History

Sturminster Newton’s Museum Society was formed in 1984, prompted by the death of Ray Rogers, former registrar of Sturminster Newton, a keen collector of archival material and a long-time campaigner for a museum.

The Museum was finally opened in the disused Chapel of the old Union Workhouse in Bath Road on 15th July 1989 by Miss Agnes Williams, the granddaughter of Montague Williams who built the chapel in 1890.

In 2019, Sturminster Newton Museum & Mill Society became Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust.

Sturminter Newton Museum - Present Day

Old Market Cross House - Mid 1960's

The Chapel suffered several problems as a Museum: it was on the outskirts of the town, had inadequate parking and very poor conservation conditions. It did not attract many visitors.

In 2007, the Trust (then, the Society) was able to, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the community, raise sufficient funds to provide a deposit on a mortgage to purchase the current Museum building.

Subsequently, a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund enabled the Trust to make some necessary internal alterations and refurbish the building as a museum. The new Museum opened to the public on August 1st 2008.

During the first three months of the year, the museum has restricted opening times (see opening times in the footer).

Displays for 2025

Sturminster Newton Model Railway

This is a highly-accurate model of the station and environs displaying the context of the old Somerset and Dorset railway line, which closed in 1966, to the cattle market and milk factory; of which virtually all traces have now disappeared.

The layout is fully interactive with trains running, sounds playing, signals moving and a lighting change to a night sequence; all driven by push buttons that children and adults alike can play with.

In addition, visitors can press to see a varying display of old pictures of the area compared to modern photographs of the same locations whilst the actual place on the model will be highlighted so they can see where it all fits together.

Thanks to a dedicated team, our model railway has been rebuilt and upgraded with digital controls allowing visitors to vary sound, lighting and train movement.

The History of Sturminster Newton

A display at the Museum summarises the history of Sturminster Newton from prehistoric times to the modern day.Also permanently displayed is the earliest map we have of Sturminster Newton and a collection of crested china pots. The small pots are labelled Sturminster Newton and bear crests supposedly relating to the area. These pots were popular holiday souvenirs from the late 19th C until about 1930. Their popularity coincided with the development of the railways which made possible affordable travel for ordinary people to seaside resorts and elsewhere. The map is dated 1783. It was drawn for the estate manager for the Pitt Rivers family and lists all their tithed properties and tenants in Sturminster and the surrounding area.

Weights and Measures

Changes in methods of measurement from the use of body parts to gauge size and numbers of barley grains to assess weight or quantity to modern, scientifically defined, SI units and the transition from imperial to metric.

Swanskin seafarers of Sturminster

This new exhibition tells the story of young men in the early nineteenth century who took opportunities offered by the cod fishing industry in Newfoundland to leave the poverty at home in Sturminster Newton and start a new life. “Swanskin” was a thick felted woollen cloth produced in Dorset and the south west and traded for use by fishermen. The exhibition showcases the results of a joint project with pupils at the High School and collaboration with schools and museums in Newfoundland, funded by the Association of Independent Museums.

October half-term at the museum

We are commemorating the work of a remarkable local artist and activist, Mary Lowndes. Mary (b.1857) was the daughter of the rector of St Mary`s church in Sturminster Newton. After studying at the Slade School of Art she worked with several prominent people in the field of stained glass and later set up her own workshop with Alfred Dury in Chelsea becoming the first woman to work professionally with stained glass. Her work was highly regarded and she became influential in the Arts & Crafts movement; her windows can be found in many churches throughout Britain. Mary was also active in the women`s suffrage movement and established the Artists` Suffrage League. The latter supported the movement by dramatic posters and banners to publicise it.

“Practice Making Stained Glass Windows”, free drop-in workshops for 5-12 year olds will be held in the Museum in Sturminster Newton on 26th & 31st October, 11.00am-12.30pm.

Events at the Museum

A visit by a local school, here they are dressed up in Victorian caps and bonnets.

The county Finds Liaison Officer visits to identify finds brought in by children and adults.

Museum wins MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) accreditation

Erecting the Sturminster Newton railway station sign after restoration.

Audrey Cooper (Robert Young's great great granddaughter) attended book launch.

John Smith telling stories of the life of a Roman soldier in Britain