The Collections
The award-winning Museum of East Dorset holds social and local history materials dating from the 1700s through to the 2000s. Many of the 35,000 objects relate to the domestic life, childhood, trades and agriculture of the local area.
Much of the original collection came from the Coles family. They ran the ironmonger’s business in the museum building from 1872 until 1960. They hardly ever threw anything away. Unsold goods from the ironmonger’s shop, personal possessions, stock from Low’s stationer’s shop – all found its way up into the attic. It all formed an important part of the museum’s early collections.
The museum has a significant collection of objects and photographs from local doctor and historian Sir Ernest Kaye le Fleming, from the early 1900s. These were originally kept at the Dorset County Museum but were returned to Wimborne when the museum opened.
Since 1962, the collection has increased through donations, bequests and purchases.
Archaeology
The museum’s archaeology collection includes artefacts dating from prehistoric times to AD 400. Some, from the Romano-British villa site at Tarrant Hinton, are of national importance. They include one of only two Roman force pumps known in Britain and several rare examples of Roman painted wall plaster. Visitors can also discover an Iron Age skeleton which is currently the earliest known case of TB found in Britain.
Ceramics
The museum has a fine collection of local pottery, dating from the medieval period to 1952. Our Verwood pottery collection was produced at kiln sites across East Dorset and is one of the most complete in existence. In 2010, the museum received the collection belonging to the Verwood & District Potteries Trust. This material was supplemented in 2012 by the acquisition of the private collection of Penny Copland-Griffiths.
Local business
As well as materials relating to local ironmongers T.G. Coles & Son, the museum holds the unsold shop stock, furnishings, paperwork and personal possessions of the Coles family.
Other local shops and businesses are also represented. These include objects from local industries such as bottling and brewing, and dairies, brickmaking, a Victorian portrait camera and other equipment used in the Royal Photographic Studios in Wimborne.
Valentine cards
The museum’s collection of 350 Late Georgian and Mid-Victorian Valentine cards dates from 1792 to 1872. This collection is unique as it relates directly to the unsold stock of William Low, who ran a stationer’s shop on the museum site.
As well as the usual romantic Valentines, the collection include rarer ‘Vinegar Valentines’ (rude cards to be sent anonymously to people whom you did not like).
Local life
The museum has a large collection of objects relating to agriculture and country crafts. These show how life in rural East Dorset has changed over the past 200 years. The collection of horse brasses, collected by local doctor Sir Kaye le Fleming in the early 1900s, includes several rare examples.
The museum holds many thousands of images of Wimborne Minster and the surrounding villages. These date from the 1850s to the present day and are saved on a variety of media. There are images of buildings, street scenes, working life, family life and local celebrations. The collection can be viewed at the museum, by appointment.
Clothing
The collection includes clothes and accessories dating from the 1800s onwards. There are general items as well as sportswear, commemorative pieces, doll’s clothes and workwear. The museum has a ‘time capsule’ of unsold stock from local clothier Harold Dacombe, who ran a travelling shop in East Dorset from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Toys
The museum has an excellent toy collection, with items dating from the early 1800s to the present day. For the enthusiasts, this includes an early Steiff ‘blank-button’ bear.
There are also many books, games, prams, bicycles and doll’s houses reflecting past childhood and teenage years.
