Loss of Shire Hall Museum Strikes Dorchester’s Vital Tourism Industry

 

The sudden closure of Shire Hall Museum last week has sent shockwaves through Dorchester’s tourism sector.

This has started to cause a great deal of concern about the historic county town’s winter tourism prospects.

The Museum was run by the Shire Hall Trust Dorchester, an independent charity which was established to showcase the Grade I listed courthouse to its visitors.

The site was internationally known as the place where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried in 1834 and attracted nearly 10 thousand visitors every single year.

The closure of the museum comes at a critical time for local tourism.

Beyond the attractions historical value, Shire Hall served as an economic engine for Dorchester’s tourism sector.

The museum was able to boost traffic to all the hospitality business on High West Street, the street that the museum was located.

Sue Cull, a lifelong resident of Dorchester said: “Losing Shire Hall just as we head into the quieter winter season is a massive blow to the number of tourists we see from other parts of the country.”

“I have noticed less people especially on High West Street as visitors to the town no longer have an attraction to visit there.”

The museum had to close its doors on October 8^th due to a devastating three yearlong financial slide that left the independent trust with over £317,000 in deficit.

Public records have revealed that Dorset Council terminated the museum’s crucial £10,000 annual funding agreement.

Although the short-term prospects for tourism on Dorchester’s High West Street are problematic, official preparations for the building’s transition have already begun moving forward.

Dorset Council has confirmed that they will work together with the trustees about the closure of the Shire Hall Trust to make sure the historic property has a smooth transition to council ownership.

“Shire Hall occupies a unique place in Dorset’s History”, a spokesperson for Dorset Council said.

“We are committed to securing a positive long-term future for the building and the stories it holds.”

The council also stated that they are actively exploring new options for Shire Hall, however they won’t release any information about this as discussions are ongoing.