DorsetHistoryCentre

Albumen Prints of Bournemouth and Beyond

Dorset History Centre acquired this album of beautiful albumen prints recently. Whilst the front cover is missing and there is some foxing to the pages, the prints are in remarkably good condition considering the age of them. Albumen prints date from 1850 when they were invented by Louis Désiré Blanquat-Evrard and were in regular use… Read more Albumen Prints of Bournemouth and Beyond

Capturing the Blaze: Fire on Weymouth Seafront

Let’s take a trip back 70 years to 1954, when The Pavilion Theatre on Weymouth Pier was destroyed in a devastating fire. History Sat in a prime position in Weymouth Harbour, The Pavilion opened on 21st December 1908, offering locals and tourists a go-to spot for performances. Over the years, it evolved from hosting lively… Read more Capturing the Blaze: Fire on Weymouth Seafront

Rural Pursuits – Hunt History of the Blackmore Vale

Dorset History Centre has just acquired a set of records detailing the activities of the Blackmore Vale Hunt (BVH).  Once again, we’re hugely grateful to the Purchase Fund of the Dorset Archives Trust which has supported this auction acquisition.  DHC already held a small quantity of records relating the BVH but this new material (D-3383)… Read more Rural Pursuits – Hunt History of the Blackmore Vale

Exploring Dorset through Dorset Explorer

During the pandemic, we published a blog about online maps, noting three different sources of information and how you might use each of them to help you with your research. This blog has proven to be one of our most-read blogs ever, and hopefully it has acted as a useful guide to many people. Whilst… Read more Exploring Dorset through Dorset Explorer

Dorset Authors Conservation Project

This week marks the end of the Dorset Authors Conservation Project as the final items were placed in bespoke boxes and the written report completed. Generously funded by the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust (NMCT) the Dorset Authors Project aimed to conserve items from three major literary collections: Thomas Hardy, William Barnes and Sylvia Townsend-Warner. These… Read more Dorset Authors Conservation Project