Shire Hall Museum

02/09/2026

PLEASE NOTE that we are now closed on Fridays and Saturdays, unless there is a special event on at the museum.
Saturday 12 September - TALK : The life and death of Mary Channing of Dorchester
Friday & Saturday 25th & 26th September - EXHIBITION: Stories of Renewal. More information on our website www.shirehalldorset.org

02/09/2026

CALLING ALL HISTORY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS!
Are you part of a history society, U3A group, community group, book club, genealogy group or friendship group looking for something fascinating and a little different to do together?
During September, we are offering special guided tour experiences for groups of 10 people or more. Explore our historic cells and courtroom with our guide, then hear fascinating stories in a special presentation and talk from our Shire Hall historian, which will bring the museum's stories to life.
Discover stories of social justice, crime, punishment and the people who found themselves caught up in Dorset’s criminal justice system.
Tickets are £12.50 per person and include
🏛️ Museum admission
🔐 A guided tour of our historic cells and courtroom
📖 A fascinating presentation and talk from our historian

And why not make a day of it? Stay for refreshments after your tour and enjoy more time together exploring the museum and sharing your thoughts on the stories you've heard.

Please note: Advance booking is essential. A minimum of 10 people must book for the visit to go ahead, and payment is required in full at the time of booking.
📩 Get your group together and contact us to book your September visit at a mutually agreeable time. Email: [email protected]

31/08/2026

…was executed after being convicted of poisoning her husband.
But there’s much more to her story…
What was life like for women in 18th-century Dorchester? What led Mary to this terrible fate? And what can her story tell us about the society she lived in?
Join Mark Damon Chutter at Shire Hall Museum for a fascinating and thought-provoking talk, bringing this little-known piece of Dorset history to life.
Saturday 12 September
2pm
Tickets £10 Book at front desk or email: [email protected]

31/08/2026

Just one week left for your budding Supersleuthers to collect flag stickers in town.

Shire Hall Museum and the library still have a few free sticker albums to grab and the still have time even if yiuve not started yet! A great fill in for the last week of school holidays and the two pinned posts on this page have a huge amount of cryptic clues for locations.

19/08/2026

⚓️🎶 Smuggling Songs with Nautical Graffiti! 🎶⚓️
Join local author and musician Will Adams for a lively hour of songs, music and family fun, inspired by Dorset’s colourful smuggling history! 🏴‍☠️🌊

📅 Friday 21st August 2026
⏰ 10:30am
🎟️ FREE EVENT
Come along for tales, tunes and a glimpse into Dorset’s fascinating smuggling past. Perfect for families!

19/08/2026

Looking for some great reads for the little ones? Come and browse our lovely selection of pre-owned children’s books! 🌟

📖 50p each
📚 3 books for just £1!

Perfect for stocking up on bedtime stories and holiday reading without breaking the bank! 💛

16/08/2026

Bring along your little pirates and come and have a sing with local musician and author, Will Adams. FREE LIVE EVENT on Friday 21 Aug at 10.30am. Booking advised.

Join local author and musician Will Adams of Nautical Graffiti for a lively hour of songs, music and family fun inspired by Dorset's colourful smuggling history. As part of Shire Hall Museum's Summer Smugglers' Escapade, Smuggling Songs is an interactive session featuring songs about smu...

12/08/2026

Re-scheduled from Thursday 13 August, join Mark Damon Chutter on Saturday 12th September 2pm for his fascinating talk on the life and death of Mary Channing. In 1706, a woman was burnt at the stake at Maumbury Rings for poisoning her husband. Her name was Mary Channing and she was a middle-class citizen of Dorchester, operating in a male dominated, patriarchal value system. Chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society, Mark Damon Chutter presents the fascinating story of Mary – an unheard voice in the history of the county town.
Do not miss this subversive exploration of Channing -a woman who challenged societal expectations.
New date: Saturday 12th September 2PM Productions.
Tickets £10 from the front desk at Shire Hall Museum or email: [email protected] / call the office on 01305 261849
Before the talk, why not enjoy a homemade lunch in our cafe.
Photo Credit: Ethan Doyle White

08/08/2026

⚖️Aged 10-18? Step into the past and take part in a real 19th-century trial at our Young Jurors Victorian Courtroom event!
Join us on Weds 12 Aug at 1.30 for an exciting hands-on history experience — hear the evidence, debate the case, and decide the verdict just like a Victorian jury.
A big thank you to Alice for filming this brilliant video and sharing her thoughts on the event. 🎥✨

🎟️ Book your place now and do something different this summer! More details: www.shirehalldorset.org