Beaminster Museum
Whitcombe Road, Beaminster Dorset, DT8 3BU UK
Tel: 01308 863 623
Open Easter to End of September
Tue, Thurs Sat & Bank Holidays: 10.30 – 12.30, 2.30 – 4.30
Sundays: 2.30 – 4.30
Admission £1.00, children free
Beaminster Museum is a local history museum covering Beaminster and the surrounding villages. Its collection covers past local families of importance, which includes the Hine family who formed the Hine Cognac Dynasty; past local trades and schools; a fine collection of agricultural tools and a working chuch Turret clock. There is a reference section, which contains books local to the area, as well as a collection of local videos and CDs.
The museum is housed in a converted Congregational Church, which still has its early 19th century organ. The building also includes a Meeting Room and kitchen, which is available for hire.
Provision has been made for the disabled by providing ramps; suitable toilet facilities; and a video description of those parts of the collection only accessable by stairs.
The Museum Building
The old Congregational Chapel was built in 1149 and enlarged in 1825.It is a charming building (Grade II listed), important architecturally to the town, being surrounded by fine 17th and 18th century houses which survived the three great fires which devastated other parts. For 250 years the church served not only Beaminster, but some of the neighbouring villages; it has been supported in the past
by leading families of the locality - families such as the Daniels, one of whom fought for Monmouth, and the Hines, who founded the Hine Cognac dynasty. These families were closely associated with the chapel, as the visitor will be able to discover.
The building was acquired in 1990 by the Beaminster Museum Trust, a registered charity set up to found and maintain a museum for the town of Beaminster and the surrounding rural area.
The Collection
Ground floor
Displays illustrate the life of the people of Beaminster from medieval to modern times: buildings, families, trades, crafts, pastimes and social events. With the help of an illuminated map you can discover for yourself the major historic buildings of the town.A facsimile of the Doomsday book (1086) confirms the age of the settlement, while new panels show something of what went on here in the second world war of the century just past.
Gallery
Displays show the archaeology and agriculture of the area. The museum features local villages around Beaminster, and this year it is the turn for a display from Broadwindsor . The former chapel can best be seen from this floor, where history is displayed, and the fine example of an early 19th century organ, with its original gilding, can be viewed and even heard.
The almost 200 year old Turret Clock from St. Andrews Church Burstock has been brought back to working condition, and is now on display.
Wind it yourself and see what makes it tick!
The Meeting Room
This area is used for temporary exhibitions, concerts, meetings and talks. It is available for groups to hire.
For details, contact:
Mrs Mary Treacher, 22 Fleet Street, Beaminster, Dorset, DH 3EF
Tel 01308 862 154
The Reference Section
The Reference Section contains books dealing with the history of the Beaminster area in particularand Dorset in general. There is also a video collection with short videos describing the museum, and events that have been held in Beaminster in the recent past. The Reference Section is also planned to be an access point for viewing the Trelith 'Dorset on Film ' - video copies of old Dorset films, some 100years old.
There is a growing collection of CDs containing old music, local folk tunes and multi-media presentations of historical subjects. CD 'Slide shows' of our photographic collections are being planned. No borrowing is allowed but the section contains a table and copier for study purposes.
The Museum Shop
The Shop stocks attractive gifts and souvenirs, also publications about the area, its history and features. An opportunity to find something to remind you of your visit to Beaminster, or to get a present for a friend to recall Beaminster.
Education
Special arrangements can be made for school visits to the museum, where quiz sheets can be provided to provide some structure to the pupils' visit.
Our educational team is willing to compose small events to satisfy the needs of the curriculum, with artifacts and illustrations, which can either be at the museum, or brought dirctly to the schools in our area. Available topics available to date are:
The second world war
1000AD- how we were then
Life in Victorian times
It is intented to extend this list as further school requests become available.
The museum can also be used by the school for local project work, making use of the available artifacts and Reference Section as necessary.
Help the Museum – become a Friend
The museum, which is run entirely by volunteers, has an active body of friends who receive a regular newsletter and provide valuable assistance in managing the museum's day-to-day activities and developing new displays and exhibitions.
As well as stewarding during the summer season, helpers are needed for conservation, care of the collections and preparation of new displays. Computer skills are particularly in demand –desktop publishing, database work, image, sound and video manipulation projects abound for our 2 computer systems.
We need You !
Subscriptions are as follows:
Individual - £5 a year;
additional for each family member at the same address - £3 a year.
Students (under 16 or in full-time education) - £2 a year
Please contact the Hon Treasurer to become a Friend, and indicate whether you would like to know more about helping Beaminster Museum, with stewarding, conservation, display preparation or administration.
The Hon. Treasurer, Beaminster Museum,
Whitcombe Road, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NB
Last update : 18 Sept 2001