AFTER almost three years and a £16m transformation, Dorset Museum has finally reopened its doors.

The wait is over and the Dorchester attraction, formerly Dorset County Museum, has completed its £16.4 million refurbishment which started in October 2018 - with its refurbishment being delayed a further five months by the pandemic.

The museum offers visitors the chance to discover 250 million years of Dorset’s history through its unique collection of natural, historical and cultural heritage.

Guests are now being welcomed back to the museum and staff are excited for people to see four new permanent galleries, a special exhibition gallery, collections centre, library, shop, and cafe.

The new café will be run by the owners of Taste Café and Taste Brasserie, who have eateries on Portland and in Dorchester respectively.

As well as internationally significant collections of archaeology, art, literature, geology and history, the museum's galleries will include interactive displays and audio-visual presentations.

Among the collections is a Roman mosaic which was discovered in Dewlish which was acquired by Dorset Museum.

The museum also holds the world's largest Thomas Hardy collections and includes his pens, his doodles and a famous red dress worn by his sister Katherine.

Robert Veale, 75, travelled from Weymouth to visit the museum on its opening day yesterday.

He said: "It's extraordinary what they've done, there is so much space now.

"It was a bit cramped here before but this is fantastic.

"I would quite like to see Hardy's study again I have had a look at it before. It is one of the treasures of this place. "

Dorset Museum's executive director Dr Jon Murden said: “It is extremely satisfying to have got to this point and be on the verge of revealing our new Museum to the world. A true visitor destination in its own right, it is a game changer for cultural heritage and tourism in Dorset.

"Despite all the challenges we have faced, the team here has never lost faith in our vision to reimagine and re-invigorate Dorset’s Museum, securing its future and the future of its globally important collections for generations to come. We can’t wait now to finally open our doors on 28th May and play our part in the recovery that Dorset is sure to experience this summer as we gradually emerge from lockdown.

"I think our interactive exhibits will be particularly popular with children and families.

"I don't think people have necessarily appreciated how many people do come to the town for the museum. I'm hoping the reopening of the museum will support the recovery of the local economy."

Funding for the redevelopment predominantly came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund - which donated £12.4 million to the project - and additional money was raised from trusts, foundations, local authorities and individual donors.

Chairman of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society, Andy Fleet said: "Wholly transforming the museum would have been a tremendous achievement at any time. Undertaking and completing the through lockdown is a breakthrough achievement by all those involved. The Dorset Museum now tells stories of Dorset and its 250 million years old heritage for all our visitors whom I hope will find enjoyment, fun and wonder in the exhibitions."

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