In the summer we were joined by our new Collections Assistant Chris who is working on the Wessex Water archive alongside Project Archivist Emma. We wanted to introduce readers to Chris on today’s blog…
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Hello everyone. My name’s Chris and I joined the Dorset History Centre as a Collections Assistant in July 2025. Previously, I’d led a somewhat eclectic professional life having worked as an English teacher (in Greece and Indonesia as well as the UK), run a care company and spent many years in roles supporting vulnerable people. Immediately prior to my current role, I worked for Children’s Services but a change in direction seemed prudent due to some health-related issues.
DHC is a great environment for me as I have a keen recreational interest in history, particularly the Medieval period from the Norman Conquest until the Battle of Bosworth. I can’t decide whether I think Henry II or Edward III was the better king. Which do you think? This means that I love the old castles we have here in Dorset, particularly Corfe Castle, which played a significant role during the Norman and Plantagenet periods.
I’m also a 19th century literature enthusiast so I’m excited to be working in the building that houses the Thomas Hardy collection. The increased popularity of the novel during this period means it’s possible to get a real sense of what life was actually like from reading the fiction of the time as opposed to needing to delve into a history book.
In terms of day-to-day business, I am currently cataloguing the Wessex Water archive under the esteemed tutelage of our archivist, Emma Blowers. Wessex Water have preserved many of the records of predecessor water boards and we’re cataloguing records that date way back to the late eighteenth century. It’s crazy to think how recently we were carrying water uphill in buckets or needing to use a public standpipe in the street due to shortages in domestic supply. Things change and the Wessex Water collection gives me a real feel for that. There are definitely some advantages to living in the modern age!
What with my English teaching background, I also love the use of language in some of our older documents. I think we should take a leaf out of the past’s book and replace our use of ‘regards’ with ‘I remain, as ever, your most obedient servant’. It has a nicer ring to it, don’t you think?