Shrove Tuesday is approaching and we are preparing to indulge in the tradition of eating pancakes. But there is another centuries-old tradition also occurring on Shrove Tuesday that we want to shine a light on. In Corfe Castle, Shrove Tuesday is the day when the Purbeck quarrymen meet to enrol the new quarrymen. The ceremony… Read more Shrove Tuesday: a lesser-known tradition
Our volunteer David has been digging into his family history, and exploring the lives of his parents through the letters they sent. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, David has had a look at the love letters sent by his parents… — My parents met at a Christmas dance at the Rock Hotel in Weymouth on 23… Read more Love Letters and Family Tales
When rummaging through a box from the Fox Strangways Estate archive, we came across a book so small it can fit in the palm of your hand. It has a worn leather cover and tiny metal clasps and looks as though it has been well-used. Naturally, we wanted to know what it was! Closer inspection… Read more How to Tell the Time Using Your Hand, and Other Useful Information
Both functional as a form of authentication and aesthetically pleasing, seals are always an intriguing part of archival documents. Sometimes the connection between imagery and owner is clear – Simon Carp might have fish or a hook; but often the significance has been lost to time. We may not know the stories behind the seals,… Read more Wax Mysteries…
The archives hold a wealth of information on homemade remedies and recipes to save money during these trying times; from making your own cheese, biscuits, cakes, and sweets to your own cold remedies… (a disclaimer – while some are interesting insights into how ailments were treated in the past we would not recommend all)! There… Read more Tightening the purse strings – Money saving tips from the archives!
Welcome to the fourth part of our series exploring the history of Icen Cottage, Fordington. In previous blogs, we have introduced you to the cottage, shown you some of the earliest documents relating to the cottage, and discussed some of the problems when trying to identify the people who lived in the cottage. This time,… Read more Icen Cottage – George Cull
While it is true that this iconic Christmas carol would begin and end with a partridge in a pear tree, the truth is Dorset possess their own interpretation. The evidence of this fact is backed up in “Dorsetshire Folk-Lore” by John Symonds Udal, on (page 80) where the carol begins and ends with “a sprig… Read more The 12 Days of Dorset Christmas!
This is the fifth and final part of our series of blogs looking into the life of the author John Fowles through the records we hold here at Dorset History Centre. In previous posts, we have introduced you to the author John Fowles, his interest in Mary Anning, his life in and around Lyme Regis, and… Read more John Fowles (Part 5)
It’s that time of year when we’re all writing lists of some kind or another. Whether it’s scribbled on a piece of paper, typed on to a mobile phone or sent up the chimney there will be lists everywhere. There will be: – Christmas cards to send. What we want from Santa. What they want… Read more It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
As the festive season gets underway we take a look at a most unique British art form, The Pantomime (oh no we don’t!) The pantomime began its golden age in the nineteenth century, but its origins can be traced back to the Italian tradition known as ‘Commedia dell’ Arte’, a type of travelling street theatre.… Read more It’s Behind You!
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