Culture & Heritage

A wide range of heritage sites to visit, from prehistoric relics and medieval churches to stylish Victorian villas.

Explore the culture & heritage...

The Essex Sunshine Coast has a vibrant arts and culture scene, alive with theatres, performance arts events, live music and exhibitions. A House for Essex, Wrabness, is artwork in itself. This unique and incomparable house, overlooking the river Stour, was designed by the county’s own Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry.

History and heritage are in abundance throughout. Its coastal location provides unique and varied heritage, from prehistoric artefacts and medieval churches to stylish Victorian villas, with many sites recognised as being of national significance.

There is a strong maritime history present throughout the District in towns such as Brightlingsea, Historic Harwich, Dovercourt, Manningtree and Mistley.

The Tendring Witch Heritage Trail is an immersive journey through our district’s past.  Stories of the Tendring Hundred communities affected by the Essex witch trials have been brought to life for the first time through augmented reality – accessed by smart phone – to offer visitors of all ages a living history experience.

Unique wooden benches and information boards that reflect each location’s history have been installed, with additional historic information.  

The Mayflower 400 – Maritime & Heritage Trail, Harwich, is a visitor trail exploring the story of the Mayflower ship detailing its links to the founding of modern America. The Master of the Mayflower, Christopher Jones’s house, still stands in Historic Harwich today.

The Kindertransport Memorial, “Safe Haven” marks the arrival of thousands of evacuated children to Britain through the Kindertransport rescue programme, from December 1938 to the outbreak of war in September 1939.  The bronze statue is located on Harwich quayside.  

Links:
Clacton Arts Centre
Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre
The Creation Station West Tendring 
Tendring Local Cultural Education Partnership
Heritage Open Days
Tendring seaside resorts/Resorting to the coast
Explore Essex, Arts and Heritage projects
Clacton 150 celebrations.
Tendring Creative & Cultural Strategy
Tendring Heritage Strategy
Tendring Local Cultural Education Partnership
Tendring’s Historic Parks and Gardens
Tendring’s Listed Buildings

 

Point Clear Martello Tower and museum

The Martello Tower Point Clear is home to a WWii Museum.

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    Beth Chatto Plants & Gardens

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    Beth Chatto Gardens has 7.5 acres of garden, based on ecological planting: the right plant for the right place. Created by award-winning gardener, author and lecturer Beth Chatto OBE VMH, who won 10 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, in the 70s and 80s.   Read more…
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    Brightlingsea Museum

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    Brightlingsea is a small town with a big history! The Brightlingsea Museum, founded by Alf Wakeling in 1989, has taken on a new lease of life and recently moving to a new premises on Station Road.  Whether you drop in for half an hour or half a day, there is plenty to explore, engage and excite you, whatever your age Read more…
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    Clacton 150 heritage trail

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    The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) are funding a seafront heritage trail in Tendring from Jaywick Sands to Holland Haven but also incorporating Clacton town centre to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Clacton-on-Sea. The Clacton 150 trail will cover over 5 miles of beautiful coastline and engage with local schools, elder care settings and wider community to Read more…
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    Clacton-on-Sea

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    Clacton-on-Sea is an all-weather, year-round tourist destination, there is plenty of things to do whilst in and around the town.  With a host of different attractions will keep you occupied on your visit, from the awarding winning beaches and the thrills of the fair at Clacton Pier and Clacton Pavilion to Hasty Adventure Farm. Clacton also boasts a varied programme Read more…
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    Electric Palace Cinema

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    The Electric Palace cinema, Harwich, is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas to survive complete with its silent screen, original projection room and ornamental frontage still intact. It was designed by the architect Harold Ridley Hooper of Ipswich, Suffolk and opened on 29 November 1911. Read more…
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    Frinton Summer Theatre

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    Frinton Summer Theatre is the longest-running repertory theatre in the UK. Each summer sees some of the best talent in British theatre come to Frinton, bringing West End performances to the east coast. In the true traditions of repertory theatre, a new cast comes to present a different show each week, with a varied collection of productions taking place from Read more…
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    Ha’Penny Pier & Visitor Centre

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    Work began on this pier in 1852 and it was opened on the 2nd of July 1853. It was so called because of the ½d toll charged (like a platform ticket). Originally the pier was twice as long as the present one but one half burnt down in 1927. It was a popular departure point for paddle steamers until after Read more…
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    Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre

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    Live Arts, Culture , Community Events & space hire run by the Harwich Festival. Current ongoing events. Read more…
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    Harwich Maritime Trail

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    Take a voyage of discovery around the old port of Harwich and discover a wealth of maritime history. Visit Harwich Society for more information. Trail locations include: 1. The Low Lighthouse 2. Treadwheel Crane 3. Lifeboat Museum 4. The Angelgate (Timberfields) 5. The Harwich Mural 6. Electric Palace Cinema 7. The Navyard Wharf 8. Harwich Lifeboat Station 9. Ha’penny Pier & Read more…
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    Harwich Redoubt Fort

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    Harwich Redoubt is a circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port of Harwich, Essex from Napoleonic invasion. The Harwich Society opens it to the public. Read more…
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    Highland Soldier Statue at Weeley

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    A life-sized wooden statue has recently been unveiled in Weeley to honour the village’s heritage. The statue was unveiled the prior weekend and depicts a Highland Soldier from the Napoleonic Era. Carved by woodcarver Rusty from Marnic Wood who teamed up with Weeley In Bloom, this new sight can be found where the footpaths meet at Second Avenue and St Read more…
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    Jaywick Martello Tower

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    Jaywick Martello Tower is a renovated Martello tower at Jaywick, 2.7 miles south-west of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. It now functions as an arts, heritage and community venue. Read more…
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    Kindertransport Memorial Harwich “Safe Haven”

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    The Kindertransport Memorial, “Safe Haven” marks the arrival of thousands of evacuated children to Britain through the Kindertransport rescue programme, from December 1938 to the outbreak of war in September 1939. The port of Harwich was the main point of entry for most of the children who found refuge in Britain during the Kindertransport Rescue Programme. This bronze statue depicts Read more…
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    Mayflower Sculpture Harwich

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    A structure of The Mayflower Ship, designed by artist collaborators Hanman Murphy, is located on the first roundabout outside of Harwich’s International Port. This piece of public art, made from a structural skeleton, evokes the historic starting point of the Mayflower story with the globe reflects the interpretation of iron bearing waters, and the international legacy of the Mayflower. The Read more…
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    Naze Tower

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    The Naze Tower is an historic 86ft landmark and unique visitor attraction situated on an attractive stretch of coastline at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. Over eight floors it houses an art gallery with three exhibitions a year, a museum on the Tower and Naze, tea rooms and a roof viewing platform with spectacular panoramic views. Read more…
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    Old Bank Studios

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    Old Bank Studios specialise in one day workshops in: Art, Textiles and Crafts.  Providing expert and professional tuition within this ambient setting. The glorious Edwardian banking hall accommodates an art studio, and a smaller textile studio. Each workshop is complemented with home a cooked lunch and refreshments. Visit Old Bank Studios for more information. Read more…
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