Poole Museum to reopen after seven-year transformation

Poole Museum will welcome visitors back next week following an ambitious £10m redevelopment project.

The free-to-enter museum is to reopen on Wednesday 5 November, when its new galleries, exhibitions and facilities will be officially unveiled.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is inviting visitors to come and explore the museum in its entirety and “experience the full impact of its transformation”.

A soft-launch testing period will take place over the next few days, offering members of the public an opportunity to explore the museum, contribute feedback, and help fine-tune operations ahead of the “grand reveal” on 5 November.

The reopening marks the culmination of a major heritage-led regeneration project that began in 2018 and has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, BCP Council, Arts Council England, Historic England, and other charitable foundations and grant providers.

The transformation aims to turn the museum into a “class-leading cultural destination” that celebrates the town’s maritime and marine archaeological heritage and helps to revitalise its historic quayside.

The deep retrofit project has seen the conservation, restoration and remodelling of the museum’s complex of medieval, 18th, 19^th and 20th-century buildings.

All three of the museum’s historic listed buildings have been restored: Oakley’s Mill, Scaplen’s Court, and the medieval Town Cellars, more than doubling public space at the museum without the need for new construction.

The redevelopment was undertaken by building contractors Greendale Construction Limited, exhibition fit-out contractors Marcon Fit Out, and architect and exhibition designer ZMMA.

The transformation includes:

• Three new maritime galleries – Harbour Life, Setting Sail, and Shipwreck!
• A new display of the Poole Iron Age Logboat. Discovered in Poole Harbour in 1964, the logboat is nearly 10 metres long and the largest ever found in southern Britain. The internationally significant artefact was previously kept behind glass but is now on open display in the Shipwreck! gallery
• A new ceramics, art and design gallery showcasing the largest public collection of Poole Pottery
• Displays of the museum’s maritime archaeological collection including timbers, finds and cargo from three protected shipwrecks
• Two flexible galleries supporting a programme of touring and temporary exhibitions, including a Government Indemnity Standard exhibitions gallery that will bring national touring exhibitions to the region
• New exhibits and interactive displays
• A programme of events, workshops and activities.

The temporary exhibitions programme launches with Sound of the Sea, an immersive digital exhibition that responds to people’s presence, and Un/Common People, which celebrates the history and mythology of folk culture.

Scaplen’s Court & Garden, and the museum shop opened in July as part of a phased opening, alongside the museum’s new café, The Old Town Salt Pig, a collaboration with renowned local brand, The Salt Pig.

The redevelopment has been guided by a commitment to inclusive design. Key improvements include level access across the entire ground floor of all buildings in the museum’s estate; a larger lift in the main museum and a new lift in Scaplen’s Court, providing access to previously unreachable areas; large circulation and orientation spaces; and accessible WCs on the ground floor of Poole Museum and Scaplen’s Court.

Andy Martin, portfolio holder for customer, communications and culture at BCP Council, said: “This marks the culmination of over seven years of planning, building and collaboration. Poole Museum’s reopening is more than just the return of a museum; it’s a bold statement about our town’s future, with a new cultural destination leading the way.

“This transformation not only explores and celebrates our rich maritime heritage, honouring generations of service at sea but it also reflects how those traditions continue to shape and strengthen port communities like ours today.

“The new Poole Museum is a vibrant, inclusive space that will inspire residents and visitors alike for generations to come.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated Poole Museum team, BCP Council colleagues, and all our funders and partners who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. Their passion and commitment have been instrumental in delivering a new cultural experience that truly reflects the spirit, culture and heritage of Poole.”

Alison Gudgeon, senior project manager at BCP Council said: “The transformation of Poole Museum has been a truly collaborative effort, involving a huge number of people as ‘Museum Makers’, from designers, fabricators, and specialist tradespeople, to illustrators, software developers, project managers, conservators, cleaners, curators, quantity surveyors, researchers, artists, builders and so many more.

“We’re especially grateful to the thousands of local residents, school children, students, and community groups who have generously shared their time, expertise, creativity and passion over the last seven years to help shape the new Poole Museum. ”

Jaine Fitzpatrick, interim director of Poole Museum said: “This transformation is just the beginning. We’ve reimagined the museum’s physical spaces and now we’re just as ambitious about what happens within them. From bold programming to deeper community connections, the new Poole Museum isn’t just a place to visit, it’s a place to belong, to create, and to be inspired.

“This project has always been about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about people. From the very beginning, we’ve worked to ensure the museum reflects the creativity, curiosity and diversity of the communities it serves. It’s a place where stories are shared, ideas are sparked, and everyone feels welcome. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved and even more excited for what’s to come.”