Collection Blog

With a collection of four million objects to look after, new exhibitions to stage and events to host, there’s always so much going on behind the scenes at Dorset Museum.

Check in on our blog to find out more about what our staff and volunteers get up to. From researching curiosities in our collection or sharing what goes into curating an exhibition, they’ll share their stories and give you the insider’s view from one of Dorset’s top visitor attractions.

Askerswell Hoard

Archaeology

August 10, 2023

A rare Roman coin hoard acquired by Dorset Museum in 2022 has gone on display

The hoard of Roman coins was found in the parish of Askerswell in West Dorset in 2017 during a metal detecting rally.  A selection…

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Stturgeon

Collection Blog

July 2, 2023

A Fisherman’s Tale: The Monster Fish of the River Frome

Visitors to the Dorset Museum may have noticed the large fish suspended in the Natural Dorset exhibit in the Lulworth Gallery. Believe it or not,…

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Infantry Soldiers (c) Mark North

Social History

June 18, 2023

A Dorset Soldier at Waterloo

This year marks the 208 Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815. We highlight the role played by Dorset-born, Sgt William Lawrence,…

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Tympanum of Door at Fordington Church, Dorchester

Archaeology

April 22, 2023

Fordington St. George by H. J. Moule

From the ‘Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society’ Volume 5, 1844, an article written by Henry. Joseph. Moule, M.A. entitled ‘Fordington St.

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PJ Harvey with Orlam

Literature

March 28, 2023

Items gifted by singer-songwriter PJ Harvey go on display at Dorset Museum

An archive of items gifted to Dorset Museum by PJ Harvey on the publication of her Dorset dialect poem Orlam, has gone on display.

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BNPS_MuseumGold_02

Archaeology

March 16, 2023

Dorset Museum acquires rare gold and rock crystal pendant dating to the 6th or 7th century

Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that it has acquired a rare gold and rock crystal pendant dating to the 6th or 7th century…

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One Step Closer to Heaven by Tony Gill

Art

February 7, 2023

The Art of Seeing: An exhibition of photographs by Dorchester Camera Club

One Step Closer to Heaven by Tony Gill Dorchester Camera Club is presenting its The Art of Seeing exhibition at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester from…

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ElizabethandJohnBraggebyThomasGainsborough

Art

February 6, 2023

Dorset Museum to reunite Gainsborough husband and wife portraits

Portraits of Elizabeth and John Bragge by Thomas Gainsborough Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that it has taken guardianship of A Portrait of Elizabeth Bragge by…

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dorset-museum-objects-bird-skin

Natural Science

January 6, 2023

Collecting Evolutionary Ideas: Alfred Russel Wallace’s Exotic Bird Skins

In the Museum’s Natural History collection, we have over 80 bird skins collected by the naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace.  A majority were collected during…

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