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's run by the Burnham History Society. The museum helps visitors 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. It's at the end of Coronation Road. The building used to be a boat-building workshop. It was built around 1910. The museum moved here in the late 1990s. With some help, they added new parts to the building. This includes a big lower area for displays. It also has an upper level for more exhibits.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many interesting things to see. You can learn about the first people who lived here. This includes people from the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) period. There are also displays about the Romans in the area. You can see local "Red Hills" from that time.

Life in Burnham-on-Crouch

You can explore what daily life was like long ago. There are exhibits about homes and families. The museum also shows the town's strong connection to the sea. You can even see a full-sized boat. It was built right there in Burnham-on-Crouch!

Farming and Industry

Learn about farming in the Dengie area. This part of Essex has a rich farming history. The museum also covers the town's industrial past. There are displays about the local foundry. This is where metal was melted and shaped. You can also see things from the local printing businesses.

Ancient Fossils

In 2015, the museum opened a new display. It's all about Eocene fossils. These are very old remains of plants and animals. The collection includes many shark teeth. These teeth are from sharks that lived millions of years ago!

Learning and Research

The museum also has a special archive. This is a collection of old documents. It includes drawings and pictures of the area. There's also a library for people to do research.

History Talks

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

Restoring Ancient Pottery

The museum has an exciting project. They are restoring old pottery. This pottery comes from different time periods. Some is from the Romano-British era. Other pieces are from the Iron Age and Bronze Age.

See the Restoration Live

You can watch the pottery being restored. This work happens in the main gallery. Visitors can see how the pieces are put back together. You can also ask the experts questions about their work. This pottery was found before the Springfield Industrial Estate was built. It was given to the museum by another museum that closed.