Storytelling
Fireside tales from Wessex: Story-telling with Tim Laycock
5 August 2022, 10:30am - 11:30am
Participatory folk stories and songs for all the family.
The first stories that Thomas Hardy heard were local legends and tales, told by his grandmother in front of the fire on long winter evenings. In later life, he included many of the themes and characters in his poems and novels.
Tim Laycock tells and sings folk tales and story songs from Wiltshire and Dorset for all the family , accompanying himself on concertina and guitar. How big was the Wonderful Crocodile? Where did Jack go in the Magic Boat? And how did Old William outwit the Bull? Come along and find out!
Tim was born in Wiltshire and grew up in Dorset. He has told traditional stories all over the West country. Tim is also the artistic director of The New Hardy Players, and the author of Dorset Folk Tales for Children.
Important Announcement
Friday 22 September 2023, The Victorian Hall will also be closed all day for a private function. The Fine Foundation Dorset Story Space, next the the Thomas Hardy's Dorset Gallery will also be closed for an hour around Midday.
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Opening hours:
Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm -
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ArtyFacts Workshops
Create your own mini art and craft masterpiece to take home. Inspired by Dorset Museum’s collection and Special Exhibitions, our volunteer-led craft activities are fun and creative.
For more sessions
Dorset Museum is part of the NPO (National Partnership Organisation) with Wessex Museums.
Wessex Museums is a charity that exists to build the resilience of partner museums and make them relevant to diverse audiences.
Visit websiteHardy’s Wessex: The Landscape that inspired a writer exhibition is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.
What's on
21 July - 29 October 2023
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Find out more21 July - 29 October 2023
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world-famous exhibition from the Natural History Museum, is coming to Dorset Museum this summer.
Find out more4 August – 28 September 2023
The Askerswell Hoard
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Find out more6 October 2023, 10:00am -1:00pm,
Creative Journeys Through Time | 6 week art workshop with Helen Garrett
Designed for adults interested in art, prehistory and archaeology, and running as a six-week block, this course is an exciting opportunity to get up close with some extraordinary artefacts in the collection at Dorset Museum.
Find out more9 October 2023, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Life Drawing at Dorset Museum – Eight-week course led by James Meiklejohn
This eight-week structured course is suitable for complete beginners to those with some experience.
Find out more10 October 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Wildlife friendly gardening | Mitch Perkins
Would you like to make your garden more wildlife friendly? Join Mitch Perkins to find out how.
Find out more19 October 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
FREE | Museum After Hours
Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.
Find out more19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Real Dorset | Jon Woolcott
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.
Find out more25 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
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 more