In the second half of the 19th century,

Henry Durden made extensive archaeological

collections in the Blandford region, especially

from Hod Hill, and he set up a private

museum on the first floor above his grocer's shop on the corner of market square in Blandford.

Such was the academic value of the collection

that on Durden's death it was bought by the

British Museum, where it now resides. In order

to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the

opening of the present museum in Blandford,

a special exhibit has been mounted of Durden's

collection, with many of the artefacts he

collected shown on these Roman legionaries

 The Blandford Railway Station

The Blandford Station was part of the Somerset and

Dorset Railway (S&D) A scale model is being built by

Kevin Trim with advice and assistance from David

Cash, and it will be an accurate depiction of the

station and goods yard as they were in the early

part of the 19th century.  The model will be

set up to run automatically, controlled by the

stewards at the entrance, and it will also be operated

manually at pre-arranged times. A second model is

also being contributed by John Evans, and this

will have more immediate access by visitors to

the museum.

 Life Size Station Platform

A replica of the station, complete with passengers,

including this Edwardian Lady is under construction

It will depict the visit to Blandford during the first

World War of the king (George V) and Winston Churchill

as they alight from the Blue Train which was then

running on the S&D line. The images and background

are being painted by

Philip Le Bas.

The museum has several antique instruments,

two of which are shown here.

The large brass instrument is called

an Ophicleide and the black

S-shaped instrument is called a Serpent.