The floating oyster shed
A wooden oyster shed known as the Legend stood on the West Mersea Hard. It floated and could be moved to different positions as the work required.
A photograph from around 1940 shows “Brassy” Mussett at the shed, with his hands on his hips. He and his brother “Cadder” also sold oysters from a shop in West Mersea High Street. The Coast Road photograph collection credits Sabine Baring-Gould with naming the floating shed Legend: it had been there so long that it had become a legend.
The High Street oyster sellers
The High Street premises stood close to the Yorick Road junction. They were later occupied by Jeffrey’s grocery shop and subsequently by Sallyann’s.
Arthur Mussett appears separately in an Essex trade directory as an oyster planter, importer of foreign oysters and dealer in winkles.