In and around…
Meet Edward Bear and his family of people-size bears at the Teddy Bear Museum. See the earliest teddies to today’s TV favourites, in this enchanting family museum with hundreds of teddies on show.
Make the most of your time in Dorchester and save money with the Gold Saver Pass when you visit two or more of these attractions.
Teddy Bear Museum
All the attractions are open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm in the summer and 4pm
in the winter, closing for a couple of weeks before Christmas. Full details on their websites or on
goldsaverpass.com
In High West Street, close to the main shopping area, housed in it’s own purpose-built, gothic inspired building is Dorset County Museum, which is, in effect, the Museum of Dorset.
Discover 200 million years of Dorset’s past in this award-winning museum. Housing six galleries, a wide variety of fascinating treasures, exhibitions and plenty of children’s activities, there is something here for all the family.
See fine art, archaeology, geology, dinosaur fossils, Thomas Hardy’s recreated study and much more.
New for 2016 is the Ancient Dorset Gallery. Who were the ancient peoples of Dorset? How did they live? How like us were they? This gallery will take you on a journey through the lives of the Britons, Romans, Saxons and Vikings who lived on the South Dorset Ridgeway in ancient times. Witness for yourself a deeply thought-provoking display of the remains of beheaded Viking men whose harrowing story still resonates today.
This year Dorset County Museum is presenting an exciting a new temporary exhibition, Speed to the West: a Nostalgic Journey. Nothing is more evocative of the golden age of travel than the railway poster, and this exhibition features over 50 famous examples spanning a whole century. Running until 7 January 2017 it is not to be missed by railway or art enthusiasts.
The layout of the Keep today is far removed from that of Victorian times, although the cell area on the ground floor gives a stark reminder of the conditions that prevailed in the mid to late 1800s. The Museum’s collection tells the stories of soldiers from the regiments of Devon and Dorset both Infantry and Yeomanry who have served their country since 1685. The collection is displayed over 4 floors and exhibits include Hitler’s desk, weapons, uniforms, silver, personal items and a stunning collection of medals.
Computer and digital presentation, realistic battle environments, together with exhibitions, tell the tales of courage, humour and sacrifice of the soldiers and their families who have served in the regiments of Devon and Dorset. The displays are ever evolving, keeping the museum at the forefront of presentation standards covering the Military Heritage of two Counties. The Museum has an extensive archive that is not open to the public, but research can be undertaken in return for a donation to Museum funds.
Close by, on the western side of Dorchester lies the town of Poundbury, based on the vision and views of HRH Prince Charles, it continues to raise a degree of architectural debate. It was designed to mix social and private housing as well as commercial and residential buildings in a series of high quality, high density, interlinked urban zones.
The intention is to create an attractive, modern and pleasant place in which people can live, work, play and shop. It is unquestionably different to the suburban characteristics we are more familiar with and well worth the few minutes drive, to experience it for oneself.
For those wishing to follow the life of Hardy, a village off the A35 east of Dorchester is most important. In fact, Higher Bockhampton should really be the starting point of their journey, since the long, low, thatched house where he was born lies just outside the main village centre. His cottage is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.
8 The Tourist Handbook Wessex 2016-17
The museum, tearoom and gift shop are open all year round Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, plus Sundays 24 July to 11 September 2016. Closing time is 4pm November to March. Value for money family tickets are available. For details of the wide range of events on offer including free kids’ craft activities in school holidays, check the website
www.dorsetcountymuseum.org.
Continue up to the ‘Top ‘o the Town’ and you will find The Military Museum of Devon and Dorset, housed in an impressive Grade 2 Listed castle-like building known as ‘The Keep’, it is built of Ridgeway Stone and was completed in 1879 as the gatehouse and armoury of the depot barracks of the Dorsetshire Regiment.
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