Weymouth Museum is celebrating the town’s superb seaside heritage with new displays at a Pop-Up Museum in St Thomas Street and special events on 27th and 28th June.
The Museum’s launch weekend includes opportunities to explore Weymouth’s rich history though walks on Friday 27th June and Saturday 28th June run in conjunction with the Seaside Heritage Network.
On the Friday evening, Allan Brodie will give an illustrated talk on ‘Weymouth as a seaside resort – from a King to commoners’. Allan is the author of ‘Weymouth’s Seaside Heritage’ and his talk will cover Weymouth’s history as a seaside resort, from King George III’s patronage of the town to the growth of the resort during the Georgian and Victorian periods, and Weymouth’s colourful architectural heritage. Please book for the talk and walks on the Museum’s website – www.weymouthmuseum.org.uk
Edwardian postcard. Photo supplied by Weymouth Museum
The temporary museum will be opened by Lloyd Hatton MP on Saturday 28th June. It will then be open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Weymouth Museum Trust Chair, Marcia Headon, said ‘Because of delays in plans to open the new Museum at Brewers Quay, we felt we needed to bring back Weymouth Museum by running a temporary ‘Pop-Up Museum’. This will give us a space for exhibitions and events while we work to create the new museum. We are grateful to Weymouth Town Council, the BID and others for helping us make this happen.’
Anya Chapman, co-ordinator of the Seaside Heritage Network and a trustee of Weymouth Museum said ‘Weymouth has a stunning seaside heritage that deserves celebrating. Exhibitions at the new Pop-Up Museum are a step on the way to displaying Weymouth’s heritage in its full glory when the new museum at Brewers Quay is finished.’
Cllr Caroline Nickinson, Mayor of Weymouth, said: “From its rich military history, royal connections to King George III, stunning Georgian architecture and picture postcard vantage points, Weymouth has so many stories to be discovered at the museum. Weymouth Town Council was delighted to award a grant of £5,000 towards creating the pop-up museum with displays and exhibitions which showcase the town’s history, and I’m delighted to be attending the opening event where these stories will be brought to life.”
The beach donkeys being fed. Photo supplied by Weymouth Museum
1950s postcard. Photo supplied by Weymouth Museum