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You are here: Things To Do > Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum

Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum

High West Street
DORCHESTER
Dorset
DT1 1UY

Awards

  • Visit BritainWe're Good to Go We're Good to Go 2020

Add Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum to your Itinerary

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About

Executed for arson. Transported for asking for fair pay. Given six months hard labour for stealing clothes. 200 years of justice, injustice, crime and punishment are brought to life at Dorchester’s Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum.

The new immersive museum enables visitors of all ages to explore the history of law and order, as well as past and present efforts to achieve justice for all people.

Walk in the footsteps of everyday people who were tried and sentenced in the court. Use the interactive multi-media guides to find out what happened to them. Discover the depths of the cold, dark cells, and stand in the dock of the historic courtroom, where famous novelist and poet Thomas Hardy was a magistrate. Dress up in wigs, gowns and hats to play the part and uncover the remarkable stories of those who passed through the building. Learn what it means when we say “crime,” what we want when we demand punishment for those crimes and how we can all make the present-day world that little bit fairer.

See where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were held before being brought to trial, thereby sparking the Trade Union movement. Learn how it felt for them to be separated from their families and sentenced to transportation to Australia.

Plus, all visitors can enjoy refreshments and delicious food at the new Shire Hall Café, run by Kingston Maurward College.

For more information visit shirehalldorset.org

Opening Times

Opening (1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021)

* Monday- Saturday 10.00 - 16.00 (last entry to the museum is 15.00).

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£9.50 per ticket
Child£5.00 per ticket
Family (2 adults, 2 children)£20.00 per ticket
Student£5.00 per ticket

Under 5's free

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facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DorsetShireHall

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
174 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2020
  • Excellent
    140
  • Very Good
    26
  • Average
    5
  • Poor
    2
  • Terrible
    1

Recent Reviews:

  • Linda D
    Cambridge, United Kingdom
    Good on a rainy day
    4 of 5 stars
    Thursday, 20th August 2020
    We enjoyed looking around the cells and court house where the Tolpuddle Martyrs and others were sentenced to either death, deportation to Australia or Gaol sentences, some as young as 11. All done... Read full review
  • tracylott
    Malvern, United Kingdom
    Lovely place to eat
    4 of 5 stars
    Thursday, 8th October 2020
    What a lovely cafe! We visited Dorchester for the day as we were staying in Swanage and because it was a day of heavy rain we decided to pop into the Shire Hall. We did not visit the museum as I have... Read full review
  • the_lucy_show
    Southampton, United Kingdom
    Very interesting and friendly museum
    5 of 5 stars
    Tuesday, 20th October 2020
    Had the nearby County Museum not been closed for redevelopment we'd probably have gone there and would have missed out on this gem of a museum. Very informative and easy to follow interpretation of... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2021

Awards

  • Dorset TourismDorset Tourism Awards Silver 2018 Dorset Tourism Awards Silver 2018 2018
  • Dorset TourismDorset Tourism Awards Gold 2018 Dorset Tourism Awards Gold 2018 2018
  • Dorset TourismDorset Tourism Awards 2019 - Gold Award Dorset Tourism Awards 2019 - Gold Award 2019
  • Dorset TourismDorset Tourism Awards 2019 - Silver Award Dorset Tourism Awards 2019 - Silver Award 2019

Facilities

Other

  • Gift Shop

Accessibility

  • Accessible to Wheelchair Users
  • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
  • Ramp/Level Access
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

  • Shop

Catering

  • On-Site café/restaurant

Establishment Features

  • Cater for groups
  • Event venue
  • Shop
  • Toilets

Key Features

  • Indoor Attraction

Parking & Transport

  • Car parking - Nearby public town centre car parks Blue Badge parking in the nearest public car park (Colliton Park car park ) Limited Blue Badge parking at the museum, by arrangement only (01305 261849)
  • On Bus Route

Payment Methods

  • All major credit cards accepted
  • Delta accepted
  • Maestro accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Solo accepted
  • Special group rates

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

Map & Directions

View Map

Website

Email

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