Red House Museum and Gardens

About the museum

The Red House was built in 1764 as the parish workhouse for Christchurch and Bournemouth. In 1886 it was sold to the Reverend T. H. Bush, who gave it the name Red House because of its brick walls.

The local antiquarian Herbert Druitt inherited the building in 1916 and used it to store his large collection of local documents, archaeological finds and works of art, which he showed to visitors by private arrangement. He died in 1943 and his sister gave the house to the town in 1947. It opened as a public museum on 30 May 1951 during the Festival of Britain celebrations.

Today the Grade II* listed building shows the history of Christchurch and its surroundings, from Bronze Age and Saxon finds to Victorian trades and the local aircraft industry. Costume, bygones and 1930s furniture by Arthur Romney Green are also part of the collections. A herb garden and a south garden with views of Christchurch Priory surround the house, and a gallery for changing exhibitions and a café complete the visit.

Highlights

• Victorian and Edwardian bygones, including the workhouse kitchen fireplace
• Archaeology from the Bronze Age and Iron Age Hengistbury Head to Saxon grave goods
• Local trades and inventions such as fusee watch chain making and the Bailey Bridge
• Archive with more than 50,000 local photographs
• Herb garden and south garden with views of Christchurch Priory

Permanent exhibitions

• Historic Christchurch galleries – Victorian and Edwardian bygones, the workhouse kitchen fireplace and traditional trades, plus local innovations such as the aircraft industry and the Bailey Bridge.
• A million years of history – Upstairs displays of archaeology from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age settlement at Hengistbury Head, ending with Saxon grave goods from Bargates.

Founded

1951

Operated by

Hampshire Cultural Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and no booking is needed. Optional donations of 3, 5 or 10 pounds can be made through the museum website.

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

There is wheelchair access to the ground floor, the café, the exhibition space and the garden areas, with some small steps between them. Step-free access to the upstairs galleries (archaeology and the local history resource) is not described. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

The family area has dressing-up costumes, hands-on activities, quizzes and spotter trails, and activity sheets help children find objects around the museum. The south garden has dinosaur surprises, and a year-round programme of family events and children's theatre is offered.

Getting there & parking

Follow the brown signs to the nearby car parks.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café serves hot and cold drinks, ice cream and snacks indoors and outdoors, and gives a small discount on hot drinks to customers with their own reusable cup. There is a gift shop, and visitors may bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. Toilets and baby changing are available.

Events & venue rental

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

The museum can be hired for events, functions, meetings and wedding receptions. An exclusive meeting room, the exhibition gallery and the gardens are available.

Plan your visit