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Wareham, Dorset, United Kingdom
Museum Exhibits & Displays
Archaeology
The history of human occupation of the Wareham area goes back several hundred thousand years. The museum displays objects which range from this period up to the post-medieval period.
Of particular interest is the collection of pottery made in the Wareham area during the Roman period, and a reconstruction of a pottery kiln found at the site of Bestwall near Wareham.
Late Iron Age beaded bowls (c150 BC) from Wareham
< Iron Age pole lathe used for shale working
There is also a reconstruction of an Iron Age pole lathe used for the manufacture of shale objects. This featured on the Channel 4 programme Time Team in February 2004, being used to make a shale armlet. See slide show below …
We’re delighted to announce a new exhibition at Wareham Town Museum featuring the fascinating East Stoke Roman Coin Hoard—a rare local discovery that of
fers a glimpse into life and wealth in Roman Britain.
fers a glimpse into life and wealth in Roman Britain.
The hoard was discovered in 1993 near East Stoke, just outside Wareham, by a local metal detectorist. It originally contained 43 silver denarii dating from AD 68 to 180, spanning the reigns of Roman emperors from Galba to Marcus Aurelius. These coins were likely buried for safekeeping and never recovered—leaving behind a remarkable archaeological legacy nearly 2,000 years later.
42 coins are now on display at the museum. While one coin is no longer part of the collection, the hoard remains an important and rare example of Roman-era finds in Dorset, where such discoveries are relatively uncommon.
The exhibition includes detailed interpretation, helping visitors understand the hoard’s historical context and what it reveals about Roman influence in the Wareham area.
Admission to Wareham Town Museum is free, and this new display is a must-see for anyone interested in local history, archaeology, or the legacy of Roman Britain.
Come and explore the past—right where it happened!
The East Stoke Roman Coin Hoard now on display
