This week marks the 199th Anniversary of the formation of HM Coastguard. As Britain is a maritime nation, there has always been a need to give assistance to ships in distress, maintain a watch over shore and coastal waters for attack or invasion and prevent smuggling. The formation of the Read more…
We are delighted to share news that the judging panel for the 2020 Dorset Tourism Awards have chosen West Bay Discovery Centre as one of the Finalists in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category. The Accessibility and Inclusive category focusses on how well attractions and tourism providers respond to the Read more…
The South West Coast Path is one of the UK’s greatest and most famous walks; 630 miles in total, running from Somerset around Devon, Cornwall and finally into Dorset and through West Bay ending at Poole Harbour. West Bay Discovery Centre is proud to be one of their Way Makers, which Read more…
Did you know that it is believed that the first jigsaw puzzle was created in 1760 by an Englishman called John Spilsbury? He mounted a map of England on a thin sheet of mahogany and cut around the county boundaries. These puzzles were initially used as educational tools to teach Read more…
We have always welcomed visitors on Boxing Day and the week between Christmas and New Year but sadly this year due to Covid we won’t be opening. As many of our visitors will be missing the Boxing Day Swim, we couldn’t let you also miss our annual Mouse Hunt which Read more…
Wishing all of our visitors and supporters happiness over the festive season and into 2021.Your support has been invaluable to us throughout this difficult year.
Have you discovered the two new sculptures in West Bay? They are part of a sculpture project marking parish boundaries along the coast path. Historically West Bay was split into two parish boundaries with the line running through the Bridport Arms! The east part of West Bay belongs to Burton Read more…
On this Remembrance weekend, we look back at some of the individual stories of sacrifice, we have uncovered in some of our previous pop up exhibitions. In 2018 on the 100th Anniversary of the ending of the First World War we joined forces with St John’s Church, and Bridport Heritage Read more…
Can you remember the first railway journey you ever took? Just imagine the excitement of children living in outlying villages around Bridport and experiencing their first trip in a train along the very short trip from Bridport to West Bay. As our pop-up exhibition ‘Down the track’ closes we take Read more…
Although the railway line between Bridport and West Bay closed for passengers in September 1930 and for goods traffic in 1964 part of it has been converted into a popular cycling and walking route to West Bay. We pick the path up close to the Crown Roundabout on the Burton Read more…