Celebrating Wimborne’s rich history

The first Wimborne History Festival was held in 2016.  Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, local district, town and parish councils and Wimborne BID, it brought the area’s fascinating past vividly to life with exciting events and activities covering a range of periods, in historic settings in and around Wimborne Minster.

In 2018 the Festival commemorated the centenary of the end of the First World War and 100 years since the Suffragette movement with living history displays in the town centre.  An eye-catching WW1 Bristol Scout bi-plane had pride of place in the Square, but perhaps what caught visitors’ imagination most was an evocative version of the Silent Soldier project in which ten Wimborne men who gave their lives were poignantly remembered.

The 2021 Festival explored life in the Georgian and Regency period,  from Smuggling to the ceremony of aristocratic life.  There was plenty of entertainment and action for all to get involved with military displays, children’s activities and Georgian crafts displays.

Wimborne History Festival is a not for profit limited company working in collaboration with over 30 partners/organisations to provide a family focused festival and a series of community and educational projects. Wimborne History Festival aims to help interpret the history of Wimborne Minster and the surrounding area, provide better understanding of the region’s heritage and create learning opportunities for local school children and residents, thus encouraging more people to enjoy their local heritage and get involved with history.