Museum of East Dorset
About
Step into an historic town house in the heart of the beautiful market town of Wimborne. Discover the stories of the people who lived there over the centuries. Explore the themed galleries and find out more about Wimborne and the towns and rural areas of East Dorset.
There is something for everyone, from a unique collection of Victorian Valentines to a kitchen that takes you back in time, and stunning Roman wall paintings and archaeology.
The charming Tea Room opens onto a tranquil walled garden that is wildlife friendly and includes heritage fruit trees. Discover the gift shop, bookshop, and Information Centre right on the High Street.
This vibrant heritage and cultural centre is housed in an historic Grade II* listed building. It reopened in late 2020 following a £1.8 million National Lottery project which restored the building and transformed the exhibition spaces. Visitors will discover a welcoming, accessible space offering interaction, participation, engagement and plenty of fun.
Do look at our website museumofeastdorset.co.uk for latest information.
Learning
The Museum of East Dorset is proud to offer a vibrant and flexible learning programme with a particular focus on creative, hands-on activities.
We offer a wide range of workshops covering over 2000 years of British history, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, Romans, Victorian life, and the World Wars. Specific topics include Houses and Homes, Toys and Games.
Here are just a few of the highlights:
- Discover how we find out about the past and the way people used to live with our ‘Dig It!’ sessions. These hands-on indoor archaeological digs were designed by renowned archaeologist Julian Richards. Peel back the layers to discover an Iron Age roundhouse or a Roman villa.
- Make biscuits using the original Beetonette range in the Kitchen.
- Borrow loans boxes and associated learning materials covering topics such as the Stone Age, Romans, Victorian Life, First World War: Children’s contribution to the war effort, the 1930s, Toys: Old and New. These contain handling objects from the collections, replica items, photographs, pictures, documents, and suggested learning activities.
Visit our website museumofeastdorset.co.uk for more details.
Facilities
Museum facilities
| Parking | |
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Gift shop | Yes |
| Gardens/Grounds | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Toilets for Wheelchair Users | Yes |
| Guided Tours | |
| Audio Tours | |
| Wheelchair Accessability | Every aspect of the museum is now fully accessible for wheelchair users, thanks to the newly installed lift between the ground and first floors. There is also ramp access throughout the museum. |
| Induction Loop | |
| Facilities for the Blind / Visually Impaired | |
| Group Visits | Yes, pre-booking required |
| School Visits | Yes, for more information visit our website museumofeastdorset.co.uk |
| Outreach activities | Yes, please contact the Museum for further details. |
Contact
23-29 High Street
Wimborne Minster
Dorset
BH21 1HR
Website: museumofeastdorset.co.uk
Email address: info@museumofeastdorset.co.uk
