In pictures: We take a whirlwind tour of Harwich Museum

Tony Tarran, a trustee at Harwich Museum, showed me around the museum on Main Road ahead of the summer holidays - a real treat for myself as a history fan. 

As well as the range of exhibits from Hi-de-Hi! to the Mayflower, I was impressed how for each topic in the museum, there is also a corresponding information booklet as “people often want to know a bit more”.

Tony said: “If people have a particular research area or have questions we will, as a museum, help them as we have more archives upstairs.”

Archives - Trustee Tony Tarran with the museum's information files (Image: Newsquest)

One of my favourite rooms is full of the stylish and quite theatrical badges, poster, hats and costumes from Harwich’s past as a transport centre, including the iconic vintage ‘Harwich for the Continent’ poster.

Talking about the museum's visitors, Tony said: “It is a broad church. We do get families.

"Obviously we get a lot of the older generation who want to reminisce.

“Especially when they see themselves in a picture or with someone they know.”

Art - Harwich including its harbour was depicted in a variety of exciting art styles in the museum's art gallery (Image: Newsquest)

The museum is well laid out, with the right amount of curation, and it was great to see how every inch of space has been used, including a local art gallery in a corridor.

After seeing many more exhibits, I loved my whirlwind tour.

The fact that it took 90 minutes – and with a café included too - shows Harwich Museum is perfect for a fun summer holiday outing as well as regular trips.

If you would like to donate something or volunteer for the museum, email contact@harwichmuseum.co.uk.