Dorchester’s new museum brings ’200 years of crime’ to life

A new museum on crime and the history of law and order will open in Dorchester, Dorset on 1 May.

Visitors to the Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum will be able to walk in the footsteps of people who were tried and sentenced in the court – and find out what happened to them using interactive displays.

Guests will be able to discover famous stories dealt with by the court, such as the fate of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, which sparked the trade union movement.

The centrepiece of the new museum is the historic cells and courtroom, which appear as they did in Georgian times. There will also be a programme of events and exhibitions.

The museum is run by the Shire Hall Trust, a registered charity. The renovation was made possible thanks to a £1.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which was match-funded by West Dorset District Council.