HISTORY and heritage are the foundations on which the identity and ethos of any village, city, town, society or community is built.

Looking backwards and dwelling on the past is not always encouraged but doing so can play an integral part in shaping who we are and discovering to what we belong.

In Brightlingsea, an emphasis is placed on celebrating the key moments of bygone decades, not least the coastal town’s association and history with the water.

But an exhibit’s newest venture is as much about looking positively forward as it is remembering what came from the opposite direction in a previous time.

“Undoubtedly, history shapes today,” says Brightlingsea Museum’s curator Margaret Stone.

“It helps us put things into focus and better understand, it gives people a sense of belonging. But history is not a static thing. Eventually everything becomes history.”

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As Margaret implies, nothing lasts forever. Moments in time come and go, but ultimately, they live out their days nestled in the pockets of the past.

Eventually, it is the legacy by which something or someone is remembered and engaged with.

Like the artefacts it displays, Brightlingsea Museum was also at risk of becoming a mere stitch in the fabric of history.

Having been a fixture in the town since 1989, the Victorian building, which had for so-long housed informative exhibitions, had lived its best days.

The lack of space was diminishing the overall experience for visitors to the museum, and the non-existent disabled access was proving a serious problem.

Future-friendly it was not.

“It has served us well and it had a good feel to it but we desperately needed a new premises,” said Margaret.

“I passionately believe the museum should be for everyone, but you couldn’t even get a wheelchair through the door.

“Older people sometimes struggled to get to the first floor, which I found not good enough.

“It wasn’t ideal conditions and it was stopping some people from enjoying the museum.”

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In order to up sticks and move to a new building, an eye-watering £700,000 was required. But such a large sum of money was not going to be easy to come by especially for a registered charity.

Generously, however, founding chairman Claude Dove’s final contribution to his beloved museum was arguably his most important.

Following his death in 2013, it was revealed the expert historian had left most of his estate to the museum much to the shock of Margaret.

“It was a wonderful bequest and that really got the whole project moving,” says Margaret.

“We were all amazed. I am extremely lucky to have been taught by Claude and work alongside him for many good years.”

After shopping around for their new history hub, Margaret, new chairman Nick Skinner, and the rest of their team, settled on a former police station, in Station Road, which they purchased in 2015.

In the five years which have passed since they acquired the building, refurbishments have been carried out and architects have been brought in to help shape the gleaming museum.

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Margaret said: “The police station had been empty for a while and it needed quite a lot of work but all the basic facilities were there and we thought we could do something good with it.

“We were fortunate because we also got a Lottery Heritage Grant meaning we could be a lot more ambitious with the project.

“We built an amazing extension and it is in a fantastic position now and all on one level.

“The museum is really coming along, it is a really good space, and it is lovely to see.

“It is a bittersweet feeling to have moved but we couldn’t develop the old museum anymore; we had done all we could.”

Bit by bit, the transformation took place and now the museum is weeks away from opening.

Unlike most museums, Brightlingsea’s new facility will not just provide a passive experience, nor will all the attractions be protected in glass cabinets.

As much as visiting the museum will be self-informing, it will also be hands-on with guests encouraged to immerse themselves in what will be a 360 degree education.

Margaret said: “Some of the features of the exhibitions will have sound and projections.

“We haven’t got many glass cases because we want people to also have to do something when they come.

“For example, we have a mock-up of a fishing boat cabin and we are building up a shipyard workshop.

“It will take some time to go all the way around the museum but people can also just come and browse.”

The modern space will also eventually become the cornerstone of the community.

The museum will feature several dedicated spaces to Brightlingsea’s connection with the water, including a room filled with traditional tools which were previously required to build a boat, as well as a replica of a ship’s sleeping cabin.

Plans are already in place to host workshops, projects and relationship-building meet-ups for residents.

And unlike its predecessor, Margaret, who joined the organisation in 1992, believes the town attraction will truly stand the test of time and become more than just a part of history.

“It is really important that there is something for everyone,” says Margaret.

“It will be a real facility for the community of Brightlingsea and a visitor attraction.

“This is a small town museum with big ideas but I didn’t think it would be as exciting as it has turned out to be.

“This town has a special history and I am sure it will help boost tourism and even pull people in from overseas and around the country.

“The town now has something tangible. Exhibitions will come and go but the town will still have a real asset in years to come.”

Brightlingsea Museum is scheduled to re-open in May.

To find our more visit brightlingseamuseum.com.