Poole Museum facts for kids
Poole Museum is a cool place in Poole, Dorset, where you can learn all about the town's history. It's located on Lower High Street in the Old Town area. The museum used to be called the Waterfront Museum. It's part of the Borough of Poole Museum Service. Good news: entrance to Poole Museum is usually free! It's also one of the most popular free places to visit in South West England. The museum is currently closed for a big renovation project.
A Look Back at Poole Museum's History
Poole Museum first opened its doors in 1989. It's set inside an old harbour warehouse that dates back to the 1800s. The museum tells the amazing story of Poole town and the people who have lived there over time.
In 2005, the museum got a huge upgrade. This big project cost a lot of money, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and local groups. The newly improved museum reopened in July 2007. It added cool new areas like a terrace and a visitor lounge. From these spots, you can enjoy awesome views of Poole Harbour and the Old Town. A new glass entrance, called an atrium, was also built.
In 2021, the museum received another large grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This money is helping to turn the museum into a "world-class cultural centre." The museum closed in December 2022 for these big renovations. It plans to reopen in late 2024.
What You Can Discover Inside
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The most famous item at the museum is the 2,000-year-old Poole Logboat. This ancient boat was made during the Iron Age. It was found in 1964 when workers were digging in Poole Harbour. It's a truly special piece of history!
One floor of the museum is all about the history of Poole Pottery. You can see many beautiful items made by this famous local company. Other parts of the museum show Poole's history from very old times, known as prehistory, all the way up to today.
Next to the main museum building, you'll find the Local History Centre. This centre is in the Grade I listed medieval town cellars. It has a huge collection of books and materials about Poole's heritage. You can also look at old documents on microfilm or digital screens.
The museum service also looks after Scaplen's Court Museum and Garden. This is another historic building right next to Poole Museum. It's a medieval townhouse that opens to the public in August. Its garden is open from May to September.
Exciting Exhibitions
The museum often has special exhibitions. Since 2014, there has been an exhibition about the Swash Channel Wreck. This is one of the most important shipwrecks ever found in British waters. The exhibition tells the story of this important ship from the early 1600s. It also shows how the wreck was dug up and preserved.
In 2016, the museum hosted an exhibition called "Lines of Thought." This show featured 70 artworks that helped visitors understand the artists' inner feelings.
