Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has launched a community fundraising appeal to secure the future of one of its most remarkable artefacts – the Hayden Princess, a grand 1901 steam traction engine weighing in at an impressive 11 tonnes. The campaign aims to raise £3,500 to fund urgent engine repairs that will keep this much-loved giant steaming for generations to come.
Built by Marshalls of Gainsborough in 1901, the Hayden Princess is no ordinary exhibit. Bequeathed to Dorset Museum in 1995 by Jack Miles of Hayden Farm in Charminster, the engine is the Museum’s largest and heaviest artefact – too big for any gallery space, yet too precious to remain static. Thanks to the vision of the late curator Peter Woodward and dedicated museum member Giles Romanes, the engine was preserved not just as an object, but as a living, working machine.
Unlike most industrial artefacts, the Hayden Princess has continued to delight thousands of people as a mobile exhibit, travelling to steam rallies and heritage events across Dorset and beyond. From Shaftesbury to Stourpaine Bushes and Tarrant Hinton, it has become a much-anticipated sight at county shows, carnivals, and fairs – a roaring, steaming link to our industrial past.
Although its presence is grand, much of the Hayden Princess’s history is still being pieced together. Records show that it once belonged to Hertfordshire County Council and later worked in Oxfordshire and Sussex, including logging operations. In 1964, the engine was bought by Jack Miles, who ensured its preservation until it found a permanent home with Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
The Hayden Princess is lovingly maintained by dedicated volunteers, who have already overseen major boiler restorations and safety checks. Now, vital engine repairs are needed to keep the engine steaming and inspiring audiences for years to come.
“The Hayden Princess isn’t just Dorset Museum’s largest artefact – It’s a living piece of history,” said Claire Dixon Director at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. “It connects generations to the county’s heritage and brings history roaring to life. With the community’s support, we can keep it steaming for decades to come.”
The Museum is seeking to raise £3,500 to cover vital engine repairs. Every donation will help secure the future of the Hayden Princess and ensure the engine remains a treasured part of Dorset’s cultural heritage.
Donations can be made directly via dorsetmuseum.org/get-involved/donate
The Hayden Princess © Dorset Museum & Art Gallery/Mark North.