The Central Museum is situated in Victoria Avenue, and houses the main offices
of the Museums Service, together with the Planetarium and principal artefact
store.
The Central Museum is situated in Victoria Avenue, and houses the main offices
of the Museums Service, together with the Planetarium and principal artefact
store.
The Central Museum was opened in April 1981, in a magnificent Edwardian library
building, Southend's first free public library, designed by H.T. Hare for the
Carnegie foundation. The building was extended in 1926 to accommodate a
children's section.
The library closed in 1974 when a new Central Library was
erected next door. Over six years were then spent in converting the "old"
library into the town's Central Museum. The town's original museum collections
were formed from donations to the Southend Institute, in Clarence Road. The
Institute eventually became part of the town's first Town Hall.
When the Library
was built, the opportunity was taken to transfer these collections to the first
floor landing of the new building. Here they remained until 1917 or so, when
they were moved again, this time to Prittlewell Priory. In 1974, the principal
collections were brought back to the new Central Museum for storage and display.
The displays tell the story of the natural and human history of south east
Essex.
The Central Museum is normally open from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 10.00am to
5.00pm, and on Saturdays between 10.00am to 1.00pm, and 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
Please note that the Museum will be closed 17th to 20th March for essential lighting work.
For latest details of Museum opening times click here.
To contact us telephone (01702) 434449, 9.00am - 5.00pm, Mondays to Saturdays