LATEST NEWS 'Youthquake:1960s' Exhibition 14th February 2025 Blandford Fashion Museum is excited to announce our re-opening on the upcoming immersive exhibition, 'Youthquake:1960s', as part of the Fashioning Our Future project with The Salisbury Museum. Thanks to funding received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Fashioning Our Future project, students from Arts University Bournemouth and local Sixth Forms have been working with the museum team to bring to life this dynamic exhibition. Find out more here GROUP VISITS Would you like a tailored experience and the chance to see our collection up close and amongst colleagues or friends? We have a variety of packages available! Please visit our 'Group Visit' page here .... VOLUNTEERING Come and be a part of this friendly and unique museum and tea room by volunteering with us. Sign up here

Workshops Boxes of Fun! Monday 16th February 2026 10:30 - 12:00 pm Read More Weaving Bonanza! Monday 16th February 2026 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Read More

Exhibitions 'Laura Ashley : From Kitchen to Catwalk' Extended until Summer 2026 Read more 'The Textile Collection of Elisabeth Frink' February 2024-November 2026 Read more 'Power Dressing' February 2025 - November 2026 Read more '20th Century Brides : A Hundred Years of Wedding Dress' 16th February 2026 Read more 'Youthquake:1960s' 16th February 2026 Read more

VOLUNTEERING Did you know that Blandford Fashion Museum is led mostly by volunteers? We pride ourselves on the friendliness of our volunteers and the valuable contribution they make towards the running of the Museum. Whatever time you can give, volunteering is proven to benefit your health and wellbeing and can provide you with a sense of purpose, it can help you meet new friends, teach you new skills and bring fun into your life! The Museum now has some exciting opportunities where you can get involved with this fantastic local attraction and make a difference in our friendly museum tearoom and giftshop. If you are interested in volunteering and would like more information on any of these roles please email us at facilities@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk

OUR GALLERY Welcome to our gallery! Explore a collection of inspiring images that showcase our work and our community. Click here to add your own text and share your thoughts with us. It's easy - just click 'Edit' to get started.

Group Visits Blandford Fashion Museum welcomes groups to view our wonderful exhibitions. We are open for such visits on either Monday, Thursday or Friday between 10.30am and 4.00pm. In the first instance, email the museum to check whether the date you would like to come is available. If the date is free, we will then email you a booking form along with the museum’s bank details so that immediate payment can be made. Only BACS payments are acceptable – no cheques or cash. The booking will only be confirmed once full payment has been received. We do not take bookings over the phone. Lastly, our team is made up of part-time volunteers so you may not receive an immediate response to your request. We aim to get back to you as quickly as possible so please allow a week for a reply. Our displays are over two floors. The building is a mix of Georgian, Victorian and 20th century construction. Both floors are on varying levels and may not be suitable for all visitors. Sadly, we do not, as yet, have a lift. There are ground floor toilets facilities and are easily accessible. We have a tearoom and gift shop and you may wish to enjoy a drink and a piece of cake when you visit. However, there is limited seating and it can be busy with our regular customers. There are 4 categories of visits. Please read carefully to decide which category applies best to your proposed visit. Bronze Visit This is designed for a group of up to ten people to view the current exhibitions accompanied by one of our volunteers. The tour normally lasts about one and a half hours. After the tour you may want to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of a cake in our award-winning tearoom and gift shop. Please note – refreshments are not included in the entry price. The cost is £100 and payment will be made at the point of booking. This is fully refundable if you cancel more than a week before the proposed visit. Email collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk to check for availability and a booking form. Silver Visit Silver is for larger groups (up to 20) who would like a more in-depth experience. The visit will be led by a costume and/or textile professional who will share their extensive knowledge with you. The visit will be divided into 2 groups; half the group will tour the museum while the other half will enjoy, at close quarters, some of the costumes we have in our archive. The groups will then swap over. The visit will last up to 3 hours. After the tour you may want to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of a cake in our award-winning tearoom and gift shop. Please note – refreshments are not included in the entry price. The cost is £250 and payment will be made at the point of booking. This is refundable if you cancel more than a week before the proposed visit. Email collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk to check for availability and a booking form. Gold Visit This is designed for students (up to 5) to view items in the archive for project research. The length of time can be discussed with the collections manager. The cost is £25 per hour and payment will be made at the point of booking. This is fully refundable if the visit is cancelled at least a week beforehand. These visits will be limited to either Thursday or Friday. Email collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk to check for availability and a booking form. Platinum Visit A bespoke service available to individual researchers. A one-to-one visit costs £25 per hour and details will be discussed with the collections manager at the time of booking. These visits will be limited to either a Thursday or Friday. Email collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk to check for availability and a booking form.

ABOUT The late Mrs. Betty Penny MBE founded the Blandford Fashion museum, located in Lime Tree House, in 1996. The house is a beautiful Georgian property in Blandford Forum, built by John and William Bastard after the town’s Great Fire in 1731. Mrs. Penny’s collection of costumes, known locally as the Cavalcade of Costume, form the nucleus of the present collection. However, since then the collection has almost trebled in size and continues to grow thanks to generous donations from the public. In 2024, thanks to Dorset Council for the Culture and Community Project Fund we were able to initiate Stage 1 of our digitisation project, which has enabled us to digitally record all of the paperwork and photography associated with the Cavalcade of Costume. We are looking at a way at making this available through our website but for now, if you are interested in studying this wealth of information please email collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk . The Arts Council gave the museum accredited status in 2010, and renewed it in 2015. We receive a small grant from the Town Council, but no other public funding. As a result, we have a few paid members of staff and an invaluable team of volunteers. We have a reputation locally for our friendly atmosphere. We have thirteen display spaces over two floors, and there is a rolling programme of exhibition changes. Our exhibitions showcase historic dress and textiles and the connection between fashion and social history. Additional facilities include a Resources Room for use by students studying fashion & textiles and a Lecture Room for study days.

Welcome to our award-winning tearoom and gift shop situated on the ground floor of the museum. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a slice of cake or maybe a cream tea in our traditional tearoom! We offer gluten free cake and biscuits and plant-based milk. On a warm day, you can relax in our enclosed sunny courtyard. We allow well behaved dogs in the tearoom but please use the side entrance as only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum. All visitors are welcome whether you are visiting the museum or not. We have an accessible ground floor lavatory and baby changing facilities. Our gift shop sells affordable fashion related books and other souvenirs. New to 2026 we will be selling gift vouchers for that small perfect gift. Please ask at the till.

'Youthquake:1960s' 16th February 2026 Blandford Fashion Museum is excited to announce the upcoming exhibition, 'Youthquake:1960s', as part of the Fashioning Our Future project with The Salisbury Museum. Thanks to funding received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Fashioning Our Future project, students from Arts University Bournemouth and local Sixth Forms have been working with the museum team to bring to life this dynamic exhibition. Choosing objects from the museum’s extensive fashion collection, the students explored 1960s boutique fashion alongside homemade garments encapsulating the free-spirited energy of the 1960s. Many of the garments featured in the exhibition represent innovative sartorial statements expressed during the 1960s era through bold garments made at home. This adventurous attitude to style is a theme that resonated with the students, aligning with their concerns around sustainability and making conscious fashion choices. In addition to marveling at the glorious 1960s fashions on display, visitors can also step into fashions of the era with a specially selected collection of garments for dressing up and handling. From crochet to patchwork, bold minidresses and boho maxi dresses, expect to be immersed in the 1960s era in this fantastic fashion exhibition. Previous Next

Contact Us Email - info@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk facilities@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk - Daily operational queries collections@blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk - Collections related enquiries Phone - 01258 453 006 Post - Lime Tree House, The Plocks, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7AA Getting Here - Our opening days are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10.00 am to 4.30 pm (last entry 4pm) . We are closed December- Mid-February each year for the change of exhibitions. Entrance: Adults - £6.00 Seniors (60+) - £5.00 Students (16+) - £4.00 Children under 16 - Free Friends of the Museum - Free Essential Carer - Free Please note that under 16s must be accompanied by a fee paying adult. On Foot Lime Tree house is on The Plocks, opposite the Royal British Legion in the centre of Blandford Forum. From the Market Place, follow the lane at the front of the Church (Church Lane) up past the small Short Stay car park. The museum is on your left. By Car The museum is in the centre of town, in the middle of Blandford’s one way system. From the Market Place, follow the system around to Salisbury Street, and then bear right at the fork. Turn immediately right into The Plocks and you will see the museum on your right. There is some on-street parking opposite the museum, and a short stay car park on Church Lane. Further parking (including Long Stay) can be found at Eagle House Gardens or at the Stour Meadows Car Park (free of charge). Both of which are only a short walk away. By Train Blandford Forum does not have a train station, but our nearest stations are Salisbury, Sherborne, Poole and Bournemouth (all around 40 mins by car). By Bus Y4 – Yeovil7 – Blandford St MaryX8 – PooleX12 – Weymouth20 – Blandford187 – Dorchester Advertising Partners If you are visiting Dorset on holiday, visit Cottage Holidays for places to stay: https://www.cottageholidays.com/blandford-forum/

< Back Weaving Bonanza! You will be able to weave ribbons into a decorative fish and then weave your own basket. This is suitable for all ages and parents/carers must stay with their child/children. All materials are supplied and a drink and a biscuit are provided also. Parents and children are also welcome to look round the Museum before or after the workshop. There is a Treasure Box workshop in the morning on this day, so you may want to book both sessions. We need at least 4 people to book for the workshop to run, so bring your friends and have some fun. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weaving-bonanza-tickets-1981585021141?msockid=0395db915a9c6a4323ddcdfe5bb36b86 Previous Next