'Special' door to Lawrence of Arabia's childhood

Different parts of the UK can lay claim to Col TE Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

The British Army officer, who helped unite and lead Arab guerrilla forces against the Ottoman Empire during World War One, was born in Wales and raised in Oxfordshire but it was perhaps Dorset that was closest to his heart.

He retreated to his holiday home Clouds Hill, near Wareham, for his retirement in 1935 and described the place as an "earthly paradise".

When he died in a motorcycle accident and was buried in the parish churchyard in Moreton, his connection with the county was cemented.

Radio Solent's Steve Harris has explored the new additions to a collection of Lawrence history on display at Wareham Town Museum.

Wareham Town Council said in March it would "embrace its new role as the recognised national centre for TE Lawrence" after it purchased a former bank next to its existing museum in North Street so it could expand.

The latest addition to the exhibition is a "really special" item from Lawrence's childhood home at 2 Polstead Road, Oxford.

Museum coordinator Katie Seal said it has recently acquired a "lovely pine door, painted green" from Lawrence's childhood home on long-term loan from the TE Lawrence Society.

"What's really special about it is that it has pencil markings of all the heights of Lawrence and his brothers growing up," she said.

"Lawrence is known as 'Ned' on the door [markings] and he's definitely one of the shortest ones on there. I think he was only 5ft 5in (1.7m).

"It's actually a really special, tangible bit of archaeological evidence of Lawrence from his childhood home."

The house was sold at auction in 2021.

Wareham Town Council holds the TE Lawrence Society collection, comprising books, papers and other material.

"[The society] reached out to us about whether we'd like to take on some more of their collection and house it in our museum - one of these lovely artefacts was the door," said Seal.

Other items include Hejaz railway nameplates, from the region where Lawrence was stationed during the Arab Revolt in 1916 -1918.

A special transparent plastic case has been built to house the door from his childhood home, funded by the TE Lawrence Society.

Seal said: "When I initially took on this role at the museum, I was quite surprised at how many visitors we get coming in just for Lawrence, and from all over the world as well, we've had visitors in from Australia and Canada.

"It is lovely to see and we're definitely getting more of a high profile with it all, especially with these items and because we're looking to move into a brand new museum."