Plume. They date from around 1900 to the 1980s and include several rare pieces. Bathing suits include a 1920s men's suit in pure silk, manufactured in Brighton, a 1930s ladies homemade knitted bathing suit, and an all-in-one navy cotton suit with cream piping, dating to c.1900. Womenswear includes an apple green silk pelisse robe worn by Sarah Wiseman of Paglesham, Essex at her wedding in 1813, a green corduroy coat of the 1930s, and a 1950s yellow cotton summer dress with black and white pattern and black velvet bows. Exhibitions A selection of paintings from the collection is always on display. Highlights include Constable's "On the Stour" and Henry Bright's "Hadleigh Castle". There is a year-round programme of temporary exhibitions including the prestigious Essex Open Exhibition, which runs July–September annually. There are also regular displays of historic costume from the museum collection. Themes explored in the past include wedding costume, beachwear, and evening dress as well as various decades. In 2012, the Gallery hosted an exhibition of 19th Century prints of the town and surrounding area, complemented by modern photographs of the same locations. The 'A Time and A Place' exhibition featured views of local landmarks such as Cliff Gardens, The Seafront, The Pier and Hadleigh Castle, all donated to the Gallery by a local resident. Additional photographs Further reading Beecroft Art Gallery, 1969, Catalogue of the permanent collections in the Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea: Southend-on-Sea Libraries, Art Gallery & Museum Committee, ISBN 0900690046 Clare Hunt, Highlights from the Beecroft Art Gallery : a selected catalogue of works shown in the Millennium Exhibition May–June 2000, Southend-on-Sea : Southend-on Sea Borough Council, ISBN 9780900690525 External links Art UK References Buildings and structures in Southend-on-Sea Art museums and galleries in Essex 1952 establishments in England