Lecture
Real Dorset | Jon Woolcott
19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
In this lecture, let Jon Woolcott take you on an amusing whistle-stop tour through some of the discoveries and oddities that make Dorset unique.
Jon’s recently published book Real Dorset (Seren Books, 2023) is a personal, detailed, discursive, humorous, and idiosyncratic look at Dorset. The county is famous for its spectacular coastline, 19its historic towns, its eco-foodie reputation, and for Hardy and Fowles. But there’s much more behind the tourist-friendly façade – subversion, rebellion and revolt, wealth and poverty, ghost stories, and rich folklore. Its history can surprise – from the murky origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant to the revived pagan ritual of the Filly Loo.
Jon Woolcott is a writer and publisher, who has lived in Dorset for 14 years, and grew up nearby in southern Wiltshire. He currently works for the acclaimed independent publisher, Little Toller, where he also edits The Clearing, the online journal for new writing about place and nature. His writing, which often focuses on Dorset, has appeared widely, including for_ The _Guardian, Caught by the River, The Bookseller, Sightly Foxed, Echtrai Journal, and History Press.
What's on
3 February - 30 May 2024
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Find out more11 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
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Find out more16 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more16 May 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Paul Nash in Dorset | Professor Paul Gough
This richly illustrated lecture explores over 80 Paul Nash artworks created from the mid-1930s until his death in 1946. They range from ancient places such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to the limestone promontories and fossilised forests on the Purbeck coast.
Find out more22 May 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more22 May 2024, 7:30pm
25 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Find out more30 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
May Customs and Ooser Mask Making
Our themed event will delve into the customs and traditions surrounding the merry month of May, learn about the famous horned Ooser mask displayed in the museum, and have a go at making one.
Find out more