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Founded by Dr Marie Stopes the famous birth control pioneer, Portland Museum opened in 1930. It is housed in two picturesque thatched Portland Stone cottages, nestling above Church Ope Cove. Inspired by one of these cottages, Wessex author, Thomas Hardy, made it the home of Avice, the heroine in "The Wellbeloved", one of his last novels.
For the 2009 season, the Museum has had a major makeover. If you have visited us before, do come back - and be prepared to be amazed by the new displays based on four specialist themes - Stone, Sea, Local Archaeology and Famous People. If you have never visited Portland Museum before, be amongst the first to enjoy our new and varied collection of interesting things that represent the Island's history and heritage.
Find out about Portland Museum Trust.
Portland Museum
217 Wakeham
Portland
Dorset
DT5 1HS
Tel: 01305 821804
Email: portlandmuseum@googlemail.com
If travelling by road, join the A354 and follow it to Portland. Stay on this road until you see the brown signs for Portland Museum.
If travelling by bus from Weymouth, catch the No.1 from the back of Debenhams. Get off the bus at Easton Square Gardens and follow the Straits until the road leads into Wakeham. You will find Portland Museum at the end of the road, just past the Mermaid pub.
There is no railway on Portland. If arriving by train in Weymouth, get off the train, and follow the bus directions to Portland Museum.
School/Group visits can be made by arrangement at anytime, but should be booked at least 1 month in advance please. Admission for the children is free but a donation towards costs would be appreciated.
Marie Stopes Cottage features the stories of famous people with a link to the Island, such as Marie Stopes, Thomas Hardy, Barnes Wallis, and John Penn.
The Maritime Room has an array of interesting artefacts; including items recovered from the wrecks of the "Earl of Abergavenny" and the "Royal Adelaide", both lost in local waters. There are also displays featuring the Royal Navy on Portland, and a fascinating 'Cabinet of Curiosities'.
The Stone Room tells the story of Portland Stone, from its quarrying and production to its use on buildings all over the world. We will be featuring a special exhibition on War Graves in the Stone Room, from May onwards.
The Portland Galleries contain a magnificent collection of archaeological finds from Island excavations, and an exhibition about Methodism on Portland, children's toys and games from bygone days, as well as a children's corner for creative play.
The Garden is an ideal place to sit and enjoy a picnic, or refreshments and snacks, now available from the Museum shop. The garden includes a collection of local fossils, ammonites, fossilised wood and other local masonry and artefacts - and the casing of the famous Portland Bomb! Plants grown on the Island will be for sale in the garden, and our Museum Shop has a new range of stock this year, to appeal to all our visitors - a souvenir of your visit or a gift to take home. Refreshments are also available from the shop.
We are currently developing our schools service and are developing a series of handling and loans collections for schools to borrow. Please enquire for further details.
