Civic Society Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of each month
during winter (except December).
They are held on
1st Floor, Allendale House, Hanham Road, Wimborne BH21 1AS. (Lift available)
Entrance is from 7.00 p.m. for fee: Members £2.00, non-members £5.00
| Date | Speaker | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 AGM | ||
| 19 May 7.30pm |
Annual General Meeting for Members only | Followed by an interview with invited guests John and Ann Burden sharing some of their personal recollections of growing up and living in Wimborne over a period of great change, with host Marilyn Barber. |
| 2026 | ||
 |
Wimborne Civic Society's contribution to Dorset Architectural Heritage Week 2026 All three events are ticket only. Bookings open in August |
|
| 11 September 3.00pm and 19 September 3.00pm |
John Allen | Talk 'Coach & Horses - Uncovering a Pub`s History. Or how to become a buildings detective. An illustrated talk showing how readily accessible online and public resources reveal the fascinating history of this C17 building and characterful pub. Over the centuries there are glimpses into the social life in the surrounding area. The talk will tell how to undertake a similar search, and at the end there will be a chance to tour the premises and compare the current layout to that of 1915. |
| 15 September 2.30pm |
John Worth | An Architectural Walk Round Wimborne, to include most of the buildings worth looking at in the centre of this historic and attractive town, with plenty of architectural
detail including Wimborne Civic Society`s unusual eighteenth-century Gazebo off West Borough. The Walk will be led by members of the Civic Society, whose predecessors rebuilt the Gazebo some forty years ago. |
| 17 September 10.00am |
John Allen | A Bricks and Mortar Walk Round Wimborne, taking a closer look at many of the buildings of significance in the centre of this historic and attractive town. This walk takes as its focus the brickwork that defines the character of most of Wimborne`s built environment. Learn how, by using a little bit of careful observation, the age and status of many of the town`s buildings can be revealed. |
| 15 September | Paul Cheetham, Visiting Fellow, Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, Bournemouth University. |
Iron Age Dynasties of Dorset. Recent radiocarbon dating and DNA studies of later Iron age burials from Dorset have overturned the believed wisdom regarding the structure of Iron Age society in Dorset. This talk explores the complex societal organisation revealed by this recent research. |
| 20 October | Jo Amey The Tile Lady |
Tiles and Terracotta in and around Wimborne Often overlooked, decorative ceramics add interest and colour to our streets and historic buildings. This talk includes ceramic features on buildings in Wimborne and areas around, such as Canford Magna and Gaunts House. |
| 17 November | John Worth former Chair, Wimborne Civic Society |
WJ Fletcher - Wimborne's Architect Born in 1842, Walter John Fletcher in his role as architect and County Surveyor was responsible for many of the important buildings and developments in and around Wimborne. This tour through his work highlights how much Wimborne and the surrounding area's townscape owes to this prolific visionary. |
| 8 December at 7.00pm |
TO BE HELD IN THE MUSEUM OF EAST DORSET TEA ROOM AT 7.00pm | Christmas Party (members only) |
| Spring 2027 | ||
| 20 January | TBC | - |
| 17 February | TBC | - |
| 17 March | TBC | - |
| 18 May | Annual General Meeting for Members | With a short talk or presentation TBA |
| 2026 Visits | ||
| 21 May meeting at 10.30am | Fort Henry on Studland | Last September Pam White gave a talk on the archaeological work that has been taking place on Studland, helping to uncover its history as one of the most important WWII battle training areas in the country. We will learn more about this work by joining her and some other volunteers at the Middle Beach car park entrance Welcome sign. There will be a display of some of the ordnance discovered plus information boards and a short walk to Fort Henry, the WWII observation bunker. |
| 9 July - 10.00am | Guided visit around Dorset History Centre | we have been invited to a tour around the archives at DHC with a chance to see some rare Wimborne related artefacts and be shown how to access the wide range of materials that they hold. It is intended that this will be a full day visit with optional church visit in the afternoon |
| 8 September | Edmonsham House | Edmondsham is a remarkable and attractive house, an Elizabethan front with surprisingly different, eighteenth century wings, and an interior full of interesting items in rooms of a liveable size. We will be guided round the House and the Walled Garden. There will be an opportunity to see the medieval village church of St. Nicholas, which stands across the gardens from the house, and we shall finish with tea and cake. |
For further information contact Events |
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These lectures take place on Saturday afternoons at 2.30pm. Each season comprises four lectures on historical or cultural topics running between October and March based on a theme for the series.use the link below to see the range of subjects which have previously been covered.
We are proud of what we have achieved so far, but your active participation will help to secure the future quality of life in and around Wimborne.