West Mersea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Mersea |
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 West Mersea
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| Population | 7,183 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM011127 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode district | CO5 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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West Mersea is a town in Essex, England. It is also an area used for elections. This town is the larger of two places on Mersea Island. Mersea Island is located south of the city of Colchester.
Contents
Discovering West Mersea's Past
West Mersea has a long and interesting history. People believe a small Roman town and port once stood here. This idea comes from finding Roman buildings and special tiled floors, called tessellated pavements, near the waterfront. A road might have connected this port to Camulodunum, which is now modern Colchester.
Ancient Roman Discoveries
North of the town, there is a large burial mound. This mound was also built by the Romans. It shows that Romans lived and buried their dead in this area a very long time ago.
Early English History
In 1046, Edward the Confessor, an English king, gave Mersea Island to a religious group. This group was from the abbey of St. Ouen in Rouen, France. Because of this gift, the Priory of West Mersea was started. A priory is a type of monastery.
West Mersea was even mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. The Domesday Book was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. It recorded how many people lived in West Mersea at that time. It said there were 84 households.
The Lifeboat Station's Story
In 1963, a lifeboat station was built next to the West Mersea Yacht Club. This was one of the first ten inshore lifeboat stations in the British Isles. Lifeboats are special boats used to rescue people at sea.
At first, a D class lifeboat was used. In 1972, it was replaced by a faster B class, Atlantic 21, lifeboat. A new boathouse and a ramp for launching boats were opened in 1992. The Duke of Kent officially opened them.
In 2001, an Atlantic 75 lifeboat was stationed here. Then, in 2015, it was replaced by the current B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat. This boat is named Just George. Local people helped raise £210,000 to pay for it.
West Mersea Today
Today, West Mersea is a lively town with many things to see and do. It has a community centre where people can meet. There are also various shops, places to eat, and small hotels. You can find public houses, which are like pubs, a petrol station, and a bank.
The town also has a library and a museum. There are several churches, including the Norman St Peter and St Paul church. This church belongs to the Church of England. Other churches include the Roman Catholic church, the Methodist church, and the West Mersea Free Church. This last one is part of the Baptist Union.
Community and Activities
The Town Council looks after four cemeteries. One of these is a special woodland burial ground. West Mersea is a popular place for older people to live. Many of the town's services are designed to help them.
Besides the West Mersea Yacht Club, there is also the Dabchicks Sailing Club. Both are great for sailing fans. The town also has its important RNLI lifeboat station. Every August, West Mersea hosts a big event called Mersea Week. This is an annual regatta, which is a series of boat races and other water activities.
See also
In Spanish: West Mersea para niños
