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Portland Museum

About

Portland Museum was founded by Dr Marie Stopes, the famous birth control pioneer, and opened in 1930. It is housed in two picturesque thatched Portland Stone cottages, nestling above Church Ope Cove. Inspired by one of these cottages, Wessex author, Thomas Hardy, made it the home of Avice, the heroine in "The Wellbeloved", one of his last novels.

The Museum’s collection reflects the most significant aspects of Portland’s history: the sea, stone, archaeology and Island life, through its association with famous people over the centuries, and the social history of the Islanders. Over the past four years since Portland Museum Trust took over its management, the Museum’s displays and exhibitions have been refreshed and enhanced, but locals tell us that it still feels like the Museum they always loved to visit, whilst new visitors are captivated by its intimate feel and the interesting story it has to tell of Portland’s history.

Do look at our website portlandmuseum.co.uk for latest information.

Learning

The Museum offers a professional educational service.  Themes include Houses & Homes; Local Portland History; The Victorians and the Jurassic Coast.

Facilities

Museum facilities

Parking  
Refreshments Ice creams and hot drinks available. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics and enjoy them in the relaxing surroundings of our garden.
Gift shop  Yes
Gardens/Grounds Yes
Toilets  
Toilets for Wheelchair Users   
Guided Tours   
Audio Tours   
Wheelchair Accessability  To all museum except first floor galleries.
Induction Loop   
Facilities for the Blind / Visually Impaired   
Group Visits  
School Visits  
Outreach activities  

 

Contact

217 Wakeham
Portland
Dorset
DT5 1HS

01305 821804

http://www.portlandmuseum.co.uk

portlandmuseum@googlemail.com