Why the Workhouse? We all know that the sons and daughters of Dorset have spread around the world – even a casual wander through the Dorset History Centre online catalogue will reveal the names of countries and territories from all around the globe. Often the records refer to business interests in foreign or empire countries… Read more From Workhouse Records: Sturminster Newton Workhouse to Newfoundland (part 1)
This is the second part of a look at the life of Alfred Stevens. If you missed the first part, you can catch-up here! — After nine years of travelling and studying under the great Italian masters Alfred returned to Blandford in 1842. For a while he helped his father George with his decorating business… Read more Alfred Stevens (1817 – 1875): Part 2
As a major project to safeguard our most significant collection of film comes to a close, Digital Archivist Cassandra reflects on one of her favourite collections. — I first encountered Windrose Rural Media Trust back in 2013 when I was invited to look at the extensive collection and assess whether we would preserve it at… Read more A Century of Sights and Sounds
Since the formation of books as we know them, endpapers or endleaves have existed in some form, situated between the textblock and the binding. Not unlike endbands which were discussed in a previous blog, endpapers have evolved through time from providing protection for the textblock and structural support to becoming integral decorative features. Endpapers in… Read more Conservation tales: Endpapers and how to spot them!
We have records in our archive from 1900s, 1800s, 1700s and even as far back as 965 AD, over 1000 years old. These records are stored in our strong room and will be safely preserved there for many years to come. Interestingly, it is items which were created in the 21st Century which are at… Read more Keeping Your Bits Safe
There are a great many sources for information about your family and genealogical advice. If you’re searching a little further afield than Dorset, then the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society might be able to help… — When asked to write a blog for the DHC on the collection of pedigrees held at the Somerset… Read more Somerset and Dorset Family History Society
Sir Stephen Gaselee was an irascible judge who used to sit in judgment at the Dorchester Assizes in the 1820s & 1830s. He was well-known for his prosecution of radicals and reformers. This was evidenced in March 1832 when he sentenced Blandford’s George Long and Sturminster Newton’s Richard Bleathman to be hung in Dorchester Jail… Read more What the Dickens?!
Henry Maidment was an agricultural labourer who lived in the North Dorset village of Pimperne. In 1866, Henry was one of the few surviving British Army veterans who had fought Napoleon Bonaparte’s French Army in the Spanish Peninsular War. At 83, he could not work and had hit hard times. He was surviving on a… Read more Henry Maidment: Our Forgotten War Hero
A new book by Brian Bates tells about some of the dramas, tragedies and even comedies that played out at the Dorset assize courts during the nineteenth century… At the Lent assizes, in 1856, 15-year-old servant Flora Everitt stood in the dock accused of trying to poison her master, and in that same year Elizabeth… Read more Stories from the Dorset Assizes
At Dorset History Centre we are fortunate to be able to work with a large cross-section of different groups. One of these groups is Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley Landscape Partnership. In this blog, as part of Local and Community History Month, they explain a little more about what this partnership does… — In 2003… Read more Chase and Chalke Landscape Partnership: Connecting our Communities
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