Published on Wednesday 16 July 2025
Poole Museum is preparing to welcome visitors as part of a phased reopening that offers a unique opportunity to experience the museum’s transformation in stages.
From this Saturday, 19 July, visitors will be able to explore the newly restored Scaplen’s Court and Garden which has open access year-round for the first time, along with the new café and outdoor seating.
This phased reopening provides a first look at the museum’s ambitious redevelopment, which has been three years in the making, transforming it into a major cultural venue of local, regional and national significance.
More than £10 million has been invested in the conservation, restoration, and remodelling of the museum’s three historic listed buildings. This ambitious redevelopment has been made possible thanks to generous support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, BCP Council, Arts Council England, Historic England, and a range of other partner organisations, trusts, and foundations
The result is a dramatically enhanced, fully accessible visitor attraction that more than doubles the available public space, without the need for new construction.
The opening of Scaplen’s Court marks a new era for this building, which has been made accessible for the first time, with the help of a new platform lift. Capacity has increased from 60 to over 250 people, enabling it to host larger events and celebrations. The addition of the café on the ground floor and outdoor seating significantly expands the museum’s offer, transforming the space into a vibrant community hub.
Scaplen’s will also host a vibrant programme of events and tours designed to engage all ages, with details being shared on Poole Museum’s booking website.
Jaine Fitzpatrick, Interim Director, Poole Museum said:
“Local businesses and community connections are central to the refreshed Poole Museum experience.
“By opening up parts of the site for the summer, we’re encouraging residents and visitors to re-engage with us in Poole’s historic Old Town whilst building anticipation ahead of the grand unveiling later in the year. This phased approach supports local enterprise, builds excitement, and offers early opportunities to enjoy revitalised spaces and cultural events, before returning for the full cultural experience later this year.”
The new museum shop will open the following week, on Saturday 26 July, and when the full museum experience opens later in the year, visitors will discover:
- six new galleries across five floors
- three brand-new maritime galleries
- a new ceramics, art and design gallery showcasing the largest public collection of Poole Pottery
- two flexible galleries that will support a first-rate cultural programme of touring and temporary exhibitions
Entry to the museum will remain free, ensuring access for everyone to explore, stay a while, then return time and again.
The redevelopment of the museum, which is owned and operated by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and supported with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will provide welcoming spaces for both visitors and local communities supporting a vibrant year-round programme of exhibitions, events and learning opportunities, reinforcing the museum’s role as a cultural cornerstone for the region.
Councillor Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communication and Culture said:
“This transformation of Poole Museum has been nothing short of incredible.
“The new spaces and entirely new offer not only secure the museum’s role as a leading heritage and cultural venue in the BCP area and beyond, but the conservation and restoration work has protected our historic buildings for future generations.
“The phased reopening is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to enjoy the museum in two exciting chapters; first to explore the beautifully restored Scaplen’s Court, and enjoy the new café and museum shop, and then to return in the autumn to experience the full museum transformation in all its glory.”
When the rest of the museum opens in the autumn, visitors to the Town Cellars, most recently home to the Poole History Centre, will be able to see the dramatic transformation that’s taken place inside this building. Conservation and restoration work has revealed the building’s historic proportions, and environmental controls now protect sensitive artefacts, including the 10-metre-long Poole Iron Age Logboat, the largest ever found in Southern Britain, which will be on open display inside the new Shipwreck! gallery for the first time.
Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We’re delighted to see the beautifully restored Scaplen’s Court and Garden reopen for the summer as part of Poole Museum’s ambitious redevelopment.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, this project has delivered inspiring new spaces that celebrate Poole’s rich and fascinating heritage, while ensuring the museum is welcoming and accessible to all. We’re excited for the full reopening later this year, which will be a landmark moment for culture and heritage in the town.”
The museum has also been rebranded to better reflect its contemporary, creative, and inclusive spaces, while retaining its trusted name. The new visual identity is colourful, layered, playful, and shaped by the sea, designed to connect with new audiences and reflect the museum’s dynamic new offer when phase two of the opening is revealed to the public.
The redevelopment marks a new chapter in Poole Museum’s story, one that honours its rich past while embracing the future. With enhanced facilities, inclusive design and a renewed commitment to sustainability, the museum is poised to inspire and engage more visitors than ever before.
To find out more about the events, tours and trails in Scaplen’s Court, please visit: Poole Museum Tickets - Buy Online
The funders for this transformational project, which Poole Museum is incredibly grateful for includes (in alphabetical order): The Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation; Arts Council England; BCP Council; Fine Family Foundation; The Finnis-Scott Foundation; Garfield Weston Foundation; The Headley Trust; The Hendy Foundation; Historic England; The National Lottery Heritage Fund; Pilgrim Trust; Poole Arts Society; Poole BID; Poole Museum Foundation; Poole Museum Society; The Steel Charitable Trust; Talbot Village Trust; UK Government; The Valentine Charitable Trust; Wessex Museums; The Wolfson Foundation.