News
Dorset’s newest and most exclusive wedding venue!
November 9, 2021
Dorset Museum is proud to have hosted its first wedding for local residents Mike and Rachel.
Having recently been granted a licence for Civil Marriages and Partnership, the Museum can offer eight fantastic spaces to meet your wedding requirements and fit your budget. At the heart of Dorset Museum is the stunning Victorian Hall with its impressive architecture from the Roman Mosaic flooring to the beautiful rose stained-glass window.
Mike and Rachel said: ‘When we saw the empty Victorian Hall and stunning mosaics we both immediately said what an amazing place to get married, not knowing then that we would be the very first couple to do so!
We can’t thank the museum staff enough for all their help, support and kindness in planning and on the day, to make it such a truly magical experience for us, our family and friends.’
Our Events, Catering and Facilities teams work closely with couples to make sure all of their needs are met and that their day runs smoothly. Dorset Museum has forged strong relations with local businesses such as The Wedding Library and Novia Events who can help make couples’ special day come to life.
The 30th January 2022 will see Dorset Museum’s first Wedding Show working alongside a variety of local suppliers to help couples plan their forthcoming nuptials.
Couples will also be invited to look at the fantastic spaces the Museum has to offer.
What's on
28 May – 30 October 2022
Take a fresh look at the Victorian novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy, in the stunning Wessex landscapes that shaped his view of the world. His story will be retold in exciting new ways by our museum collections, from period costumes to personal letters, art to archaeology.
Find out more9 September 2022 - 14 October 2022
Drawing Into Life – 6 Week Creative Course
Six week art course designed for adults interested in art and archaeology. This new course is an exciting opportunity to get up close with some extraordinary artefacts in the collection at Dorset Museum. You will be drawing inspiration from prehistoric art including Neolithic flint tools, Anglo Saxon gold, precious burial goods, Roman mosaics, decorative textiles and archaeological maps amongst others, and have the chance to work directly from the Elisabeth Frink collection.
Find out more3 October 2022 - 8 February 2023
Unmasked
Unmasked is a local, voluntary project that began in the dark days of March 2020, when a new disease called COVID-19 literally stopped the world as we knew it.
Find out moreCANCELLED
Who’s in the Next Room?
Poems by Thomas Hardy with new writing from Paul Hyland, Kate Scott, Catherine Simmonds & Pam Zinnemann-Hope
Find out more9 October 2022, 10:30am - 12noon
The Big Draw at Dorset Museum
Come and take part in our Big Draw event at Dorset Museum. Inspired by the natural world around us, colour and natural forms, help us create a giant collage in the style of Henri Rousseau to display in one of our galleries.
Find out more11 October 2022, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Archaeology Highlights Tour
Explore archaeological treasures held by Dorset Museum – from Bronze Age gold to medieval silver - in this volunteer-led tour.
Find out more13 October 2022, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Museum after hours
Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this free late opening
Find out more13 October 2022, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
A persistent place: a new chronology for Neolithic Dorchester
The area underneath and around the town of Dorchester was an important place for Neolithic people, who built a variety of monuments here over a period of 2000 years. In this talk, Dr Susan Greaney discusses the research project that has obtained radiocarbon dates from samples of antler picks, charcoal and human remains held in the Dorset Museum collection and has been able to build a brand new chronology for the monuments.
Find out more21 October 2022, 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Strings Forever!
Join baroque violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova on a musical journey back in time exploring the dance tunes and folk music beloved by Thomas Hardy and his family. Tim Laycock and Colin Thompson contribute the traditional dance tunes and folksongs of Dorset on violin, concertina and melodeon.
Find out more