The Council and Southend Museums are excited to announce plans for a new Collections Centre, which will store and showcase cherished historical collections from Southend and South Essex.
Expected to open in 2026, the new Collections Centre will be located on the upper floors of the Beecroft Art Gallery, part of Southend Museums. This means our treasured objects will be much closer to home for everyone to enjoy.
The project involves redesigning parts of the gallery and carefully relocating more than 30,000 items currently stored off-site. These include fascinating pieces from local history, such as a 19th-century hay wagon, an early colour TV prototype from the EKCO factory, and sections of an original Roman well from Wickford.
While the relocation process will take several months, the Southend Museums team is dedicated to creating a space that is more accessible and visitor-friendly. The new facility will provide improved access for researchers, students, and artists, including guided tours of the storage area.
It will also house the gallery's first learning space, a dedicated workshop and training area, and meeting rooms available for hire to support the museum's programmes and cultural mission.
Cllr Matt Dent, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism, and Business, said: "This new Collections Centre isn't just about storing our heritage, it's about making sure these important artefacts are safe and available for everyone to see, a real gift for our community.
"It also opens up exciting opportunities to generate income, similar to our plans for Southchurch Hall, for which we recently secured substantial funding to safeguard it for future generations. Announcing this close to City Day truly celebrates our heritage and builds civic pride across our community. I wish the Southend Museums team the best as they move into this new chapter."
Follow the progress and updates on the move by following Southend Museums on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @southendmuseums and @beecroftartgallery