Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Gateway to Shaftesbury's Rich History
Gold Hill Museum is Shaftesbury and District's premier local history museum, offering a unique window into the region's rich heritage. Established in 1946 by the Shaftesbury & District Historical Society, we operate entirely through dedicated volunteers and rely on donations to preserve and share our extensive collection. Our award-winning cottage garden provides breathtaking views over Thomas Hardy's Blackmore Vale, complementing eight galleries that showcase rural and town life from prehistoric times to the 20th century. Highlights include the ceremonial Byzant, Dorset's oldest fire engine, intricate lacework, and the mummified Dorset cat. We actively collect items from Shaftesbury and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on photographic material.Our volunteer-run operations include educational programs, temporary exhibitions, and community engagement initiatives that have earned recognition from Heritage Lottery Fund. The museum's commitment to accessibility is demonstrated through wheelchair-friendly facilities, sensory exhibits, and a purpose-built education room equipped with modern amenities. As a registered charity (No. 1156273), we maintain rigorous standards of historical accuracy and community service, ensuring our collections remain accessible to researchers and visitors alike.
Services
Historical Exhibitions
Educational Programs
Research Library
Temporary Exhibitions
Garden Tours
Dorset Button Workshops
Historical Archives
Guided Tours
Volunteer Opportunities
Event Hosting
Details
- Year established: 1946
Highlights and features
- We offer free admission to our extensive historical collections
- Our volunteer team provides expert local history knowledge
- We maintain an award-winning wildlife-friendly garden
- We offer educational programs for all age groups
- We provide accessible facilities for all visitors
Services
Historical Exhibitions
Our permanent galleries showcase Shaftesbury's heritage through artefacts, costumes, and photographs. The collection includes Dorset buttons, medieval alabaster altarpieces, and the ceremonial Byzant. Exhibits are displayed across two floors with accessible facilities and informative guides.
Educational Programs
We provide hands-on learning experiences for schools and families. Our programs include Dorset button workshops, historical quizzes, and guided tours. The Anna McDowell Garden Room hosts educational events with modern audio-visual equipment and research resources.
Research Library
Our local history archive contains documents, photographs, and records dating back centuries. Researchers can access materials by appointment, including family histories and the Shaftesbury Remembers Great War project findings stored in Room 8.
Garden Tours
The award-winning cottage garden features wildlife-friendly planting, four seating areas, and panoramic views. Visitors can explore herbaceous borders, bee hotels, and a dry gravel garden inspired by Beth Chatto's designs, with seasonal floral displays.
Volunteer Opportunities
We offer diverse volunteering roles from stewarding to exhibition design. Volunteers receive training in museum operations, event planning, and collection management. Opportunities exist for developing new skills in marketing, photography, and historical research.
Questions
What are Gold Hill Museum's opening hours?
We are open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM until November 2nd, with last entry at 4:10 PM.
Is there an admission charge?
Entry is free, though donations are welcome to support our volunteer-run operations and collection preservation.
Can I volunteer at the museum?
Yes, we welcome volunteers for stewarding, exhibition work, marketing, and research. Contact us for opportunities.
What special facilities are available?
We offer wheelchair access, hearing loop, baby-changing facilities, and a garden with seating for visitors' comfort.
Are educational programs available?
Yes, we provide school programs, Dorset button workshops, and historical research resources for all ages.
What collections can I see?
Our exhibits include the Byzant ceremonial mace, Dorset buttons, medieval artefacts, and the mummified Dorset cat.
Reviews (5)
Angela Levitt
Dec 30, 2021
Report
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. We visited here on the way back from a week in Dorset. It is simply Stunning! So picturesque and pretty. There was also a Christmas Market with plenty of stalls and shops to browse around. A truly beautiful place and well worth a visit.
Adrian Rowsell
Nov 14, 2021
Report
Excellent little museum, especially as entry is free. A great deal of info about Shaftsbury and with one room dedicated to the Hovis add campaign it was well worth a visit.
Lynn Kerswell
Oct 29, 2021
Report
Excellent museum for all ages
Lots to see about history of Shaftesbury
Free to go in but card or cash donation appreciated.
Lots to see about history of Shaftesbury
Free to go in but card or cash donation appreciated.
Ray Turner Tgr Worzel
Sep 09, 2021
Report
A worthwhile museum at the top of Gold Hill and not too difficult to access from the main shopping area, if you are on foot, as it is behind the Town Hall. The Museum itself was able to cope with a compact mobility scooter, it even has a lift to the first floor, but getting there with a scooter was tricky. If you have got some help it's possible and the local business owners were all very forthcoming with offers of help. Thank you
Charles Hazlehurst
Aug 14, 2021
Report
Excellent only there for an hour but it's a nice little museum and the ladies who volunteer are oh so full of history and give it freely in a happy and friendly way
