Discover Inside

The museum has many exciting things to see. You can explore the lives of the first people in Burnham-on-Crouch. These were people from the Stone Age, called the Mesolithic period. There are also displays about the time when Romans lived in the town. You can learn about local "Red Hills" from that era.

Life in Burnham-on-Crouch

The museum shows what daily life was like in the past. It has exhibits on how people lived at home. You can also see the town's connection to the sea. There is even a full-size boat that was built right in Burnham-on-Crouch.

Local Industries and Nature

Learn about farming in the Dengie area. Discover the town's industrial past too. There are displays about the local foundry and printers. These were important businesses. In 2015, the museum opened a new exhibit. It features amazing Eocene fossils. This includes a big collection of ancient shark teeth.

Learning and Research

The museum is also a great place for research. It has an archive filled with local history documents. You can find old drawings and pictures there. There is also a library with books about the area's past.

History Talks

The Burnham History Society holds talks at the museum. These talks happen on the third Monday of every month. They are a great way to learn more about local history.

Exciting Restoration Project

The museum recently started a cool new project. They are carefully putting back together old pottery. This pottery includes pieces from the Roman-British, Iron Age, and Bronze Age times.

See History Being Repaired

This pottery is being restored right in the main gallery. This means visitors can watch the process. You can see how experts clean and fix these ancient items. You can also ask questions about the work. This pottery was found before the Springfield Industrial Estate was built. Another museum, the Passmore Edwards museum, gave it to the Burnham-on-Crouch & District Museum when they closed.