A RAILWAY and shipping museum will be opening for visitors this weekend.

The Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre signed a 25-year lease on the Harwich town train station buildings last November.

Ten rooms have now been transformed into a rail and shipping museum, set in 1924.

The rooms are complete with a range of historic memorabilia donated to the project.

The aim is to charge for entrance into the new mini-museum, which includes a cafe area for drinks and refreshments, to help fund the yard.

Tony Elliston, chairman on the Mayflower Heritage Centre, said: “The museum opens at 4.30pm and is being opened by the chairman of Essex County council and the Harwich Mayor John Brown who will be opening it together.

“The opening coincides with the charity rail tour train ride arriving into the town.”

The Harwich Mayflower Facebook group said: “It will be a busy month for us, particularly at the railway and shipping museum, which officially opens on Sunday.

“For those who would like to help us out on the day, and beyond, we are holding an open evening on Tuesday, April 10 from 6pm to 7.30pm.

“All those interested and curious are welcome.

“There will also be another open evening on Wednesday, April 25, same times, 6pm until 7.30pm, if you still wish to get involved.”

The Harwich Mayflower Project hopes to build the replica ship and sail it to America in 2020, as part of the Mayflower 400 celebrations.

But the town will also feature on a tapestry of all the places linked to the Mayflower or the pilgrims who travelled on it. The tapestry will then tour all those places as part of the anniversary.

Call the Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre on 01255 318023 to get involved with volunteering at the railway and shipping museum.