Gold Hill

Gold Hill is the most famous hill in Shaftesbury, dating back to the Saxon era overlooking the amazing views of the Blackmore Vale.  With its well worn cobbles, it's most recently famous for the Hovis bread advertisement back in the 1980's when the young boy struggled to push his bicycle up the hill.

Park Walk

Park Walk has far reaching views over St James and across the Blackmore Vale.  On a clear day, you can see for miles across the Dorset skyline.  Park Walk is a popular place to meet and relax around this historic market town.

Shaftesbury Abbey

The award-winning museum tells the story of this important Abbey from its early beginning through to its abrupt end.  Experience the interactive virtual tour, see the casket thought to hold Edward's remains, touch relics and be guided by a fascinating audio tour.  Outside, wander through the foundations of the Abbey Church and sample the unique aromas of the Anglo-Saxon herb collection in the peaceful walled garden.  Finish your visit at the Museum shop where you will find an interesting selection of books, cards, gifts and plants. 

Open daily from 10am to 5pm from 31st March 2008 to 31st October 2008 Adults £2.50 Concessions £2.00 Children £1.00 Family (2+2) £6.

Visit Shaftesbury's two museums and save £1. (Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Garden and Gold Hill Museum & Garden). Contact the Abbey Museum for details.

For more information, click here

www.shaftesburyheritage.org.uk

Gold Hill Museum & Garden

Nestled in a traditional sandstone cottage at the top of the famous Gold Hill is this fascinating museum. What was life like for a Shastonian? Well, it’s portrayed here through artefacts, costume, photos, ceramics, tools, domestic items, the town’s first fire engine and a mummified cat!  Dorset buttons are also on display and the ‘Byzant’, a gold-coloured festival totem that played a central role in the town’s water gathering ceremony.

Outside is the Museum's beautiful award-winning cottage style garden where you can sit and relax.

For more information click here www.shaftesburyheritage.org.uk

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Established in 1957 in the old covered market at 13 Bell Street, in the centre of the medieval Dorset market town, Shaftesbury Arts Centre (01747 854321) is widely recognised as one of the best volunteer membership-led arts centres in south west England.

Its regular, varied and lively year-round programme of amateur and professional plays, films, art, photography and craft exhibitions, workshops, and training courses draws people from far and wide including Wiltshire and Somerset. It is also increasingly taking the arts out into the community.

This website tells you all the need to know about what it does and when, who to contact and where, how you can get involved, the people behind it, and what it hopes to do in future:  www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk 

Shaftesbury Leisure Pool

Shaftesbury Leisure Pool is a 22-yard community facility that was covered and refurbished with money from the National Lottery.

For more information click here

www.shaftesburypool.co.uk

The Hine Collection of Mechanical Music

   Dance, Fairground and Street Organs

A grand collection available for viewing and listening to on Open Days or by prior arrangement.

For details of The Hine Collection click HERE

The Hotel Grosvenor

Little is known about the Hotel Grosvenor before 1541, the year in which it, like so many other successful Coaching Inns at the time, increased its capacity by incorporating the Cock Inn and the Star Inn.  The Grosvenor was fully rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century, and by the 18th century the Grosvenor was the town's principal posting Inn.

The last 50 years has seen a number of changes at The Grosvenor Hotel.  Having changed hands a number of times it has undergone a major refurbishment and was reopened again in December 2009.

St Peter's Church

St Peters is the most ancient of all the churches in Shaftesbury and stands in the High Street.  The registers date from 1623.  It was built in the latter part of the 15th century but, by 1878, the interior was pronounced unsafe and it was not in use for many years.  In 1897 the floor and seating was renewed and further work was carried out in the early 20th century.  In more recent years major roof repairs, internal re-ordering and an organ overhaul have been undertaken.

St James' Church

The church of St James was completely rebuilt in 1866-67 at a cost of £3,350.  It consists of a nave, chancel, vestry, aisles, north porch and an embattled western tower 65 feet in height, with four pinnacles and containing a clock and six bells.  The pulpit is of oak and elaborately carved.  The registers date from 1559.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity church is situated in Bimport and was completely rebuilt on the old site in 1842.  It is built in the Early English style and comprised nave, aisles, north and south galleries, choir, north and south porches and square embattled western tower, 100 feet in height, with pinnacles and containing six bells.  It could seat 834 people.  Now, however, the building has been converted for community use and is the home of many groups, including the Scouts and a Day Centre for senior citizens.  The churchyard of the Holy Trinity still contains three handsome avenues of lime trees.