Cater Museum
Free, independent local history museum in an 18th-century listed house in Billericay, founded in 1960.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Cater Museum in Billericay opened to the public on 7 May 1960. It was founded by Alice May Cater in memory of her husband, William Alexander Cater, a local antiquarian. The museum is housed in an 18th-century listed building with a red-brick front on the High Street, which was once a shop and the home of a saddle and harness maker.
Its collections were built up from the Cater family's holdings and from other local collectors, and objects are shown across three floors with information on local families and buildings. Among the curiosities are the door of a house once owned by Christopher Martin, who sailed on the Mayflower, and the remains of a two-headed lamb born locally.
A Victorian kitchen garden was created at the rear in 2002. In 2008 National Lottery funding of £41,000 helped restore the back of the building to its 18th-century character, and finds from the dig, such as clay pipes and old bottles, joined the collection. Today the Cater Museum is an independent charity without regular government funding. It stays free to enter thanks to donations and runs an events programme.
Highlights
- Local history displays over three floors of an 18th-century house
- Door from a house once owned by Mayflower passenger Christopher Martin
- Victorian kitchen garden at the rear
- Free entry
Permanent exhibition
- Local history displays – Objects and information on Billericay's families and buildings, shown across three floors of an 18th-century house.
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Cater Museum (registered charity 1155407)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free. Donations from visitors and patrons help the independent museum, which receives no regular local or national government funding.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Chapel Street (Hillside)
First Bus services 9, 300 and 561 stop on Chapel Street (Hillside stop). Billericay railway station is a short walk away, with regular trains between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no visitor parking, except for school minibuses. The largest nearby car park is the pay and display car park at the rear of Iceland.
There are a number of car parks and parking spaces near the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Groups of eight or more can arrange a visit outside the normal opening hours through the contact form. |
|---|
