January 2026

When New Accessions Arrive: Behind the Scenes in the Conservation Studio

New accessions arrive at Dorset History Centre almost every week, each one bringing its own story – and sometimes its own challenges. Before anything enters our climate‑controlled repositories, it’s assessed by our Collections Archivist, listed, boxed, and prepared for long‑term storage. But some items need an extra stop along the way: the conservation studio. The… Read more When New Accessions Arrive: Behind the Scenes in the Conservation Studio

Smallpox and the Bankes Family

Between 2015 and 2018 Dorset History Centre undertook the ‘Unlocking the Bankes archive‘ project. During the life of this project, staff and volunteers contributed well over 100 blogs to the project website. By 2024, this project website was no longer functional in the way it originally was, and we made the decision to close the… Read more Smallpox and the Bankes Family