Fordingbridge Museum
Free local museum in a former granary in King's Yard, with displays on town life, trades, the railway and the artist Augustus John.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Fordingbridge Museum tells the story of the town and the surrounding villages. It is housed in a historic former granary in King's Yard, off Salisbury Street, and its displays are spread across two floors. The museum is run by a registered charity.
The displays follow everyday life through the 20th century, from household objects such as mangles and Pyrex to a furnished Victorian dolls' house with family rooms, servants' quarters, nursery and stables. Recreated workspaces show the town's blacksmiths, cobblers and cycle repairers, and other displays cover local pubs and inns, the former railway station with a model of its buildings, and the Sandleheath brick industry.
Local people feature strongly: Fordingbridge Turks FC, founded in 1868, has its own display, and the painter Augustus John, who lived at Fryern Court near the town from 1927, is remembered with a display on his life and local legacy. Hundreds of historic photographs of the town and villages complete the collection.
Highlights
- Victorian dolls' house with family rooms, servants' quarters and stables
- Augustus John display
- Recreated blacksmith, cobbler and cycle repair workspaces
- Fordingbridge railway station and Sandleheath brick displays
- Hundreds of historic photographs of the town
Permanent exhibitions
- Household life through the years – Everyday objects from local homes in the 20th century, from mangles and washing dollies to Pyrex, Hornsea pottery and Tupperware.
- The Victorian dolls' house – A furnished dolls' house showing the formal rooms, servants' quarters, nursery and stables of a Victorian family.
- Augustus John – A display on the artist, who lived at Fryern Court near Fordingbridge from 1927, and on his local legacy.
- Founded
- 1998
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free and donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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 ground floor is accessible and a wheelchair ramp can be put in place at the entrance on request; a steward will help. There is no lift to the first floor, which is reached by stairs only. One parking space is available at the museum, and visitors who need it should ring ahead. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Children can follow quizzes that send them searching for clues, objects and answers around the museum. The Victorian dolls' house and the technology display of old cameras, calculators and mobile phones are popular with families.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The X3 bus between Salisbury and Bournemouth stops a few yards from the museum, and the summer open-top tour bus also stops nearby.
By car
Paid parking
The main car park is close by, off Roundhill. Pay at the meters or use a New Forest parking clock.
The museum is in King's Yard in the town centre, by the zebra crossing opposite Tesco.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum offers loans of objects to schools, school visits and museum outreach, pupil-led museum sessions and small temporary exhibitions designed by schoolchildren. |
