Culture, Purbeck | Posted on January 7th, 2025 | return to news
Purbeck museum celebrates 10th anniversary with official accreditation
Purbeck Mining Museum saw a 50 per cent increase in visitor numbers last year and has received accreditation from Arts Council England.
A museum on the Isle of Purbeck is celebrating a successful year after visitor numbers increased by 50 per cent and it received official accreditation from Arts Council England for the high standard of its management and visitor engagement and the care it takes to protect and preserve the area’s mining heritage.
Purbeck Mining Museum, near Norden, was created a decade ago by volunteers. Overlooking Corfe Castle and part of Swanage Railway Trust, the museum features artefacts, mementos, models, photographs and film footage providing an insight into life at the clay face as the industrial revolution arrived in the Purbecks.
The museum’s chairman, Peter Sills, said: “It has been a truly exceptional year. From its conception, the museum has been entirely dependent on the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work of a dedicated and growing team of volunteers. It is no mean achievement for a volunteer-run museum to meet the stringent requirements for accreditation from Arts Council England. The whole team is immensely proud to receive such recognition.
“It’s all the more gratifying to be awarded accreditation in a year that has seen such a significant increase in both visitors and donations as well as the introduction of a new welfare centre for volunteers and new footpaths under construction in the surrounding woodland.”
The accreditation from Arts Council England followed the submission of a 40,000-word document prepared by the museum’s curator, Nigel Cox, with input from past and present volunteers. According to the Arts Council, the submission was one of the most comprehensive applications received from a venue run and managed entirely by volunteers.
The accreditation will help the museum with future funding bids and requests for exchange programmes and temporary exhibitions with other museums.
Frank Roberts, chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust, said: “This accreditation is a real credit to the team of volunteers at the Purbeck Mining Museum.”
The volunteers celebrated their success at a recent annual review meeting held at the Community Hub in Swanage. Long service awards were also presented to three of the volunteers – Jane Cox, Sue Double and Tim Salter.
The museum is currently closed for the winter. To find out more about joining the museum’s team of volunteers, information on special events and opening times for 2025, visit http://purbeckminingmuseum.org.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
