Beaminster Museum

Description:

The Museum is a local history museum covering Beaminster  and the surrounding villages. Its collections cover important local families of the past, including the Hine family who formed the Hine Cognac Dynasty. In addition the collections cover local trades and schools of the past, a fine collection of agricultural tools, a working church Turret clock and a reference section.

The Museum is housed in a converted Congregational Church, which still has its early 19th century organ. The old chapel was built in 1149 and enlarged in 1825 and is now listed Grade II. The building is surrounded by fine 17th and 18th century houses which survived the three great fires which devastated other parts.

On the ground floor the displays illustrate the life of the people of Beaminster from medieval to modern times including buildings, families, trades, crafts, pastimes and social events. A facsimile of the Doomsday Book (1086) confirms the age of the settlement.

In the Gallery the displays show the archaeology and agriculture of the area. The Museum features local villages around Beaminster, the current one being Broadwindsor. The 200 year-old Turret Clock from St Andrews Church in Burstock has been bought back to working order and is now on display.

The Meeting Room is an area used for temporary exhibitions, concerts, meetings and talks.

The Reference Section contains books on the area and houses the 100 year-old Trelith "Dorset on Film" collection some of which are now available on video. There are also CD's of old music and folk tunes.

The Museum Shop stocks attractive gifts and souvenirs together with publications about the area, its history and features.

Arrangements can be made for school vists to the Museum and the educational team will create small events to satisfy the needs of the school curriculum.