Welcome to The Portland Museum Website

“the treasure on the Island”

Situated in the ancient hamlet of Wakeham and above the cove at Church Ope, Portland’s Museum was founded in 1930 by Dr Marie Stopes in two early 17th century stone cottages. Inspired by one of these cottages, Wessex author, Thomas Hardy made it the home of Avice, the heroine in his novel “The Wellbeloved”.

Today the Museum houses many of the artifacts associated with the history and culture of the Island and Royal Manor of Portland and tells the story of local industry, the Sea, the Prisons and the People.

The Museum is open Saturdays to Thursdays 10:30am – 4:00pm.

The Museum will also be open on the following Fridays: 7th July 10:30am to 1pm, 14th and 21st July 10:30am to 2pm and 28th July 10:30am to 1pm. Friday 4th August is Dino Day and the Museum will be open from 10:30am to 4pm for our Childrens’ Event Day.

If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer at the Museum please contact Lisa at the Museum by phone or e mail. We would be thrilled to welcome anyone interested.

Portland People

People are known to have lived on Portland since Neolithic times and over the centuries the Island has hosted foreign invaders, pirates, military garrisons, convicts, sailors, itinerate workers and artists read more …

Maritime Portland

The Museum houses a range of artefacts and information telling the story of Portland’s Maritime History. Displays include items recovered from numerous wrecks read more …

Portland Stone

The Museum’s Stone exhibit, housed in “Avice’s” cottage, tells the story of the Portland Stone industry, from quarrying and processing to its use in prestige buildings and memorials around the world read more …

Jurassic Portland

Portland sits proud and central on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast a World Heritage site. The museum houses a fascinating collection of fossils dating back hundreds of millions of years read more …