We recently discovered this letter of reference, praising the cook at Crag Head, Bournemouth. It was written by the chamberlain for the Queen of Sweden and Norway, who resided at the property in 1881. The letter reads: I have much pleasure in testifying to the thorough efficiency & excellent caracter [sic] of Sarah Hutchings, who… Read more Cooking for Royalty
When did you last send a postcard? For many of us, postcards are reserved for summer holidays, and even then they have largely been eclipsed by texts and video calls. But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the postcard was a hugely popular means of communication. By the end of King Edward VII’s… Read more The Dorset Postcard Collection – Bournemouth
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
Sitting next to Bournemouth University, you might not realise the history of Talbot Village. Did you know this green and shady suburb was established by the philanthropy of two women, Georgina and Mary Anne Talbot? Early Days The heathland where Bournemouth now stands was once common land which provided the local community with turf, game,… Read more The Evolution of Talbot Village
At Dorset History Centre, we hold a large number of fascinating collections which tell of a rich history. One such collection is that of Loewy Engineering of Bournemouth… — The County of Dorset has been home to many individuals, men and women who in their own specialist fields have made a great impact upon society… Read more Ludwig Loewy – The Story of a Czech Jew who escaped Nazi Germany
Bournemouth suffered a devastating aerial assault when 23 May 1943, a German ‘Tip and Run’ raid attacked the town. The incident is well recorded as the cost in human lives and physical destruction was severe with a reputed 130 deaths and the levelling of over 50 buildings. Amongst the premises badly affected were two large hotels, the Metropole and Central, as well as Beales Department Store where… Read more Beales, bombs and evidence within the archives
Listing the Bournemouth Borough archive reveals the efforts and experiences of Bournemouth people during the Second World War; from a report about the courage of survivors of the Blitz to strange finds amongst bundles of paperwork. The Bournemouth Borough archive (ref: DC/BH) covers nearly a century of records, from the late 1800s to the late… Read more Bournemouth’s Second World War ‘Big Effort’
The Cooper Dean archive, which provides insight into the history of Bournemouth, is now fully catalogued and free to access at Dorset History Centre.
The collection is mainly made up of records relating to the management of the Littledown Estate, approximately 1000 acres of modern Bournemouth. (more…)
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