| Great Escapes: Dorset Tour 2 |
| Delving into Dorset's past |
It's hardly original to say that Dorset's busting at the seams with history, since it's a struggle to find
anywhere in the British Isles that hasn't been liberally soaked by the tides of time. But here you'll find a generous breadth of experience unsurpassed outside the UK's major cities. Our tour takes in relics from Tutankhamun's tomb, the combat secrets of the SAS and the banned books in one of Britain's first public lending libraries. Much of the county's rich and varied past still lies embedded in the countryside at sites such as the Iron Age hill fort at Badbury Rings. Yet the literary landscape of Wessex immortalised in black and white by Thomas Hardy is just as real to many people who've never visited the place. Buildings too – from the stately splendour of 17th-century Lulworth Castle to the millennial majesty of Milton Abbey – dominate the landscape, as does the enormous collection of tanks at Bovington. In short, there's something for everyone.
1 WIMBORNE MINSTER
It's always amazing to walk into a building that's been serving the same purpose for over a millennium. This one started life as a Benedictine nunnery in 705AD, established by St Cuthburga, the sister of Ina, King of the West Saxons. We were especially impressed by the Chained Library, one of the first public lending libraries in the UK. Our guide knew the history of each book and we were able to discuss the significance and possible value of many of them. One beautifully-scripted work had taken three scribes one year to complete, at the rate of a penny a week (plus bed, bread and water).
2 BADBURY RINGS
The views across the surrounding countryside from this ancient earth mound are stunning. It's best known as an Iron Age hill fort, probably built by the Durotriges, an ancient Dorset tribe, though it may have been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The fort most likely fell to the invading Romans around
43 AD, when the aggressors would have made short work of the defences. That said, the steep-sided grass slopes and ditches would have been taller and deeper (40ft from trough to tip) all those years ago, and would have fronted a slippery chalk surface.
3 ROYAL SIGNALS MUSEUM, BLANDFORD CAMP
You're never in any doubt that this museum is inside a working military base. Just getting past the armed guard and obtaining a security photo ID badge is an experience in itself. But the interactive displays are worth it, with archive interviews from WWII spies such as 'Odette' from the SOE (Special Operations Executive) who describes being tortured by the SS in France. There's also an extensive SAS section (the only display of its kind in the UK) with video footage of the Battle of Mirbat in 1972, where nine SAS took on over 250 Omani Adoo rebels and won. Kids have hidden trails to follow, codes to crack, and prizes to win. There's plenty of equipment on display,
including vehicles, all helping to trace the
development of communications and code-breaking technology, and explain how it works.
4 MILTON ABBEY
Though relatively 'new' in comparison to Wimborne Minster (it was established in 933 AD), Milton Abbey is by far the grander of the two places of worship, though it's now part of a private school. The sheer scale of its construction is a marvel in itself, but the beautifully ornate craftsmanship further boggles the mind, even given that the date of its restoration was 1865. Nearby Milton Abbas village was built in the 19th century so that the then Earl of Dorchester could put a lake in his grounds. The thatched
cottages are little changed to this day and for many, it's Dorset's prettiest village.
5 TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS MUSEUM
Most towns can claim to be the birthplace of some obscure invention or culinary delicacy, but few can match Tolpuddle's pivotal place in modern history. For it was the arrest, trial and deportation of six farm labourers in 1834 that gave rise to the trade union movement. The local landowners convicted the men on trumped-up charges, and even after they had served their time in Australia, all but one was forced to make a new life in Canada. But by then, the Chartist movement had begun and working people were learning to assert their rights. The suitably modest museum has few artefacts but the story is told through well designed graphic panels and
interactive, touch-screen displays.
6 DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM, DORCHESTER
This is the best place to get a complete overview of the county, from its geology through to more recent agricultural history. It's housed in a lovely building. The Victorian Hall has beautiful balustrades around the gallery displaying quaint local artefacts. Move to the upper floor and you'll find the museum's most recently refurbished displays, with
particularly excellent rooms devoted to literature and the geology and archaeology of Dorset, including Roman history. There are some very well presented interactive computer screens throughout this floor.
7 TUTANKHAMUN EXHIBITION, DORCHESTER
If you're wondering what the connection between Dorset and Egypt is – don't, there isn't one. The only reason this exhibition is here is that the person
who thought it up came from Dorchester. It tells the story of the discovery of the tomb and recreates the conditions inside, with an eerie soundtrack echoing the inscriptions on the tomb walls, and archaeologist Carter and Co's words as they shed the first light on the burial chamber in over 3000 years. While none of the tomb treasure on display is original, the replicas are very convincing. If you want to see the real thing you'll have to go to Egypt.
8 TANK MUSEUM, BOVINGTON
You'll be staggered by the depth of content in this museum. For families, there's a recently opened
display with the emphasis on interactivity – pushing, pulling, touching and listening to various exhibits, with real-life stories from tank crews in action. There are over 300 tanks on display, from WWI through to the British Army's latest Challenger.
9 LULWORTH CASTLE
This splendid 17th-century edifice was built, believe it or not, as a hunting lodge, though it became the seat of the Weld family soon after. It was restored in the '90s after having lain ruined since the fire of 1929. In addition to the castle, there's a fine art collection in the current home of the Weld family, Lulworth House, and the surrounding estate grounds have plenty of walks traversing them. |
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Distance 80 miles
Time All day
Start/finish Merley Court Touring Park
Suitable for All the family
Tourist information
Wimborne Tourist Information Tel 01202 886116
Refreshments
Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle
Tel 01305 848249
Traditional English fare and a light menu including baguettes and tortilla wraps.
Attractions
Wimborne Minster
Tel 01202 884753
Website CLICK HERE
Royal Signals Museum
Tel 01258 482248
Website CLICK HERE
Milton Abbey
Tel 01258 880489
Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum
Tel 01305 848237
Website CLICK HERE
Dorset County Museum
Tel 01305 262735
Website CLICK HERE
Tutankhamun Exhibition
Tel 01305 269571
Website CLICK HERE
Tank Museum
Tel 01929 405096
Website CLICK HERE
Lulworth Castle
Tel 01929 400352
Website CLICK HERE
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