Poole Museum

About the museum

Poole Museum stands in Poole's Old Town close to the Quay and is spread across three listed historic buildings. Oakley's Mill is a Victorian grain warehouse and later mill that holds most of the galleries; the Town Cellars are a medieval commercial warehouse of about 1300, listed Grade I; and Scaplen's Court is a medieval merchant's house with a walled herb and physic garden laid out in the 1930s.

A redevelopment of the whole estate began in 2018, cost more than 10 million pounds and was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, BCP Council, Arts Council England and Historic England. The three buildings were conserved and remodelled without new construction, and the public space was more than doubled. The museum reopened in November 2025, with new lifts and new galleries.

The displays now follow the story of Poole Harbour from the Ice Age to today, with maritime galleries on harbour life, seafaring and shipwrecks. The Poole Iron Age logboat, almost 10 metres long and the largest of its kind found in southern Britain, is on open display, together with finds from protected shipwrecks. A gallery on Poole Pottery holds what the museum calls the world's largest collection of that pottery, and a changing exhibitions gallery on the top floors shows touring and immersive shows. A local history centre, a community space and a collections studio complete the museum, and admission is free.

Highlights

• Poole Iron Age logboat, almost 10 metres long
• Finds and timbers from protected shipwrecks in the medieval Town Cellars
• Poole Creates! with a very large collection of Poole Pottery
• Abeona, a walrus tusk sculpture spanning three floors
• Medieval Scaplen's Court with a walled herb garden
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Harbour Life – The story of Poole Harbour from the Ice Age to today, covering fishing, ecology, maritime industries and the lifeboat service.
• Shipwreck! – Housed in the medieval Town Cellars, with the Iron Age logboat and finds from several wrecks, including the Studland Bay, Swash Channel and Mortar wrecks.
• Poole Creates! – A gallery of Poole Pottery, said to be the largest collection in the world, with a fine art display.

Founded

1989

Operated by

BCP Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free for the museum and Scaplen's Court and Garden, and donations are welcome (contactless card or online; cash is not accepted). Some events, courses and activities have a booking fee.

Accessibility

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

Step-free routes are signposted through both buildings and lifts serve the upper floors of the museum and Scaplen's Court, although floors are uneven in places, some doorways in Scaplen's Court are narrow and the garden paving is uneven. Accessible toilets are on levels 0 and 3 of the museum and on the ground floor of Scaplen's Court; the nearest Changing Places toilet is at the Dolphin Centre in Poole. Induction loops are at the welcome desk and at the café counter in Scaplen's Court. Seating is provided throughout, large print guides are available in the permanent galleries and the touring exhibitions gallery, and there is a small wellbeing room on level 3 that can be used on request. A charging point for electric wheelchairs and scooters is by the welcome desk. The museum has no car park of its own; Blue Badge bays on Poole Quay allow up to three hours, and 16 bays are at the Quay visitors multi-storey car park. Only assistance dogs may enter the museum, while all dogs are welcome at Scaplen's Court.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Interactive displays, a programme of workshops and activities, and the Wiggles and Giggles session for children under 5 with their grown-ups (Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 during the programme period). The Loft is an attic-style space used as an art studio and playroom. Baby changing is on the ground floor of the museum and in Scaplen's Court, and breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are welcome throughout.

Getting there & parking

Scaplen's Court and Garden is on Sarum Street (BH15 1JW), close to the museum. Lower High Street is car-free from 10:00 to 22:00 between 1 April and 31 October. Bike racks are right outside the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Old Town Salt Pig café in Scaplen's Court serves coffee, cold drinks, baked goods, afternoon tea and light lunches. The museum shop is cashless. All toilets are gender neutral and self-contained.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 80 guests.

Rooms for up to 80 guests (Upper Hall), plus the Upper Garden Room, Rear Chamber, Lower Garden Room, the Loft and the Creative Space and Terrace. Scaplen's Court and its garden can be hired exclusively. In-house catering is provided by the Salt Pig team.

Plan your visit