Bridport Museum

About the museum

Bridport Museum was founded in 1932 as Bridport Museum and Art Gallery. It was made possible by Percy Codd, a retired army engineer and amateur artist, who gave the town one of its oldest buildings, known as the Old Castle, together with more than a hundred of his own pictures, on condition that it became a gallery and museum. The council paid for converting the former Conservative Club.

The building on South Street is Grade II* listed. Its 16th-century front is all that remains of the original house; a fire in 1876 destroyed the back, which was rebuilt much as it is today. Over the years it has also been a pub and an Oddfellows' hall.

The museum is a charity run by Bridport Museum Trust. Its most important collection covers the rope and net making that has shaped the town for around 800 years, and live ropemaking demonstrations are held on many days. Other galleries explore the fossils and rocks of the Jurassic Coast, Iron Age coins and Roman finds, and Anglo-Saxon Bridport, which had its own mint. A separate Local History Centre at The Grove holds archives for research.

Highlights

• Nationally important collection on rope and net making
• Live ropemaking demonstrations on many days
• Fossils from the Jurassic Coast, including large marine reptiles
• Iron Age coins and Roman finds
• Anglo-Saxon Bridport and its coin mint
• Captain Codd Adventure Trail for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Spinning the stories of rope and net – The most significant collection, showing how rope and net making has shaped Bridport over 800 years and how life in the rope walks was.
• Bridport rocks! – Huge marine reptiles, ammonites, brittle stars and belemnites, with the rocks where these fossils formed on the Jurassic Coast.
• Iron Age coins to Roman treasures – Iron Age coins used by the Durotrige people and Roman finds including armour, tools and jewellery, followed by Anglo-Saxon Bridport and its mint.

Founded

1932

Operated by

Bridport Museum Trust

Admission & discounts

The £5 adult ticket is a pass that gives unlimited entry for a year. School visits are free. Gift Aid can be claimed on the ticket, and donations are welcome. Entry to the museum shop is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrances to the museum and the Local History Centre have level access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Each floor has level access with room to move between displays and no doors between the galleries, and a lift serves the first floor. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor of both buildings, and the museum has audio-visual and sensory displays. Accredited assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

A free Captain Codd Adventure Trail guides children around the museum, and there are peepholes and interactive displays. Activities for children run in the school holidays. Baby changing is in the accessible toilet, and there is space to park pushchairs.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at 25 South Street in the centre of Bridport. Public toilets are available in the South Street car park nearby.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells unique gifts, including items handmade by the museum makers. Public toilets are also available in the nearby South Street car park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit