Dorset Museum Opens With Two Thomas Hardys

A brand new extension to Dorset museum complex has just been finished and is to open next Friday May 28th.

The £16M build has given the museum the chance to show off much more of its actual collection. And it also doubles up by featuring not one but two Thomas Hardy’s as Dorset Museum opens after being closed for nearly three years.

Recreation of the Thomas Hardy study at the new Museum.

Many of the 4 million items held by it have just not had enough exhibition space.  Or indeed a suitable environment in which to display just a small number of them previously.

Larger items now literally have room to breathe.  The ability to closely monitor light levels and the ventilation in each area of it, is a game changer.

For years the former Victorian building in Dorchester had little chance of being able to provide the space and correct moisture levels in the air.

Dorset Museum Opens To Try To Include 250 Million Years!

It is hoped the County’s 250 million year history can be told in a more suitable way now for its 21^st century visitors.

One area that has certainly benefitted has been that about Dorset author Thomas Hardy, O.M.

Author Thomas Hardy

Renowned for his novels and poems about rural life in Dorset.  Those manuscripts and hundreds of letters to him are now either displayed in the museum itself or in an online archive.

Many of the letters to him were from leading artists and writers of the early 20^th century. Like Virginia Woolf, TE Lawrence, Ezra Pound and War Poet, Frederick Sassoon

Dr Jon Murden Executive Director Dorset Museum.

Explaining the ability to now be able to enhance the Hardy displays.  Executive Director Dr Jon Murden said: “ The conditions we have here now mean that we can actually display his letters and original manuscripts for people to see. And that was something that we were unable to do before. As they would have been destroyed by too much light and too much humidity. They are also digitised so people can flick though and access them on a computer.”

He added: “ The museum holds a collection of international significance in archaeology,  geology literature, art and social history. There is an amazing richness and texture of stories to explore here.”

Sir David Attenborough was wide mouthed when he unveiled the Pliosuar in the previous building.

The museum is located on High West Street in the middle of the town within walking distance of numerous car parks.

Plenty Of Hands On For The Youngsters

Interactive and hands-on items are there. However, with the current Covid-19 situation some items may not be available.

Exhibition galleries are well labelled and roomy. Such as Natural Dorset, Hardy’s Dorset and Peoples Dorset with an art section on the top floor.

Part of the Elisabeth Frink section.

Here sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink are a key part of the display.

Stump Work box. Before a light sensitive item like this could not have been displayed.

With Jurassic Coast so near there are plenty of dinosaur fossil items on show.  Including a large crocodile type dinosaur jaw and a giant jaw compete with huge teeth from a Pliosaur found in the cliffs at Osmington.

First Female Paleontologist

Mary Anning the Victorian paleontologist from Lyme Regis is featured of course.

Notebook of Mary Annings.

Textiles, rural craft and hundreds of personal items can be viewed.  And with Dorchester being a former Roman town there are plenty of items from period too. Plus, having one of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe  just outside of the town there are many artefacts from there as well.  Also, details of the famous Mortimer Wheeler excavation carried out in the 1930’s.

Very rare gold Lunula found at Tarrant Valley dates from 2,200 – 1,950 BC.

One major world class item on show with important information about it. Is the famous Viking mass grave discovered on the Ridgeway near Weymouth in 2009. This is a find of global significance. 50 skulls of decapitated Vikings were unearthed  when a new road was being built. The heads were in one section and the tangle of mass skeletons were apparently thrown into another pit nearby.

Some of the murdered Vikings will be displayed as the new Dorset Museum opens.

The Second Thomas Hardy

Not only do visitors get to know about one Dorset Hardy but they also get to know more about a second Thomas Hardy.

Bust of Thomas Masterman Hardy.

This one is Thomas Masterman Hardy who was the Hardy of the Battle of Trafalgar “Kiss me Hardy”!

Although not the exact words.  That is the phrase that has been long associated with the incident.

Hardy grew up at the nearby village of Portisham.  He was the Flag Captain of  HMS Victory during the battle and was at Nelson’s side when he died. Later in his career he eventually became First Sea Lord.

A café and shop  complete the museum layout.  There is a library for research.  The former main Victorian display area is to be used as an entertainment space. Alternatively, it can be  used as a lecture hall.  It is also available for weddings as its now a certified wedding venue.

Set out over several levels with a large lift accessing all the floors.  Toilets are located on each one too.