The museum building is a Grade II* listed town house dating from the 1480s. It is situated within the Wimborne Conservation area.

Different families lived and worked in the house for almost 500 years. They added, demolished, altered and extended the building as fashions changed, and to suit their needs.

John Bowdidge, a Gentleman, lived here between 1687 and 1709. His debts forced him to sell the house. Between 1709 and 1960, different families and tradespeople lived in different parts of the building at the same time. The front of the building was probably used as a shop from the 1600s.

1962

Hilda Coles inherited the ironmonger’s business from her father, Tom Frank Coles. She decided to close the shop and fulfil his long-held wish to turn the building into a museum.

1990s

In the early 1990s, the building was partially restored in partnership with East Dorset District Council.

Between 1991 and 1995, under the direction of successive curators, a series of permanent displays were created.

2020 restoration project

In October 2020, a major restoration was completed. The historic townhouse was at the heart of the project. Major changes included a new museum entrance, and a new combined visitor reception, shop and Information Centre.

The work transformed the facilities, exhibition spaces and access. New staircases were added. A platform lift and ramps gave access to the upper galleries for all our visitors for the first time.

We wanted to preserve and conserve the fabric of the building, parts of which date back to Tudor times. New historic building features were revealed. The frontage and window shows off a courtyard as it would have been in the 1750s.

11 new galleries, including a special temporary exhibitions gallery, now allow visitors greater access to the collections on-site than ever before.

The £1.8m Revival Project was made possible by a £982,200 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The museum also received funding from Trusts, Foundations, local councils, organisations, businesses and members of the local community.