Swanage Museum

08/10/2026

Join Swanage Museum on Friday, October 30, 2026, for a fascinating talk by local historian and genealogist Mike Randall titled "Transported For The Rest Of Your Natural Life." Randall will share his deep research into the harrowing personal stories of 18th and 19th-century Dorset prisoners sentenced to overseas penal transportation, as well as the families they left behind.

The talk takes place at St Edwards Catholic Church Hall on Rempstone Road. Doors open at 7:00 PM for light refreshments, and the talk begins at 7:30 PM. Admission is £3.00 for members and £4.00 for non-members, and everyone is welcome.

06/10/2026

It is a truly sad loss for Dorset history.

The closure of Shire Hall means losing the courtroom where the Tolpuddle Martyrs stood trial and where Thomas Hardy once served as a magistrate.

It really brings home how vital our own local museum is to preserving our heritage.

We have some wonderful stories to tell, we are always looking for all types of volunteers to join our team.

The museum was opened in Dorchester in 2018 after a revamp and is based in a Grade I listed building.

04/10/2026

🎙️ Tune in to H’our Local History on Purbeck Sounds to hear fascinating interviews with David Hawkings, the newly appointed Chair of Swanage Museum and a passionate advocate for preserving the town’s heritage. David brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his role, continuing his mission to make local history accessible and engaging for all. As the author of The Tower on the Hill: The Story of Water in Swanage, he has captured the remarkable tale of how Swanage’s water supply shaped the town’s development and the enduring significance of the iconic tower that overlooks it. His leadership and storytelling combine to celebrate Swanage’s past while inspiring future generations to value its history.
Catch his interviews on Wednesdays (13:00–14:00), Sundays (12:00), and Mondays (20:00) at [www.purbecksounds.com](http://www.purbecksounds.com).

Help us update the museum this winter. We can only achieve this with everyone’s support — from our wonderful local community and the Town Council — as we work together to preserve our unique heritage. Pop into the museum, have a chat, and know that any little bit of help truly makes a difference.

29/09/2026

Lilian Ladle, MBE, FSA, is a prominent independent archaeologist and local historian who has made significant contributions to documenting the history of Dorset, England, as a self-taught professional. She is best known for directing the 13-year Bestwall Quarry Project near Wareham, a major community initiative uncovering continuous human activity from the Mesolithic era to post-medieval times, as well as excavating a high-status Roman villa at Druce Farm. A strong advocate for public archaeology who relies heavily on local volunteers, her work earned her an MBE in 2008 and election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2021.

25/09/2026

Here's something you don't often see in Swanage.
Seaplanes.

Black and white photo is off 1927
Aircraft Details
Type: British single-engine pusher amphibious biplane designed shortly after World War I by Vickers.Registration: G-EBED (a Vickers Type 60 Viking IV).
History: Registered in the UK in 1922, it was used for demonstration flights and later operated on early winter sports air services between Croydon, St. Moritz, and Nice by aviator Leslie Hamilton.

The colour photo is off 9th July 2003.
Aircraft: A Cessna single-engine high-wing floatplane (appearing to match G-DRAM).
Event: Operating temporary demonstration and passenger flights to celebrate the centenary of powered flight.

I was very lucky to get the chance to fly over the Isle of Purbeck, it's even more amazing and beautiful—circling Old Harry and Corfe Castle. ❤️

We have such an extraordinary heritage right on our doorstep. Now is the perfect time to build some real momentum and take a more active role in putting Purbeck's history front and center.

Supporting Swanage Museum and become a volunteer and help use make a difference. You don't need to be a historian you just need to love a our area. .

21/09/2026

ACHMAD, a Bactrian camel from Tibet, resided at the Tilly Whim Inn at Swanage, Dorset, and became a popular resident. He was always prepared to help with the heavy work, endlessly willing to give rides to children, and overjoyed by the simple accommodation provided for him in the backyard. But there were disadvantages about ACHMAD. For although he worked only for his keep, his keep came pretty costly quite apart from the £500 it had cost MRS. RUTH BURRIDGE, who ran the Inn, to buy him. She had also needed to re-stock her garden with plastic flowers, because ACHMAD loved to devour real flowers.

I'm sure that someone out there has some lovely photos of Achmed and Sweety. We would love to see some and use them for the archives.

18/09/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Help Keep Swanage Museum Open!

We have big plans for the future, but we can’t achieve them without you.

Swanage Museum belongs to our town—and to you.

Join our team today and help us make it something truly special!

16/09/2026

What a moving story from Swanage News—and a timely reminder of why Trevor Chadwick’s statue matters. Monuments do more than mark history; they carry real emotion and honor our pivotal role in WWII.

We want to make the museum an even better experience for everyone, and to do that, we need your help. Whatever your background or skillset, there is a place for you here. This is your museum—get involved today and help bring our history to life.
Pop in to the museum or email us

[email protected]

A group of dancers who performed traditional Czech, Moravian and Slovak folk dances at the Swanage Folk Festival in Dorset, were delighted to discover the story of World War Two Swanage hero Trevor Chadwick who was responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of Czechslovakian children from Prague.

13/09/2026

The Swanage Folk Festival keeping tradition alive!

Morris dancing originated in the 15th century as a lavish, theatrical entertainment for the English royal court and elite society. The name is believed to derive from Moorish (Morisco), reflecting a late-medieval European fascination with exotic, stylized performance styles. By the Elizabethan era, the dance transitioned from courts to the public sphere, becoming a core fixture of rural parish festivals and May Day celebrations. Over the centuries, it evolved into distinct regional styles—ranging from Cotswold handkerchief dancing to vigorous Welsh border stick-clashing. Though industrialisation nearly drove the custom to extinction in the late 19th century, a dedicated folk revival successfully preserved the tradition as a lasting symbol of English seasonal folklore.



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