New pop-up shop from Weymouth Museum to open today

Weymouth Museum, which had existed in the Brewers Quay building, has gained a £99,000 lottery bid for a project called Bridging the Gap.

Interior. Picture: Sam McKeown

The new pop-up museum is set to open today (May 30) in St Thomas Street, which will be run by the museum's Trust and provide an opportunity to work with the community and schools from across the area.

Marcia Headon, chair of Weymouth Museum Trust, said: "For many years Weymouth Museum had existed in the Brewers Quay building which has become increasingly dilapidated.

Now it has been sold for development the museum has temporarily moved out.

"As one part of our lottery bid and to keep the presence of a museum in the town we have a pop-up shop, which will showcase various themes relating to Weymouth’s rich history.

"The museum and associated shop is now open to visitors."

Laura Miller, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for culture, communities and customer services, will open the new pop-up shop and museum.

Ms Headon added: "A newly appointed community engagement officer will also work with the town community and schools to showcase our local and social history.

"The museum’s primary collecting focus will undertake community work on conservation and retention of our collection and involve more people in the museum.

"The remainder of our huge collection of about 20,000 artefacts will be conserved, catalogued and other works undertaken on it off site.

"It has been moved to secure store.

"A specialist collections and conservation officer has been employed to undertake this work."

Currently, the pop-up shop employs one full-time role and five volunteers.