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.

Thomas Hardy in his Study at Max Gate

Appeal

August 9, 2022

Campaign to unlock Thomas Hardy archive

Dorset Archives Trust is leading a fundraising effort to permanently unlock the internationally significant, UNESCO-listed archive of author Thomas Hardy, gifted to Dorset Museum in…

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Hayden Princess Boiler

Social History

July 25, 2022

Dorset Museum’s largest and heaviest artefact ?

Some of the many artefacts in the Dorset Museum’s collections are on display in the galleries and some are held in store, but…

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Max Gate

Archaeology

July 18, 2022

Some Romano-British Relics found at Max Gate, Dorchester by Thomas Hardy

The following article entitled ‘Some Romano-British Relics found at Max Gate, Dorchester’ by Thomas Hardy is from the ‘Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and…

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Bridport-Prize-2022

Literature

April 27, 2022

Bridport Prize Black Writer Residency winners at the Dorset Museum

Grace Peters-Clarke and Stephenjohn Holgate from Birmingham recently arrived in Dorchester for a visit ahead of their residencies in April and June as winners of…

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Clandon Barrow Gold Lozenge

Archaeology

February 16, 2022

Dorset Museum lends objects to landmark Stonehenge exhibition at British Museum

Dorset Museum is one of a number of major institutions across Europe lending objects to a major exhibition at the British Museum, opening on 17…

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Thomas Hardy Carol Book

Literature

December 5, 2021

Carols, Songs and Dancing

The Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy’s Family One of the most interesting items in the Thomas Hardy collection is the music book that belonged to…

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Hardy’s Wessex

Literature

November 2, 2021

Become part of Thomas Hardy’s story

Thomas Hardy was one of the greatest English writers of the Victorian era – here’s your chance to become part of his story. Wessex Museums…

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Dewlish-Mosaic

Appeal

January 28, 2021

Roman Mosaic Saved for the Nation!

A Roman mosaic of international importance has been saved for the Nation! Dorset Museum has been successful in its appeal to raise £150,000 to save…

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Fordington Mosaic Conservation

Archaeology

December 2, 2020

Conservators re-install Mosaic in Museum

Over a year after it was lifted to begin construction for the £16 million re-development of Dorset Museum, this 2nd-century Roman mosaic has been reinstalled in…

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