Over a year after it was lifted to begin construction for the £16 million re-development of Dorset Museum, this 2nd century Roman mosaic has been reinstalled in the Museum’s new atrium stairwell. The team involved in this project have celebrated this momentous occasion by recreating a 93-year-old photograph which was taken to mark the first laying of the mosaic in the Museum in 1927.
Dorset has been awarded a £187,401 Capital Kickstart grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund enabling the organisation to push forward with the Tomorrow’s Museum for Dorset project despite the financial challenge caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
Dorset Museum has today launched a campaign to raise the remaining funds needed to finish its two-year £16 million redevelopment project. Supporters of the museum are being asked to give what they can to enable the team to tick the remaining items off their shopping list.
In light of ongoing global situation regarding Corona virus (COVID-19) and as a responsible charity the Durngate Street office in Dorchester continues to be closed to the Members, volunteers and public, but staffed from 9.00am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday.
Despite the current restrictions we are very keen to stay in touch. Our social media channels continue to be the place for us all to connect and where hopefully, we can help to keep you inspired and informed of the latest developments. Find us on Facebook Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you to our visitors, members and volunteers support during this time. We do need your continued support and are very appreciative of your patience as we continue to work towards opening the new Dorset Museum next year.
Any enquiries can be made by calling 01305 262735 or alternatively by email at enquiries@dorsetcountymuseum.org
The 1,600-year-old Roman floor panel showing a leopard attacking an antelope was unearthed by archaeologists in Dewlish, Dorset, in 1974. The mosaic, measuring 2m by 2.4m, which is 6.5ft by 8 ft, was discovered in the grounds of Dewlish House and is thought to have formed part of the flooring of a villa. The acquisition will present a perfect opportunity to reunite the new mosaic with the fragment depicting a sea creature procession or Theasos, also found at Dewlish in 1975. This piece, already in the museum’s collection, used to hang on the wall above our reception.
This month we celebrated 175 years when the concept of building a museum to house all of the treasures of Dorset’s rich history was conceived by a group of forward-thinking individuals.
Dorset Museum is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Wessex Museums partnership is pitching in against biodiversity loss. ‘Wildlife in the Red’ is the title of their virtual exhibition. The strapline is ‘Once collectors’ curiosities, now endangered species’ which sums up the story.
Lord Fellowes of West Stafford joins the staff of Dorset Museum as they celebrate the completion of structural work with Dorset-based construction company Acheson.
Although the new Museum is very much a building site at the moment, work is back in full swing and it’s all hands-on deck (safely and socially distanced). As the Museum is beginning to take shape, it’s time to start lifting some of our star objects into their new home after what’s felt like many years taking them out!