Swanage Museum

Swanage Museum Swanage Museum: A volunteer-run charity at The Square, BH19 2LJ. Open Summer: 10am-4pm (Closed Wed; Sat Sun 11am-3pm). History Centre: Mon & Wed mornings.

Phone for appointments or email [email protected] for history/family research enquiries. Swanage Museum has 3 separate locations, the museum at the Square, the Local Studies Centre situated at Marine Villas on the Pier and our purpose built controlled storage facility. The Local Studies Centre offers a source of original and facsimile material for study and research. If you would like to res

earch your own family history or are interested in local history come along and use this unique facility. The Local Studies Centre is open throughout the year. Access is by appointment only.

Memories from the history box in Purbeck Sounds
25/08/2026

Memories from the history box in Purbeck Sounds

25/08/2026

Come along to the Swanage Museum
Tomorrow, Wednesday 26th August from 11:00 to 13:00 to celebrate our 50th anniversary.
We will have two of our authors signing books that can be purchased, and you will be able to talk to our volunteers . There will be cake๐Ÿ˜œ.

Updating and improving the museum is our top priority, but to make that happen, we need to secure a longer lease from the town council. A long-term lease will allow us to unlock vital grants. News of which we hope to hear very soon!
We have already purchased a multi-function screen that will be on display tomorrow. Although it won't be mounted just yet as we are still setting it up, it gives a glimpse of how we plan to update the museum and make it accessible for all ages.
We have welcomed several school parties this year, and with your help, we can continue to upgrade the space.

Come along, join our volunteers, and help make this happen.

The Swanage Museum belongs to the people of Swanage. While our volunteers are proud to act as its custodians, this is your museum, and we rely on community support to keep its doors open.

We would also like to thank Vanessa Neish and Chris Jarvis for our 50th anniversary messages ๐Ÿ‘

They, like us want to inspire our children into getting involved with history.
Swanage Town Council

25/08/2026

Come along to the Swanage Museum
Tomorrow, Wednesday 26th August from 11:00 to 13:00 to celebrate our 50th anniversary.
We will have two of our authors signing books that can be purchased, and you will be able to talk to our volunteers with cake, help us celebrate our 50th anniversary.

Updating and improving the museum is our top priorit over the winter period, but to make that happen, we also need to secure a longer lease from the town council. A long-term lease will allow us to unlock vital grants.

News of which we hope to hear very soon!

We have already purchased a multi-function screen that will be on display tomorrow. Although it won't be mounted just yet as we are still setting it up, it gives a glimpse of how we plan to update the museum and make it accessible for all ages.
We have welcomed several school parties this year, and with your help, we can continue to upgrade the space.

Come along, join our volunteers, and help make this happen.

The Swanage Museum belongs to the people of Swanage. While our volunteers are proud to act as its custodians, this is your museum, and we rely on community support to keep its doors open.

We would also like to thank Vanessa Neish and Chris Jarvis for our 50th anniversary messages ๐Ÿ‘

They, like us want to inspire our children into getting involved with history.

Swanage Town Council

Huge congratulations to Professor Joe for a brilliant afternoon celebrating 10 years on Swanage Beach! ๐Ÿ‘ Keeping a wonde...
22/08/2026

Huge congratulations to Professor Joe for a brilliant afternoon celebrating 10 years on Swanage Beach! ๐Ÿ‘ Keeping a wonderful tradition alive.

https://www.swanagepunch.co.uk

Really excitedโ€”it's all about small steps to update the Swanage Museum!โ€‹Things are changingโ€”come be a part of it! All sk...
22/08/2026

Really excitedโ€”it's all about small steps to update the Swanage Museum!

โ€‹Things are changingโ€”come be a part of it!
All skills are required.

โ€‹We just purchased a 43" "all-singing, all-dancing" touchscreen. Now I've just got to read the manual... ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ˜ฑ
โ€‹Manuals are ancient history anyway, time to watch some YouTube videos! ๐Ÿ˜œ
โ€‹I have a feeling I might be back for help... ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

โ€‹Seriously, we really could do with some help to reach our goal in making the museum and history centre sustainable and a really brilliant museum for all.

โ€‹Join us this Wednesday (11:00 โ€“ 13:00) to celebrate our 50th anniversary alongside our dedicated volunteers. We will also be hosting a book signing with two fantastic authors, whose books will be available for purchase.

19/08/2026

Have you considered volunteering at the Swanage Museum and History Centre?

โ€‹You don't need to be a historian to joinโ€”we are looking for all kinds of skills, from tech support and social media to note-taking and greeting visitors.

โ€‹Pop in to see us and ask how you can help. After all, it's your museum; we're just the custodians. Together, we can make it a vibrant hub for local history.

โ€‹Technology can bring photos aliveโ€”a glimpse into what it might have been.
โ€‹The photo is of Station Road looking towards the railway station.

15/08/2026

Keep live history alive.

Congratulations Professor Joe for your 10th Anniversary at Swanage ๐Ÿ‘.
Absolutely wonderful that Professor William Vaughan, a 16-year-old Punch and Judy performer, is continuing the tradition.
So please celebrate with Professor Joe, with his guests on 22nd August on Shore Road from 12:00.

Go on! That's the way to do it!๐Ÿ˜œ

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dd67ivxJ9/

๐—•๐—ถ๐—ด ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜„๐˜€, ๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ! ๐—ช๐—ฒโ€™๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒโ€”๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—บ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿฌ! ๐Ÿฅณ๐ŸŽ‚โ€‹To mark 50 years of preserving...
13/08/2026

๐—•๐—ถ๐—ด ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜„๐˜€, ๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ! ๐—ช๐—ฒโ€™๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒโ€”๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—บ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿฌ! ๐Ÿฅณ๐ŸŽ‚

โ€‹To mark 50 years of preserving our local heritage, weโ€™re hosting a special Double Book Signing event!
โ€‹Come down to meet authors David Hawkings (The Tower on the Hill) and Brian Salter (Tinkleford: A Dorset Miniature Village), purchase copies for signing, and celebrate with us.

โ€‹๐Ÿ“… When: Wednesday, 26th August
โฐ Time: 11:00 AM โ€“ 1:00 PM
๐Ÿ“ Where: Swanage Museum
โ€‹And yes... there WILL be a cake! ๐Ÿฐ

โ€‹Looking to the Future
While you're here, pop over to chat with our team about our History Centre and our exciting vision to upgrade and transform the museum for the next 50 years.
โ€‹Interested in local history or giving back to the community? Ask us how you can join the team and become a volunteer!

โ€‹Whether you're a lifelong resident or just passing through, weโ€™d love to see you there. Help us spread the wordโ€”share this post and bring a friend!

Address

The Square
Swanage
BH192LJ

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441929421427

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