Southend’s history brought closer to the community as new Museums Collections Centre opens on City Day

March 5, 2026

Southend’s heritage will be more accessible than ever from Saturday 7 March, as Southend Museums officially opens the new Southend Museums Collections Centre to the public – one of the major highlights of this year’s Southend City Day celebrations.

Located inside the Beecroft Art Gallery, the centre brings together tens of thousands of archaeological, natural history and social history objects previously stored off site.

This follows the Council’s 2025 announcement confirming the move from the Tickfield Centre to a redesigned, publicly accessible space as part of a long-term plan to make Southend’s heritage easier to explore and enjoy.

For the first time, residents will be able to see:

EKCO radios – iconic products from Southend’s world-famous EKCO electronics factory, once one of the city’s biggest employers and a major innovator in British design and manufacturing.

Finds from the Wickford excavation – archaeological material that helps tell the story of early settlement in the region, including Roman era life and activity.

Stonework from Prittlewell Priory – important fragments from one of the city’s most historic buildings.

Items from the London shipwreck assemblage – artefacts recovered from the 17th century warship ‘London’, which sank in the Thames Estuary.

These sit alongside thousands of other objects that together tell the story of how Southend has grown and changed across the centuries.

The opening of the Collections Centre is one of this year’s major City Day highlights, forming part of the citywide celebrations that showcase Southend’s heritage, culture and community spirit. It offers residents a unique opportunity to explore their history behind the scenes as part of the day’s wider programme.

Cllr Matt Dent, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture, Music and Tourism, said: “This opening is a fantastic moment for Southend. The Collections Centre brings our city’s history closer to the community and gives people the chance to see how these remarkable objects are looked after behind the scenes.

“It’s a major step in making our museums more open, more accessible and more connected to the residents they serve. I’d encourage everyone to come along and explore the stories that shaped Southend.”

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: “When I announced at City Day last year that we would make our museum collections more accessible, this is exactly the kind of delivery I hoped we would achieve.

“The Collections Centre opens up a world of heritage that was previously hidden from public view, celebrating Southend’s history in a way that is meaningful, educational and genuinely exciting. It’s a proud moment for our city and a brilliant addition to this year’s City Day.”

Free behind-the-scenes public tours will run throughout City Day - prebooking via Eventbrite is recommended.