Dorset Museums in Local Attractions
Swanage Museum & Heritage Centre
The Square, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2LJ
Tel: 01929 421427
swanagemuseum.org.uk
The Swanage Museum & Heritage Centre sits right alongside the seafront of Swanage, occupying a prime site at The Square on what was the old stone yard known as the ‘bankers’.
Open from Easter to October: Daily
November/December: Weekends only
Off Season: Please contact us on 01929 421427
Admission: Free
Langton Matravers Museum
St Georges Close, Langton Matravers
Tel: 01929 423168
On bus routes 143 and 144
Here you can enjoy the heritage of Purbeck stone with displays of worked stone, tools and photographs, old pictures and displays of fossils, with the authentic reconstruction of underground quarry working and capstan.
Open from 1 April -30 September, 10.00-12.00, 2.00-4.00. Other times and seasons by appointment.
Admission: adults £1, Children over 10, and students 50p. School parties by appointment (special rates)
Wareham Town Museum
Town Hall, East Street, Wareham
Tel: 01929 553448
greenacre.info/WTM/
The museum tells the story of Wareham from pre-historic times with a special exhibition on Lawrence of Arabia.
Open from Good Friday-31 October, Monday -Saturday 10.00-4.00 Admission free
Waterfront Museum
4 High Street, Poole
Tel: 01202 262600
poolemuseum.org.uk
The Waterfront Museum tells of Poole's history. Displays include a street scene, trade with Newfoundland, the Studland Bay wreck, Roman occupation and more. At the Poole Local Centre, there are research facilities relating to the history of the town. (Opening hours differ from the museum, please phone for details).
Open from April -October, Monday-Saturday 10.00-3.00, Sunday 12.00-3.00. Admission: please phone for details.
Tank Museum
Bovington
Tel: 01929 405096
tankmuseum.org
The tank museum houses the world's finest indoor collection of armoured fighting vehicles. There is a large car park, outdoor children's play area, gift shop and licensed restaurant. Free audio guides are available. There are Tanks in Action displays throughout the summer.
Open every day (except certain days over Christmas) 10.00-5.00. Admission: please phone for details.
The Military Museum of Devon and Dorset
The Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester
Tel: 01305 264066
www.keepmilitarymuseum.org
This modern military museum has computers and creative displays to tell stories of courage, humour, tradition and sacrifice of those who served in the Devon and Dorset regiments for over 300 years. Spectacular views from the battlements.
Open: Mon-Sat 9.30-5.00 Apr-Sep Sun (Jul & Aug) 10.00-4.00 Tues-Sat 9.30-5.00 Oct-Mar. Last admission 1 hour before closing. Admission: Adults £3.00 Children £2.00 Family £9.00 (2 + 3) Senior Citizens £2.00 Concessions £2.00
Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum
TUC Memorial Cottages, Tolpuddle, near Dorchester
Tel: 01305 848237
www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk
The museum tells the story of the six agricultural workers transported to Australia in 1834 after forming a trade union. Follow the fate of the Martyrs by taking an exciting voyage of discovery via interactive multi-media screens.
Open April-October, Tuesday-Saturday 10.00-5.30, Sunday 11.00-5.30. November -March, Tuesday-Saturday 10.00-4.00, Sunday 11.00-4.00
Open Bank Holiday Mondays except for Christmas and New Year.
Admission Free
Nothe Fort
Barrack Road, Weymouth
Tel: 01305 766626
Museum of coastal defence. There are 70 rooms of models, artefacts and exhibits. There are illustrations of the fort and local history and special exhibitions. A costumed history group attends on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. A special school party package based on 1940s experience. Band concerts, re-enactments and drama group presentations.
Open Easter: Daily (not Good Friday) 10.30-5.30, 1 May-30 September, daily 10.30-5.30. Autumn half term: Daily 10.30-5.00. Winter Sundays 11.00-4.30, 26 December and 1 January, 2.00-4.00
Last admission 1 hour before closing.
Admission: Adults £3.50 Children Free with an adult (max 4) Senior Citizens/Concessions £2.50
Tudor House
3 Trinity Street, Weymouth
Tel: 01305 779711/812341
This is one of Weymouth's few remaining Tudor buildings and is furnished as the home of an early seventeenth-century middle-class family. Guided tours explain aspects of the life of the times. Property of the Weymouth Civic Society.
Open: June-September, Tuesday-Friday 1.00-3.45 (last entry) October-May first Sunday of month 2.00-4.00 (except January)
Admission: Adults £2.00 Children 50p
Senior citizens £2.00 Concessions/Students £1.00
Schools, groups by appointment
Water Pumping Station
Sutton Poyntz Pumping Station, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth
Tel: 01305 832634
This museum is housed in a Victorian pumping station still supplying Weymouth with water, and it tells the story of how water has influenced our lives from the Romans to the present day. The museum contains a water turbine pump dating from 1857.
Open: All visits by appointment.
Schools and groups, tel 01225 526327
Individuals, tel. 01305 832634 Admission Free
Weymouth Museum
Brewer’s Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth
Tel: 01305 777622
Collections of local and social history, costumes, prints and paintings – including the Bussell Collection and the Borough Archives.
Exhibition open 25 March-24 December
Museum open: 10.00-5.00 except last 2 weeks in January. Admission free.
The Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum
Norden Park and Ride Nr Corfe Castle Wareham Dorset BH20 5DW
Tel: (01929) 481461
www.purbeckminingmuseum.org
The Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum is an independent museum which exists to preserve and interpret everything to do with the Purbeck extractive industries, especially those associated with the Swanage Railway branch line. At the moment the focus is on the Purbeck ball clay industry.
Entry is FREE, but we rely on your donations, please give at least £1 per person to enable us to keep our museum open. Please Gift Aid your donation if you can.