Southend Central Museum

Southend Central Museum

Southend Central Museum was built in 1905-6 at a cost of £9,374 and originally housed Southend Library.

The building was commissioned and paid for by the  Andrew Carnegie Trust, found by the Scottish-born American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

Later in his life, Carnegie sold his steel business and systematically gave 90% of his collected fortune away to cultural, educational and scientific institutions for “the improvement of mankind.” In total he spent over $55million on building over 2,509 libraries throughout the English-speaking world and was commonly referred to as the “Patron Saint of Libraries”.

The first museum started on the upper landing of the building until the library closed in 1974. The grade II listed building reopened as Southend Central Museum in 1981. The museum hosts displays of local archaeology, including the internationally relevant Prittlewell Princely Burial exhibition, natural history, social history and a yearly programme of temporary exhibitions.

Historic Periods

Opening Times

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11-5
Thursday: 11-5
Friday: 11-5
Saturday: 11-5
Sunday: 11-5

Bank Holidays: Closed

Cost

Free entry

Facilities

More Information

Address

Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6EW