Back in the Autumn of 2022 ‘The Living Stones’ project took off in earnest after being awarded a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Funding. The driving force who set this in motion was new Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation (BHC) member Howard Freeman, liaising with the Dorset History Centre, the Russell Cotes Museum and the History… Read more Preserving Bournemouth’s Jewish Heritage
Whilst looking for information in the index for the Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries about Shaftesbury, the eyes of staff here at Dorset History Centre were taken by an entry just above those for the town, which intriguingly read, in all-caps ‘”SHACKLE-EGG” DAY’. With our interest piqued, we had to know more and headed… Read more Shackle-Egg Day!
No one can resist doodling in the margins while sat in a dull meeting, and it seems this has been true for time immemorial. Here are some examples of sketches in parish records – some functional, but most are just for fun! Sticker Book The fantastically morbid doodles in this parish register are in fact… Read more Doodles Through Time
In our regular newsletter we have a feature which challenges our readers to identify where historic photos were taken. In most cases we know where these pictures were taken before we share them to the public as part of the feature, but every now and then we come across some pictures which truly stump us.… Read more Where were these pictures taken?
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
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
Coasts in Mind is exploring coastal change through the lives and memories of the diverse communities around Poole Harbour’s shores and rivers. Hazel and Oliver are excited to share the project with DHC readers in this blog, and to offer training opportunities for young people and youth groups! Coasts in Mind has three main aims…… Read more Coasts in Mind
Welcome to our annual Year in Review, highlighting the varied work of the Archives and Records team, from archival documents to archaeological finds, and vital active records. We are glad to work with partners across Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole; something we as a small service would not be able to do without collaborative… Read more Year in Review: 2025
Merry Christmas from all of the team at Dorset History Centre! We hope you have a peaceful and relaxing festive season, and we look forward to welcoming you to Dorset History Centre in 2026. — A reminder of our opening hours over this festive period: We will be open with our usual opening hours (9am-5pm)… Read more Merry Christmas from Dorset History Centre
It’s that season where we start to think about whether we will get snow for Christmas. We thought we’d look back through the archives at snow in Dorset over the years. Weymouth bay saw ice in 1963, cars being dug out, picturesque Dorset cottages and fields covered in a gentle white sprinkling like icing sugar… Read more Dreaming of a White Christmas…
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