Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Gardens

Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Gardens The foundations of this once influential Abbey, founded by King Alfred the Great, lie in a peaceful

Jen is one of the craftspeople demonstrating her skills at our Heritage Craft Weekend, 19/20 September. Nalbinding and T...
04/09/2026

Jen is one of the craftspeople demonstrating her skills at our Heritage Craft Weekend, 19/20 September. Nalbinding and Tablet Weaving, both heritage crafts dating from the Anglo-Saxon period and on the red list of endangered crafts in the UK as only a handful of people still practice these textile crafts. Come and try your hand and buy your own kit to take home!

Join us for a celebration of Heritage Arts & Crafts over the weekend of Sat 19th & Sun 20th September. A gathering of sk...
01/09/2026

Join us for a celebration of Heritage Arts & Crafts over the weekend of Sat 19th & Sun 20th September. A gathering of skilled artisans showcasing their crafts with demonstrations and a chance for everyone to try their hand at some weaving, herbal remedies and calligraphy, among other crafts. Everyone is welcome to this free event, donations welcomed to support the Abbey. No booking required.

Hands on with collections!Our team of Collection Volunteers are about to embark on a repacking project for objects in ou...
29/08/2026

Hands on with collections!

Our team of Collection Volunteers are about to embark on a repacking project for objects in our museum store. This is to ensure they are in the best possible shape and protected from getting damaged. Today we were exploring different conservation packing materials and methods to plan a way forward. Is there anything quite as satisfying as creating a cushion out of acid free tissue paper?!
If you are interested in joining our Collection Volunteers or in any volunteer role at Shaftesbury Abbey contact us at [email protected]

Heritage Craft Weekend at Shaftesbury Abbey MuseumSat 19 & Sun 20 Sept 10am -4pmJoin us to celebrate heritage crafts wit...
27/08/2026

Heritage Craft Weekend at Shaftesbury Abbey Museum
Sat 19 & Sun 20 Sept 10am -4pm
Join us to celebrate heritage crafts with demonstrations and a chance to try your hand at various activities including spinning, weaving, woodwork, ropework, Saxon cookery, herbal remedies, embroidery and calligraphy and traditional dance.
Everyone is welcome (children accompanied by an adult)
Entry is free, donations welcomed.
www.shaftesburyabbey.org.uk

The bees were loving the Winter Savory yesterday, lots buzzing all over the glorious white flowers - doing so well despi...
26/08/2026

The bees were loving the Winter Savory yesterday, lots buzzing all over the glorious white flowers - doing so well despite the exceptional summer.

We can love it too! It adds a minty, thyme-like flavour with a peppery kick to foods, great for veggie dishes and meats, stuffings. With its lovely scent, winter savory would have been used for strewing on floors, repelling insects and filling the air with its deep aroma. And it is good for digestion and easing gas!

Object in the spotlight!This beautiful alabaster plaque is one of the treasures hidden away in our collection store. Alt...
25/08/2026

Object in the spotlight!

This beautiful alabaster plaque is one of the treasures hidden away in our collection store. Although now very weathered, when first carved it would have been beautifully painted. It depicts a common Christian religious image with God the Father holding the crucified Christ between His knees while two Angels catch Christ's Sacred Blood in a cup. It's thought that the alabaster carving was originally inserted in a 14th century cross which stood alongside the road at Angel Square. The cross is now erected in the Abbey grounds.

no

15/08/2026

Stonemason at work. Andrew Ziminski demonstrating his skills at Shaftesbury Abbey this morning.

A pair of pigeons taking shade from the sunshine and cooing in the holly tree in our Mary Garden this morning... rather ...
14/08/2026

A pair of pigeons taking shade from the sunshine and cooing in the holly tree in our Mary Garden this morning... rather lovely!

Saturday 15th August 10 - 4pmSee Andrew Ziminski giving stone carving demonstrations and talking about the work of Medie...
13/08/2026

Saturday 15th August 10 - 4pm
See Andrew Ziminski giving stone carving demonstrations and talking about the work of Medieval stone masons at Shaftesbury Abbey.
Andrew is a stonemason, church conservator and author. He
has four decades of experience working on some of the greatest
cathedrals and churches in Britain, including the tower of
Salisbury Cathedral and the dome of St Paul’s in London. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and conservation advisor to the Salisbury Diocesan advisory committee for the care of churches.
Demonstrations and talks throughout the day. No booking required, everyone is welcome.

Tile Thursday!This fragment of tile from around the 13th century has a design showing a lion passant! The word passant c...
13/08/2026

Tile Thursday!
This fragment of tile from around the 13th century has a design showing a lion passant! The word passant comes from an old French word meaning to walk or pass by. In this common medieval design the lion has three paws on the ground and one raised in the air, as if walking or striding forward! This is just one of several thousand medieval tiles in the Shaftesbury Abbey collection.


Address

Park Walk
Shaftesbury
SP78JR

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

01747 852910

Website

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