Tours

Roman Town House Tours

13 May 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon

Meeting point: Welcome Area at Dorset Museum 

–  Not suitable for under 5s.

–  Ticket includes a guided tour of the Roman Town House and Day Entry to Dorset Museum

Roman Town House and Panel

Discovered in the 1930s, one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England is situated here in Dorchester.

Following the extensive refurbishment of the covered Roman Town House structure and grounds we are proud to have partnered with Dorset Council to offer the opportunity of a guided tour of the covered structure and grounds.

Our trained guides will take you through a brief history of the site and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at the Dorset Museum. Following this, they will take you to the site of the Roman Town House and allow you to enter the covered building which hosts a number of really special features including some of the original wall paint and mosaics and a beautifully preserved example of an underfloor heating system.

Tours start at Dorset Museum where our trained guide will give a short presentation on the history of the site and recent excavation. Followed by a quick visit to the People’s Dorset Gallery to be shown some of the key artifacts recovered from the site. The tour will then move over to the Roman Town House site via Colliton House and West Walks which is of historical importance. The full guided tour will then commence at the internal and external Town House site before returning to the Museum.

Important Announcement

On Friday 2nd June 2023 the cafe TASTE at Dorset Museum cafe will be closed from 2pm
for a private function.

  • Opening hours:

    Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
    Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
    Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm

  • Dorset Museum

    High West Street
    Dorchester DT1 1XA

    View Map

Tours start at the Museum


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The Roman Town House is owned and managed by Dorset Council, and supported by the Dorchester Joint Heritage Committee and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

More info

https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gorgon-Head.png

Gorgon Head – Terracotta face antefix decorated roof eaves of the Roman Town House

https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roman-Glass-Bowl.png

Engraved glass bowl with followers of Dionysus, Greek god of wine discovered at the Roman Town House


Useful tips for attending this tour

•  Tours start and end at the museum.

•  Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society members can get discounted tickets but MUST bring their membership card with them for the tour.

•  Sturdy shoes are required as the internal structure is uneven. Protective shoe covers provided.

•  Tours are fully accessible.

•  No toilets or facilities at the Roman Town House site, although will be available at the museum before and after the tour.

Community Exhibition

18 February - 22 June 2023

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

The Club is delighted to have this opportunity to exhibit some of their members’ prints in the Dorset Museum together with an audio-visual presentation.

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Special Exhibition

22 March - 25 June 2023

ARTIST ROOMS Louise Bourgeois

Explore the work of Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010), one of the most important figures of modern and contemporary art. This spring Dorset Museum will show a major presentation of her work in this ARTIST ROOMS touring exhibition featuring works jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

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Special Display

29 March - 9 July 2023

PJ Harvey – Orlam

Dorset Museum is now displaying an archive of material relating to PJ Harvey’s verse novel Orlam.

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ArtyFacts Workshop

4 June 2023, 10:00am-12:00noon

Louise Bourgeois’ Weaving | ArtyFacts

Help us to create a wonderful woven installation in our Sculpture Courtyard inspired by spider's webs and the artworks of Louise Bourgeois.

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FULLY BOOKED

4 June 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Dorchester Through the Lens of Thomas Hardy | Mark Chutter

Join Mark Chutter, Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, to explore how Hardy presents the town of Dorchester in his writing.

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Tours

10 June 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon

Roman Town House Tours

A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.

Find out more

Tours

17 June 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon

Roman Town House Tours

A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.

Find out more

Tours

21 June 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.

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Museum after hours

22 June 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

FREE | Museum After Hours

Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.

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