Did you know that we regularly receive material to add to our archive collections? Each separate deposit of material at Dorset History Centre is called an accession. Here are a selection of the new accessions received by the archives during the past months.
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D-3480 Acc 12305a – Monkwood Farm map
This detailed 19th-century map of Monkwood Farm, Marshwood and Stoke Abbott offers a snapshot of rural Dorset’s agricultural landscape. Hand-drawn and annotated, it shows field names, boundaries, and buildings, providing a valuable resource for local historians, genealogists, and landscape researchers.
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D-PAM Acc 12312 – Dr Patricia Mathers Archive
This rich and detailed archive reflects the environmental and ecological work of Dr Patricia Mathers, a dedicated naturalist and researcher based in Broadstone. The collection spans over three decades and includes Urban Ecology diaries, Flora and Fauna indexes, photographs, and written studies covering the Broadstone, Corfe Hills, and Upton area. Together, these materials offer a valuable resource for understanding local biodiversity, and its change over years, particularly in the aftermath of recent devastating heath fires.
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D-COS Acc 12320 – Cosens and Co Ltd – Plans, glass plates and negatives
A treasure trove for maritime historians, this accession adds to the existing COSENS & CO LTD, PADDLE STEAMER OPERATOR AND MARINE ENGINEERS OF WEYMOUTH collection and features original ship plans and glass plate negatives, and photographs from Cosens and Co, a prominent Weymouth-based shipbuilding and paddle steamer operator. The material captures the craftsmanship and innovation of Dorset’s maritime industry, with visual documentation of vessels, buildings, and coastal scenes.
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FJ-2 Acc 12336 – Bournemouth Reform Synagogue
This accession documents the history and activities of the Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, one of the key centres of Jewish life in the region. The material includes administrative records and registers, correspondence, newsletters, and photographs. It provides valuable insight into the religious, cultural, and social life of the community from the mid-20th century to the present day.
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D-3494 Acc 12343 – Major Bell Archive
This unique collection documents the working life of Major Cuthbert Bell, who served as a water bailiff for the Avon and Dorset River Board during the 1950s and early 1960s. The archive includes a remarkable run of diaries spanning over a decade, offering detailed daily accounts of his duties patrolling local rivers and observations of life in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Boscombe, and surrounding areas. The collection provides a rare and personal insight into river management, rural policing, and local life in mid-20th-century Dorset.
