{{Short description|Museum in Dorchester, Dorset}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox museum | name = Dorset Museum & Art Gallery | image = File:Dorset County Museum victorian gallery.JPG | caption = Victorian interior of the Dorset Museum | established = 1846 | location = [[Dorchester, Dorset]] | coordinates = {{coord|50|42|55.9|N|2|26|14.0|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=it}} | visitors = 47,000 (2016) | founder = [[Thomas Hardy]] and others. | architect = G. R. Crickmay and Son }}
'''Dorset Museum & Art Gallery''' (also known as the '''Dorset Museum''') is located in [[Dorchester, Dorset]], [[England]]. It was known as the '''Dorset County Museum''' until 2021. Founded in 1846, the museum covers the county of [[Dorset]]'s history and environment. The current building was built in 1881 on the former site of the George Inn. The building was designed specifically to house the museum's collection and is in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-Gothic]] style.
The museum includes information and over 2 million artifacts associated with archaeology (e.g., [[Maiden Castle, Dorset|Maiden Castle]]), [[geology]] (e.g., the [[Jurassic Coast]]), [[local history|history]], local writers (e.g. [[Thomas Hardy]]) and natural science. There are [[video display]]s, activity carts for children, and an [[audio guide]]. The collections include fossilised [[dinosaur]] footprints, [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] mosaics and original Thomas Hardy manuscripts.
==Museum== The museum was founded in 1846, and includes two significant collections, the archive of [[Thomas Hardy]]'s works and fossils from the [[Jurassic Coast]]. The total collection extends to approximately four million items. The museum is owned by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|title=Plans unveiled for 'world-class' Dorset County Museum|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-36977242|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=9 August 2016}}</ref> The museum was receiving approximately 45,000 visitors each year in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorset County Museum expansion plans unveiled|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-28480684|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=25 July 2014}}</ref> which had increased to 47,000 visitors in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorset County Museum displays plans for its £13million project|url=http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/dorset-county-museum-displays-plans-for-its-13million-project/story-29580409-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Backmore Vale Magazine|date=3 August 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[TripAdvisor]] has awarded its Certificate of Excellence Award to the museum for four years in a row.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorset County Museum awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for fourth year running|url=http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/dorset-county-museum-awarded-tripadvisor-certificate-of-excellence-for-fourth-year-running/story-29573017-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Blackmore Vale Magazine|date=1 August 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2016, the museum unveiled plans for a £13 million extension which would include a learning centre, cafe, library and shop, allowing the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society's full collection to hold together in one building.<ref name=bbc /> Three quarters of the funding for the extension was to be put forward by the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]], allowing much more of the collection to be viewed. Without the extension, less than two per cent of the museum's collection was on display.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rees|first1=Jess|title=Dorset County Museum unveil plans to the public for Heritage Lottery Funded project|url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14671272.Multi_million_pound_plans_to__make_Dorset_proud__unveiled_for_County_Museum/|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Dorset Echo|date=9 August 2016}}</ref> Many items in the museum's collection had been stored at the nearby [[All Saints Church, Dorchester|All Saints' Church]].<ref name=viewnews>{{cite news|last1=Bevins|first1=Trevor|title=Museum showcases development plans|url=http://www.viewnews.co.uk/museum-showcases-development-plans/|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=View News|date=2 August 2016|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919233447/http://www.viewnews.co.uk/museum-showcases-development-plans/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Dorset County Museum closed in October 2018 to undergo refurbishment and the construction of the extension.<ref name=Alfonsoopen /><ref name=BBCopen /> It reopened as the '''Dorset Museum''' on 29 May 2021, after the re-opening was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=Alfonsoopen>{{cite news |last=Alfonso |first=Marie-Claire |date=30 May 2021 |title=Dorset Museum reopens after £16m transformation |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19337376.dorset-museum-reopens-16m-transformation/ |work=Dorset Echo|access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref> The cost of the work came to £16.4 million.<ref name=BBCopen>{{cite news|date=29 May 2021 |title=Dorset Museum reopens after £16m transformation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-57239960 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 May 2021}} </ref>
===Exhibits=== Thomas Hardy was one of the founders of the museum, and over seven thousand artefacts related to him are in the museum's collection, including an 1874 first edition copy of ''[[Far From The Madding Crowd]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas Hardy's Dorset inspirations|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-32393785|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=1 May 2015}}</ref> Other items in the Hardy archive include his handwritten manuscript for ''[[The Woodlanders]]'', his sister's dress which is thought to be inspiration for the dress in ''[[Tess of the d'Urbervilles]],'' and a reconstruction of Hardy's study.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hardy archive Dorset museum secures £10.4m funding|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-32795032|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=20 May 2015}}</ref>
The Ancient Dorset Gallery was opened by [[Julian C. Richards|Julian Richards]] in November 2015 and includes [[Viking]] historical artefacts from a nearby burial site. Other artefacts include pre-historic flint [[hand axe]]s, a Roman glass bowl and an [[Iron Age]] bronze mirror.<ref>{{cite news|title=TV archaeologist Julian Richards opens Ancient Dorset Gallery at Dorset County Museum|url=http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/tv-archaeologist-julian-richards-opens-ancient/story-28148213-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Blackmore Vale Magazine|date=10 November 2015}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The British Museum loaned three [[neolithic]] [[jadeite]] axes and mace heads to the museum to add to the display.<ref>{{cite news|title=Work starts on new Dorset County Museum gallery dedicated to Dorset's ancient history|url=http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/work-starts-new-dorset-county-museum-gallery/story-25540214-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Blackmore Vale Magazine|date=10 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228011106/http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/Work-starts-new-Dorset-County-Museum-gallery/story-25540214-detail/story.html|archive-date=28 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2016, the museum opened a gallery dedicated to the work of [[William Barnes]], telling the story of his humble roots to his legacy in poetry, novels and music.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hogger|first1=Harry|title=Inspiring the next generation of William Barnes fans|url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14645234.Inspiring_the_next_generation_of_William_Barnes_fans/|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Dorset Echo|date=27 July 2016}}</ref> The gallery was opened by Bonny Sartin, lead singer of [[The Yetties]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Yetties' Bonny Sartin opens refurbished William Barnes Gallery at Dorset County Museum|url=http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/the-yetties-bonny-sartin-opens-refurbished-william-barnes-gallery-at-dorset-county-museum/story-29456814-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2016|work=Blackmore Vale Magazine|date=29 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[Dippy (London)|Dippy]], a plaster-cast of a dinosaur which was formerly displayed in the [[Natural History Museum, London]], was exhibited at the museum from 10 February to 7 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dorsetcountymuseum.org/dcm/events/list/65/dippy-on-tour/|title = Dorset Museum | Celebrating 250 million years of history}}</ref> [[File:Mosaic2 - plw.jpg|thumb|left|The complete intact [[Hinton St Mary Mosaic]] as displayed until 1997]] On 2 August 2019, [[Hinton St Mary]] villagers and the Chair of the [[Dorset (unitary authority)|Dorset Unitary Authority]]<ref name="Mosaic Update">{{Cite web|url=https://theartssocietyblackmorevale.org.uk/mosaic-update|title=Mosaic Update|website=The Arts Society Blackmore Vale|language=en-GB|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> were told at a closed-door meeting with the [[British Museum]] that the [[Hinton St Mary Mosaic]] would be partially returned to the Dorset County Museum. However, the head of Christ would not be returned, as the original would be “loaned to museums worldwide”. A replica would be given to the Dorset County Museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hintonstmary.com/mosaic/Mosaic_Sept_2019.pdf|title=The Mosaic, Hinton St. Mary village newsletter, September 2019|website=Hinton St Mary – an idyllic Dorset village|language=en-GB|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="Mosaic Update"/> No answer was given to one attendee’s question that: “Given that she [a British Museum curator] boasted the fact that the replicas they made were indistinguishable from the originals, surely it would make more sense to send the replica around the world and keep the original safe in Dorset?”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hintonstmary.com/mosaic/Mosaic_Sept_2019.pdf|title=The Mosaic, Hinton St. Mary village newsletter, September 2019|website=Hinton St Mary – an idyllic Dorset village|language=en-GB|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
{{As of|2021}}, it was not clear whether the complete mosaic<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1965-0409-1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210805104114/https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1965-0409-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-08-05|title=Object: The Hinton St Mary Mosaic|website=Archived copy on Archive.is of original British Museum webpage|language=en-GB|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asprom.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ASPROM_factsheet_Hinton_St_Mary_mosaic.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820175723/http://www.asprom.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ASPROM_factsheet_Hinton_St_Mary_mosaic.pdf |archive-date=2021-08-20 |title=ASPROM factsheet: The Hinton St Mary mosaic in the British Museum, 2013|website=The Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics|language=en-GB|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> or only a part of it would be displayed in the Dorset Museum. The Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics has stated: “the mosaic possibly contains the only known representation of Christ in an ancient pavement, it is of unique importance not just in Britain but in the context of the Roman Empire as a whole, and merits being displayed in its entirety. It is insufficient to show the central roundel in isolation, however important. The full meaning of the pavement can be appreciated only if the whole of it is visible, including the accompanying heads and figure scenes”.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asprom.org/news/newsarchive.html|title=ASPROM News archive, June 2010: Please sign the Hinton St Mary petition!|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
In July 2022 the Blackmore Vale newspaper reported that "discussions are at an advanced stage with a view to bringing the important Roman artefact to the Dorset County Museum in [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]] or another site."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theblackmorevale.co.uk/2022/07/02/re-writing-hintons-history/|title=Second mosaic at Hinton St Mary leads to a history re-write|website=The Blackmore Vale, 2 July 2022|language=en-GB|access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2024}}
==Building== [[Image:DorsetCountyMuseum.jpg|thumb|right|Museum entrance]] Dorset Museum is on High West Street in Dorchester, Dorset. Built from [[Portland stone]] in approximately 1881, it was designed by architects G. R. Crickmay and Son from Weymouth. The building is two storeys high with a slate roof, it has two [[Belt course|stringcourses]] on the [[batter (walls)|gently sloped walls]], with [[hood mould]]s over the windows and a [[crenellated]] [[parapet]]. The frontage includes a 2-storey bay with 7 [[transom (architectural)|transom]] windows. At the top of the bay there is a [[trefoil]]-headed panel displaying the Dorchester [[coat of arms]].<ref name="Listing">{{cite web|title=Dorset County Museum|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119030|website=Historic England|accessdate=20 August 2016}}</ref> The cast-iron columns and the other metalwork in the aisled Victorian Hall were cast in Frome by Edward Cockey & Sons.
On the first floor there is an [[oriel window]] in the corner, above carved [[squinch]]es. The door is to the left of the bay, displaying three coats of arms above. The building was designated Grade II [[listed building]] status on 8 May 1975, as part of a group with the nearby [[Shire Hall, Dorchester|Shire Hall]], [[Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester|Holy Trinity Church]] and [[St Peter's Church, Dorchester|St. Peter's Church]].<ref name="Listing" /> To the rear of the building, the museum also owns [[John White (colonist priest)|John White]]'s [[rectory]], where he resided whilst obtaining charters for the colonisation of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name=viewnews />
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Dorset County Museum}} * [http://www.dorsetmuseum.org/ Dorset Museum]
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[[Category:1846 establishments in England]] [[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1881]] [[Category:Museums in Dorchester, Dorset]] [[Category:Art museums and galleries in Dorset]] [[Category:Natural history museums in England]] [[Category:Local museums in Dorset]] [[Category:Museums established in 1846]] [[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Dorset]]