About Mersea

Researching for these pages I came across two old Official Guides to West Mersea. Both undated but the older estimated to have been issued in the early 1930s with reference to a population of 2,060 in 1932.

The Victory was advertised as a Country Hotel with a tariff of 3-4 guineas per week, licensed, garaged and AA registered. Buses to and from Colchester ran every 15 minutes and private camping in the grounds (guests own tentage) was offered for a complete open air life. A Police Sergeant and one constable were stationed on the Island receiving occasional assistance from the mainland. Their duties being chiefly to direct traffic and give information to travelling visitors.

The Urban District Council was meeting new circumstances caused by an increase in population, by giving attention to matters of Public Health, ‘ a considerable portion of the district is now sewered and provided with water from an artesian well and water tower and road improvement as well as the adoption of powers for regulating use of the beach and foreshore’. Relief of the poor was in the hands of the public Assistance Committee for 36 parishes from Lexden & Winstree. West Mersea appointed 2 members to the board which met fortnightly.

LNER trains took 1 hour and 15 minutes to Colchester and those days of ‘fast travel’ thousands of motor cars brought passengers from London and East Anglia to ‘enjoy the pleasures of West Mersea Beach, safe bathing and views. Recreation includes facilities for bowls, tennis cricket, football and hockey. There were several halls for dancing, a favourite amusement in Mersea for all seasons

West Mersea Yacht Club, established in 1899, was recognised by the Yacht Racing Association, had an associate membership of 150 with yachts from 2 tons to 140 tons.

The Post Office was open from 9.00am to 7.00pm with two collections and deliveries daily. Apartments and beach huts were to let. A hairdressing diplomist late of Regents Palace Hotel London offered a shingle trim for 6d and tinting from 8/6d or a ladies head massage for 1/6d. Digby’s store sold electrical goods, paints, varnish camp furniture, wireless sets both battery and mains and advertised ‘If you can’t eat it, get it a Digby’s’. The Fountain Hotel had a new annexe seating parties up to 100 for banquets and dancing. Island telephone numbers ranged from 1-70 The Guide published by Benhams of Colchester was undated but estimated at around 1933

A more recent Guide advertises the Hall Barn Country Club as ‘the Only Gay Spot on the Island’, trains from Liverpool St to Colchester were said to take 50 minutes, there was a half hourly bus service, three postal collections a day and population had reached 3,300.

Essex County Council was responsible for Public Health Services, Midwives for Home Confinements, Diphtheria immunisation and care for TB patients living at home. Essential Public Services maintained a high pitch of efficiency, ample supply of pure water piped to the entire district , main sewerage system and electricity. Sports offered included bathing, riding, putting, badminton at the British Legion Hall. Colchester Zoo within easy reach received mention.

Again the Guide, this time printed by Home Publishing, Surrey, is undated but we guess dates from the mid 1970s, by

St Peter’s Well 1884

(the year of the earthquake)

The Victory Hotel

The Fountain Hotel

Picture by Tony Ward just before it was demolished in 1999

Built by Maurice Mark Thorp in 1912

Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul

High Street West Mersea

St Edmund’s Church East Mersea

Wesley an Chapel Mill Road (Now Methodist Church)