Collection: Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology Collection

  This collection reflects the rich archaeological heritage of Dorset. Important collections presented to the museum include those of: Cunnington (1880s); Moule (1880-1900); Warne (1880); and Hall and Bean (1982). The prehistoric and Roman collections are particularly strong. The archaeology of the iron age hillfort of Maiden Castle, excavated primarily by Sir Mortimer Wheeler, is a strength of the museum. There are finds from many major excavations in Dorchester and rural Dorset, such as the evidence for the neolithic henge monument at Maumbury Rings, subsequently a Roman amphitheatre (and latterly a 17th century gun emplacement); artefacts from the huge late neolithic palisade enclosure which underlies Dorchester; finds from prehistoric excavations elsewhere in the county; finds from the Roman town of Durnovaria, which underlies modern Dorchester, and the many Dorset rural Roman settlements and villas; Saxon finds from cemeteries such as Poundbury; and medieval material from the county. In addition, there is a fine range of artefacts discovered as stray finds, especially perhaps bronze age metalwork. There are complete Roman mosaic pavements lifted from town houses excavated in Dorchester and from Dewlish Roman villa.

  Subjects

  Archaeology

  Geology Collection

  This is another large collection, mainly contributed by: Mansel-Pleydell (1902); Lang (1950s); Brokenshire (1980s); and Ensom (1980s). The collection includes a substantial amount of fossil material and a smaller number of rock and mineral specimens. Notable individual items include: a paddle of a pliosaur found at Kimmeridge; and an ichthyosaur from the Lower Lias rocks of Lyme Regis.

  Subjects

  Geology

  Social History Collection

  The large collection of social history material has grown with the addition of several major collections such as the Moule material; and the Skyrme collection of agricultural and domestic implements (1970). There are items relating to rural industries such as thatching, ditching, smithing and gamekeeping, as well as from domestic life.

  Subjects

  Social History

  Biology Collection

  Important natural history collections include those of Mansel-Pleydell (1902); Miss Paine (1899); C D Day (1952); F H Haines (1940s); H Moore (1950s) and the Richardsons (1930s). The biology science collection includes mammals, birds, eggs, osteology, entomology, molluscs, marine specimens and herbaria. Notably, there is a mounted Great Bustard, the largest British land bird, extinct in this country since 1810.

  Subjects

  Biology

  Photographic Collection

  The photographic collection is extensive and has a wide range of images covering the topography of Dorset, the lives and work of its people, special events and notable personalities.

  Subjects

  Photography

  Fine Art Collection

  There is a large collection of topographical watercolours presented by the Moule family.

  Subjects

  Fine Art

  Decorative and Applied Art Collection

  There is a small collection of furniture, clocks, etc.

  Subjects

  Decorative and Applied Arts

  Transport Collection

  There is a butcher’s cart from Cerne Abbas from c.1919.

  Subjects

  Transport

  Archives Collection

  There is an major library and archive collection relating to Dorset studies. The library houses the largest collection of books on Dorset and contains early Ordnance Survey maps, trade directories, catalogues and other ephemera. The collection of Thomas Hardy material comprises books, letters, manuscripts and artefacts. The Thomas Hardy Memorial Collection was presented to the museum in 1937. Other significant holdings are those of William Barnes (1900 and 1957), Dorset poet, scholar and priest, and Sylvia Townsend Warner (1980).

  Subjects

  Archives

  Other

  Arms and Armour; Costume and Textile; Maritime; Medals; Medicine; Music; Numismatics; Oral History

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC