Dorset History Centre

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Dorset History Centre ... a thousand years, a million stories. We house Dorset's local archives - from council records to personal collections.

Dorset History Centre is the archives service and local studies library for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset and Poole.

It's always great to see records being used in different ways! In our searchroom this afternoon we were joined by Richar...
15/10/2026

It's always great to see records being used in different ways!

In our searchroom this afternoon we were joined by Richard and Gareth who brought along their keyboard to help them understand the composition of a musical score from the archives of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, originally composed in 1909! The pair plan to use this, along with other historical music, in an anniversary performance next year!

We were invited to the @ Flax Forward private view at Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday. Community researchers have been...
15/10/2026

We were invited to the @ Flax Forward private view at Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday. Community researchers have been visiting Dorset History Centre to look at the archives to explore the history of flax in Dorset. The exhibition shows what they have uncovered so far. It was wonderful to hear how our archives were used. Jane Trowler, (who can be seen in the image pointing to research) enthusiastically talked about listening to oral histories on her visit to the Dorset History Centre. The exhibition is on until the 24th October. https://orlo.uk/UODzO

Further information about the project can be found here https://orlo.uk/mtxao

Where are we this Wednesday?Do you recognise the scene in the image? Pop your guess in the comments below, and let us kn...
14/10/2026

Where are we this Wednesday?

Do you recognise the scene in the image? Pop your guess in the comments below, and let us know your memories of this particular Dorset village!

Next month we have an online talk by Colin Divall on the closing of Somerset and Dorset Railway: 1951-1967. You can sit ...
14/10/2026

Next month we have an online talk by Colin Divall on the closing of Somerset and Dorset Railway: 1951-1967. You can sit in your comfy armchair with a cup of tea to enjoy this talk. You may like to watch with friends and family who travelled on the railway when it was open. If you have relatives in a residential care home, they may like to socialise and watch it in their communal lounge.

Booking and further information is here: https://orlo.uk/HrTcG

S&DJR Shillingstone Swanage Railway Age UK North, South & West Dorset

📣 Important notice for all customers 📣 Dorset History Centre will be closed to the public between Monday 2 November and ...
13/10/2026

📣 Important notice for all customers 📣

Dorset History Centre will be closed to the public between Monday 2 November and Friday 13 November 2026 for our annual Collections Fortnight. This period offers us a chance to work on collections and material which need attention, but that we are otherwise unable to get to when we are open.

We regret that during this period we will be unable to answer emails or enquiries, or welcome researchers into Dorset History Centre. We will endeavour to answer all enquiries received during this period as quickly as possible when we reopen.

**We will not be open on our usual 'first Saturday of the month' on Saturday 7 November, but will instead be open on Saturday 14 November.**

For today we have this wonderful map of the Manor of Canford Magna, drawn in around 1610. The map is interesting for a...
12/10/2026

For today we have this wonderful map of the Manor of Canford Magna, drawn in around 1610.

The map is interesting for a couple of reasons - it is a rare depiction of the extent of the town of Poole at the time, and you can also see the shape of the animal skin it was drawn onto. The writing appears in different directions across the plan, and shows different settlements, land, and the owners.

📷 D-BKL/N/A/2/44: Canford Manor, c1610

When John Daniel of Beaminster died in mysterious circumstances in 1728, his relations and neighbours suspected he had b...
11/10/2026

When John Daniel of Beaminster died in mysterious circumstances in 1728, his relations and neighbours suspected he had been murdered by his stepmother. Their suspicions were only heightened when the ghosts of John and his mother – and an apparition of John’s coffin – were spotted in the church!

Join us on Wednesday 28 October at 12.30pm as we use some of the documents held at Dorset History Centre to investigate this spooky tale and see whether we can discover the truth behind John’s untimely demise!

From the Stacks is our ongoing series of free public talks held on the last Wednesday of each month. These talks are designed to be short, enough to whet your appetite about the sorts of records we hold in our stacks!

This month is Stoptober, a national campaign designed to encourage people to stop smoking. LiveWell Dorset have lots of ...
10/10/2026

This month is Stoptober, a national campaign designed to encourage people to stop smoking. LiveWell Dorset have lots of information and advice to help you give up the habit.

Most to***co advertising was made illegal in the UK under the To***co Advertising and Promotion Act 2002. Before this however, cigarette advertising was widespread, aiming to portray smoking as glamorous sophisticated and normal. It was a big industry with little attention given to the potential health hazards. Times have certainly changed! Here at Dorset History Centre we hold records from different businesses, including Parsons of Dorchester, a former to***conist and hairdresser. This advert from that collection from 1937 shows an orb table lighter, one of the more expensive accessories available at the time.

Our blog today is the second in our new monthly series of updates about our The National Lottery Heritage Fund "Past Liv...
09/10/2026

Our blog today is the second in our new monthly series of updates about our The National Lottery Heritage Fund "Past Lives, Future Proofed" project. It has been six months since we were awarded £603,777 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and there has been a lot going on behind-the-scenes since then!

➡️ https://orlo.uk/23YwA

🎃 We're getting in the seasonal mood in our local studies library this month, with an assortment of spooooky books and r...
08/10/2026

🎃 We're getting in the seasonal mood in our local studies library this month, with an assortment of spooooky books and records on display 🎃

Pop in while we are open to have a look at some of the legends and tales of witches and ghosts in Dorset from the archives!

And do join us for October's "From the Stacks", a free public talk on Wednesday 28 October at 12.30pm, to learn more about a ghoulish Halloween Murder Mystery... ⚰️ 👻

Address

Bridport Road
Dorchester
DT11RP

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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