Poole Museum facts for kids
Poole Museum is a cool place that tells the story of the town of Poole in Dorset, England. It's currently closed for big renovations. This museum is part of the Borough of Poole Museum Service. It used to be free to enter, and it was one of the most popular free attractions in South West England.
Contents
The Museum's Story
How it Started
Poole Museum first opened its doors in 1989. It's located in an old harbour warehouse that was built in the 1800s. The museum shows visitors all about Poole's past and the people who lived there.
Big Changes and New Look
In 2005, the museum got a huge makeover. It cost £1.3 million! This money came from the Heritage Lottery Fund and local fundraising. The museum reopened in July 2007 with exciting new areas. These included a terrace and a visitor lounge. Both offered great views over Poole Harbour and the Old Town. A new glass entrance, called an atrium, was also added. It was designed by architect Richard Horden.
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Amazing Discoveries Inside
The most special item at the museum is the Poole Logboat. This ancient boat is 2,000 years old! It was found in 1964 while people were digging in Poole Harbour. The museum also has a whole floor about the history of Poole Pottery. You can see many beautiful examples of their work there. Other parts of the museum show Poole's history from ancient times up to today.
More to Explore
On the third floor, there used to be Cafe Explore. It had a terrace with views of Poole Harbour. This cafe served breakfast, lunch, and drinks. Next to the main museum building are the Grade I listed medieval town cellars. This is where the Local History Centre is located. It has many books and materials about Poole's heritage.
The Poole Museum Service also looks after Scaplen's Court Museum and Garden. This is a very old medieval townhouse. It's right next to Poole Museum. Scaplen's Court is usually open to the public in August. Its garden is open from May to September.
Future Plans for the Museum
In 2021, the museum received a large grant of £2.24 million. This money came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The plan is to turn the museum into a "world-class cultural centre." In May 2022, it was announced that the renovation costs had increased. The museum closed for these big changes in December 2022. It is planned to reopen in late 2024. In May 2023, the famous Poole Logboat was carefully moved to a safe storage place.
Cool Exhibitions
Shipwrecks and Art
Since 2014, the museum has featured an exhibition about the Swash Channel Wreck. This is one of the most important shipwrecks found in British waters. The exhibition tells the story of this important 17th-century ship. It also shows how the wreck was dug up and preserved.
In 2016, the museum had an exhibition called "Lines of Thought." This show featured 70 artworks. These pieces helped visitors understand the artists' inner feelings.
Bethan's Rock
In 2019, a child named Bethan gave a rock to the museum. It was just an ordinary rock, but Bethan wanted everyone to enjoy it. The museum thought it was a great idea! They put it on display and called it "Bethan’s Rock."
