Portland Museum

Founded in 1930 by Dr Marie Stopes, the Museum's first curator and famous birth control pioneer, Portland Museum is housed in two thatched picturesque cottages nestling above Church Ope Cove. One cottage inspired the author Thomas Hardy to centre his famous novel "The Well Beloved" around it, making it the home "Avice", the novel's heroine.

There are many interesting artefacts on permanent display in the Museum including: the unique Rosette Gem, Roman Pottery, Mesolithic tools, Uniforms and Insignia from Portland's Army, gigantic ammonites, and an engraved roof slate, one of the many exhibits from Portland's Victorian Convict Prison.

Facilities include the garden, an ideal place to sit and enjoy a picnic during opening hours, a visitor WC and free car parking opposite. Guide dogs welcome.