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You are here: Things To Do > Gold Hill Museum

Gold Hill Museum

Gold Hill
SHAFTESBURY
DORSET
SP7 8JW

Add Gold Hill Museum to your Itinerary

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Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1747 852157

About

*LATEST UPDATE*  We hope to re-open on Saturday 27 March, 2021, depending upon lifting of lockdown, roll-out of vaccinations, and availability of volunteer stewards

Gold Hill Museum and Garden can be found at the top of picturesque Gold Hill, with its steeply inclined cottages and cobbled surface. The hill has featured in countless calendars and in the perennially popular Hovis “Boy on a Bike” advert filmed by Ridley Scott in 1973.

Gold Hill Museum is set in two historic buildings. One was once a priest’s house and still has a ‘squint’ through the wall to neighbouring St Peter’s Church; the other provided basic lodgings for traders at the market on Gold Hill. The secluded, award-winning garden offers a magnificent view over Thomas Hardy’s Blackmore Vale and seats for quiet contemplation in sun and shade.

Six light and airy galleries on two floors tell the story of Shaftesbury and District from the days before the foundation of town and Abbey by Alfred the Great. Among the artefacts on display are the unique Byzant, carried during annual celebrations of the securing of the water supply, so vital to a hilltop town; Dorset’s oldest fire engine, dating from 1744; fine lacework and costumes; handmade Dorset buttons; and a mummified Dorset cat.

Entry to Gold Hill Museum is free, though donations are welcome. All our rooms, including a further two used for temporary exhibitions and our Education Room, are accessible to wheelchair and buggy users.

An Explorer’s Quiz and baskets of activities in Rooms 2 and 4 are available for younger visitors. Six Dorset Button Mice hide in display cases, waiting to be discovered by visitors of all ages. Locally sourced gifts and books are on sale in the Museum Shop, while visitors may browse in our second-hand book corner. The nearest café is within twenty yards of the Museum gate, and other cafes, coffee shops and pubs are less than two minutes’ walk away in the High Street.

Gold Hill Museum is owned and managed by volunteers of The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society, registered charity no. 1156273. Further details on our website www.goldhillmuseum

Opening Times

Opening (1 April 2021 - 31 October 2021)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:30 - 16:30*

* *LATEST UPDATE* We hope to re-open for the main season on Saturday 27 March 2021, depending upon the lifting of lockdown, roll-out of vaccinations and availability of volunteer stewards. Please check out our website for our opening hours

Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Free AdmissionFree

Admission is free, however donations are very welcome.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1747 852157

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldHillMuseum2015

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
293 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2020
  • Excellent
    181
  • Very Good
    100
  • Average
    12
  • Poor
    0
  • Terrible
    0

Recent Reviews:

  • horndeanhermit
    It's free & imfomative, so it naturally gets 5/5
    5 of 5 stars
    Tuesday, 25th February 2020
    Nice little stop to make if you want to get a feel for Shaftsbury before you start wandering about. Situated right at the top of Gold (Hovis) Hill. Friendly, knowledgeable staff in there too. Plenty... Read full review
  • 777sedwds
    Shaftesbury, United Kingdom
    Interesting local museum, free entry
    4 of 5 stars
    Friday, 6th March 2020
    Full of interesting local information and objects. Small pretty garden as well. Worth spending an hour or so learning about the local lifestyle in days gone by. Read full review
  • Georgiejames123
    Bristol, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Family
    Hidden Gem
    5 of 5 stars
    Wednesday, 30th September 2020
    Great little museum with lots of local information. There was a treasure hunt on for the children which really helped keep the little ones entertained. Lovely staff, free entry and a recommend... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2021

Facilities

Accessibility

  • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors - Drop off at front of Museum
  • Ramp/Level Access - Lift to First Floor
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

  • Shop

Establishment Features

  • Conference facilities
  • Dogs Accepted - On leads
  • Event venue

Key Features

  • Approx length of visit - 01:00
  • In town/city centre
  • Indoor Attraction
  • Max group size - 40
  • No Smoking Attraction
  • Open by appointment outside normal opening times

Parking & Transport

  • On Bus Route

Payment Methods

  • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
  • Can be packages by 3rd parties
  • Min group size - 10
  • TIC Staff Admitted Free

Specialist Features

  • Family Fun
  • Marketed towards children
  • Marketed towards families
  • Marketed towards senior citizens
  • Marketed towards student/youth

Tours and Demonstrations

  • Educational Visits Accepted
  • Guided Tours Available for Groups - By appointment
  • Guided Tours Available for Individuals - By appointment

Venue Facilities

  • Groups Accepted - Pre-booking essential. Max number 50 (can split groups with Shaftesbury Abbey Museum)

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

Shaftesbury is at the junction of the A350 and A30 – please follow the signs to the town centre and car parks. There are a marked drop-off point and two free spaces for coach parking in the Bell Street car park. Five minutes’ walk from Bell Street round into the High Street will bring you to the Town Hall, where access to Gold Hill is via steps to the left or quite a steep cobbled ramp to the right.

Public Transport Directions

Bus services from Yeovil, Salisbury, Blandford, Poole and Bournemouth. National Express coaches provide a daily service to and from London. Nearest railway station is Gillingham - 5 miles. Taxi or local bus service to Shaftesbury, alight Town Hall.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1747 852157

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