Portland Museum

About the museum

Portland Museum occupies two thatched cottages of the 17th century near Rufus Castle and Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland. Marie Stopes bought the derelict cottages in 1929 and gave them to the island, and the museum opened in 1930. She remained its honorary curator until her death in 1958. One of the cottages appears in Thomas Hardy's novel The Well-Beloved of 1897 as the home of the Avice family, which gives the museum a literary link to the writer.

The cottages have been listed Grade II since 1951. For many years the museum was run by the local council. Since April 2008 it has been managed by the Portland Museum Trust, a registered charity, and today almost all the work is done by volunteers. A supporters' group, the Friends of Portland Museum, helps to fund the museum.

The displays tell the story of the island, which is a limestone peninsula on the Jurassic Coast. Visitors can see fossils including a Jurassic sea monster, material on Portland stone and stone carving, and objects from seafaring, shipwrecks and smuggling. The ship Earl of Abergavenny has its own section, and other themes include witchcraft superstitions, the Nanny Diamonds, and notable islanders such as Marie Stopes and Hardy. A sheltered cottage garden outside is used for picnics.

Highlights

• Two 17th-century thatched cottages near Rufus Castle
• Fossils and a Jurassic sea monster from the Jurassic Coast
• Section on the shipwreck of the Earl of Abergavenny
• Portland stone, stone carving and island seafaring
• Links to Marie Stopes and Thomas Hardy

Permanent exhibitions

• Earl of Abergavenny – Display on the ship Earl of Abergavenny, covering the vessel, its captain and cargo and life on board.
• Fossils and Portland stone – Fossils from the Jurassic Coast, including a Jurassic sea monster, together with displays on Portland stone and stone carving.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Portland Museum Trust (registered charity 1132576)

Admission & discounts

Islanders and members of the Friends of Portland Museum enter free.

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 museum is in two historic cottages, so access is limited in some areas. A wheelchair ramp is available, and visitors who need help should contact the museum manager before they come. A full access guide can be downloaded from the museum website. Only assistance dogs are admitted inside; well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome in the garden.

Kids & families

There is a family ticket, and children aged 6 to 16 pay a reduced price. The garden is a pleasant place for a picnic.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Wakeham in Easton on the Isle of Portland.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Water refills and ice creams are sold from the shop. A public toilet is available for museum visitors, and the sheltered cottage garden can be used for picnics.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit