Researching at Beaminster Museum
The museum is open, by appointment only, to anyone who wishes to research local or family history. Appointments are available on Monday mornings at 10.00am to 12:00pm. A volunteer will be available to help you with your enquiries. Our space is very limited and only one visitor or family group can be accommodated at each appointment. Although there is no charge for use of the museum for research, we welcome donations to help us keep this valuable facility available and open to the public.
To make an appointment or ask for help with your enquiry, use this link: Contact Form
The museum holds a collection of local documents and photographs, plus oral histories and other digital content. We have:
- Books, leaflets and other publications about the local area
- Maps and plans – Ordnance Survey maps, tithe maps with apportionments, town plans such as : Click to download the 1843 Tithe Map
- Transcriptions from original sources and summary information such as this census: Click to download 1841 Census as Excel
- Folders on the villages within the catchment area of the museum, including Broadwindsor, Burstock, Chedington, South Perrott, Corscombe, Toller Whelme, Halstock, Hooke, Mapperton, Mosterton, Netherbury, Seaborough, Salway Ash, Stoke Abbott, and Thorncombe.
- Photographs from the local area
- Wills, family histories and research on the local area
- Information on specific local topics such as the flax and hemp industries, mills, pubs, and other buildings.
Alternatively, the museum has an enthusiastic and skilled research team who are happy to help out with family history mysteries, while adding their own experience and local knowledge to standard resource tools.
To contact our team for help with your family history, email familyhistory@beaminstermuseum.co.uk