In a previous blog post, we introduced you to the author John Fowles, and gave you some background on his life, as well as his interest in Lyme Regis and genealogy. — Mary Anning One family missing from the list of Lyme families given in the previous post was the Anning family. The palaeontologist Mary… Read more John Fowles (Part 2)
While the summer of 2022 has been a memorable one, having broken record levels of heat across England and Wales, the summer of 1930 proved to be greatly significant for the Bournemouth Division of Girl Guides after the movement secured fourteen acres of the Ancient Camp of Dudsbury from its then owner, Lord Wimborne. The… Read more The Dudsbury Guides and their link to the past
Whilst answering an enquiry email about Stourfield School, Bournemouth, a few weeks ago, we came across a fascinating booklet about a school trip to Holland in June 1938 (S-226/14/4). One was given to each of the girls who went on the trip, providing them with an itinerary, maps, useful information about Holland and reminders about… Read more A School Journey
Should the children of the poor be educated away from their families and traditional ways? In 2022 many of us would say not – that the bonds with relatives and with a natal culture are precious and should not be broken lightly. However, history holds many examples of just this and one of these is… Read more The Gypsy School at Farnham, 1847–1855
Dorset History Centre has a collection relating to the author John Fowles, resident in Lyme Regis, chiefly from his activities in the 1970s to 1990s. One of our volunteers has been looking through the 12 boxes of material that we hold, and will be sharing some of the things he has discovered in a series… Read more John Fowles (Part 1)
The Dorset History Centre holds an extensive range of documents charting the life and times of the famous Eldridge Pope Brewery established under that trade name in the 1870s. However the brewery actually owes its existence to two 19th century entrepreneurs that, through their vision and hard work, created the foundation upon which Eldridge Pope… Read more The Eldridge Brewing Legacy
The Dorset History Centre is fortunate to have been given a collection of images belonging to the Gaumont Cinema, Weymouth. The images have been digitised by Eddie Prowse who has provided as much information as is currently available for an interesting insight into 1950s local cinema. Background to the Gaumont Cinema Archive of Photographs In… Read more A Collection Almost Lost: Remembering The Gaumont Cinema, Weymouth
In June 1904 Col. W. F. Cody, aka ‘Buffalo Bill’ and his Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders Show appeared in Dorchester for one day only. In a previous blog, we looked at the build-up to the event, and this time, we have taken a look at how the day of Buffalo Bill’s arrival… Read more The Wild West Comes to Dorchester! (Part 2)
Language changes over time. As new words come and go and regional dialects fade from memory, the English we speak today is very different from that spoken 200 years ago. Dorset History Centre holds an 1856 election poster from Bridport written, for political effect, in the Dorset Dialect: The author, Jems Mab, says ‘Ich be… Read more Dabbling in Dorset Dialect
It’s always exciting when a truly historic event takes place. Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee and is now the third longest reigning monarch in history. Of course, to the British people it’s a perfect excuse to have a party! Let’s take a look at how Dorset celebrated… Read more Jubilations in Dorset!
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