Set in a Victorian quayside warehouse, with an atrium extension dating from 2007, Poole Museum’s galleries tell the story of the historic maritime town of Poole and its harbour from prehistory to the 21st century.
The centrepiece of the museum is the 2,000-year-old Poole Logboat, the largest Iron Age logboat ever found in southern Britain. It also houses the rudder of the Swash Channel Wreck, with a carved moustached face, believed to be from a Dutch merchant vessel which sank in 1631.
The Poole History Centre provides an invaluable research and interpretation resource in an attached medieval wool hall. Close by is Scaplen’s Court Museum, a medieval and Tudor building with an Arts and Crafts herb garden, which is primarily used as a learning centre and wedding venue
Email: museum@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Address: Poole Museum, 4 High Street, Poole, BH15 1BW
An illustrated life at sea From: Poole Museum This beautifully illustrated log was kept by Thomas Dyke, a master mariner from Poole, while he sailed aboard the schooner Cora on
From a fisherman’s tool to a beachcomber’s treasure! From: Poole Museum These days you might see balls of glass like these elaborately tied up in rope and hung in cafes,
A sharp and specialist tool From: Poole Museum This flint arrowhead was made thousands of years ago and discovered during excavations on the former Moortown Aerodrome site in Canford Park.
‘No one could paint the sea so well…’ From: Poole Museum Measuring nearly two metres across and a metre and half high, this vast evocative, and dramatic scene of a
Wessex Museums receives £61,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for project that will redefine Wessex folk arts and traditions.
Read about the Wessex Museums Virtual Collection, 250,000+ artefacts from four partner museums now searchable from one place.
An ancient sailor’s charm? From: Poole Museum Found during an archaeological excavation to uncover Poole’s Medieval past this strange object is a bone from the throat and upper palate of
‘Our Museum Journey’ blog follows the progress of Poole Museum’s redevelopment. Catch up on the latest behind the scenes as the first blog is all about packing up and storing artefacts.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!