Floods delay re-opening of Southend Pier Museum (From Southend Standard)

Floods delay re-opening of Southend Pier Museum

7:00am Thursday 8th April 2010 in Southend By Michelle Archard

THE reopening of Southend Pier Museum has been delayed due to a clear up operation following floods during the winter months.

Work to renovate the town’s landmark pier began last October and is due to finish in the next few weeks.

However the restoration meant the pier was open to the elements and the harsh and exceptionally wet winter has wreaked havoc on the museum which is located in the old pier workshops underneath the train station at the shore end.

Peggy Dowie chairman of Southend Pier Museum Foundation Trust, said it had been a difficult six months, but thanks to the hard work of volunteers there had been limited damage.

Mrs Dowie said: “It has been an absolute nightmare. We had flooding everywhere. We were completely washed out downstairs.

“The pier has undergone major renovation work and we’ve had two major floods. One where the pier got flooded and the water was swept off the platform down to us.

“We had our volunteers ankle deep in water trying to salvage the artefacts and get things under wraps and emptying cabinets without any damage. It was freezing cold and wet, at one point the office was the only dry place and then the rain poured in through the ceiling there.

“We’ve suffered very badly, but our volunteers have been really brilliant and so we’ve had limited damage.”

The museum usually opens from April to September. Because of the delays, it is hoped the museum will open by mid-May.