Gillingham Museum
About
Gillingham Museum features the history of Gillingham and surrounding villages from prehistoric times, through Roman and medieval occupation to the Victorian rebuilding; a 1790 manual fire engine; John Constable display; interactive quiz and photographic presentation.
The Gillingham Local History Society was founded under the umbrella of the Gillingham (Dorset) Parish Council in 1953 to find a home for the Freame family collection of local historical documents and artefacts. Mr. Sidney Carter who was the benefactor of the items from the will of the last surviving Freame gave the collection to the town.
Do look at our website www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk for latest information.
Learning
Victorian and WW2 boxes for loan.
Facilities
| Parking | Parking in adjoining public car park |
| Refreshments | Refreshments and toilets available in the nearby Waitrose Store. |
| Gift shop | |
| Gardens/Grounds | |
| Toilets | |
| Toilets for Wheelchair Users | |
| Guided Tours | |
| Audio Tours | |
| Wheelchair Accessability | Full disabled access |
| Induction Loop | |
| Facilities for the Blind / Visually Impaired | |
| Group Visits | |
| School Visits | |
| Outreach activities |
Contact
Chantry Fields Gillingham Dorset SP8 4UA
01747 826235
http://www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk office@gillinghammuseum.co.uk
Gillingham’s first manual fire pump was purchased by the Vestry Committee in 1790. This had been manufactured by Bristowe of Whitechapel and was housed for many years in a room under the Free School. It performed many useful years of service and finished its working life at Purns Mill. It was restored after the Second World War and later became part of the Museum’s collection. It is almost certain that the fire pump attended Purns Mill in 1825 when the picturesque Old Mill was burnt to the ground. This was the same Mill (then known as ‘Parham’s Mill’) that John Constable captured on canvas after his visits to Gillingham in the early 1820s.
