A MUSEUM in Dorset is hosting the final stop on a nationwide tour of artefacts from the British Museum.

Shire Hall, in Dorchester, will showcase the ‘Crossings: Community and Refuge’ exhibition as part of a British Museum ‘spotlight loan’ scheme.

Featured will be a Lampedusa cross made from the remnants of a boat that was wrecked whilst carrying refugees near to the Italian island of Lampedusa as well as 12 tiny boats from Syrian-born artist Isaam Kourbaj.

Nina Corey, Director of Shire Hall Museum, said: “Throughout history, people have set out on journeys across our world. Some are made by choice, others in hope and there are also journeys people have been forced to make. In this exhibition, we’re taking a closer look at the stories behind those journeys. 

“Inspired by the incredible objects loaned to us by the British Museum, we wanted to explore our local history and the stories of people who travelled through or from Dorset. We were interested not just in the journeys that people made but the reasons and motivation behind them.”

Alongside the objects on loan from the British Museum, the exhibition will feature objects kindly loaned by Dorset History Centre and Portland Museum. 

Entry to the exhibition is included with a museum ticket: the display will run until February 26.