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
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
As we all make our final preparations for the big day, at Dorset History Centre we thought we’d take a moment of quiet and reflection and take a look at Christmases past. There are some fantastic photographs in the Herbert Collection showing Weymouth in the 1960s that capture the mood and anticipation of this festive… Read more A Very Weymouth Christmas
A new collection we have recently taken in (DHC ref: D-3291) contains some very interesting plans and sketches dating from the 1920s to the 1960s… One of the earliest set of plans from 1924 show the design of a larger version of the familiar shelters that can be seen along the Weymouth Esplanade (a popular place to eat fish and chips) to seat 32 or 40 persons, that… Read more Weymouth seafront – What is, was, and what could have been
Weymouth, for obvious reasons has a close and varied relationship with the sea, whether that be through trade, fishing, naval activity or the attractiveness of the town and its beaches to tourists. Whilst the sea appeals to us for the aforementioned reasons, it also presents very real dangers. The Dorset coastline either side of Weymouth become the final resting place of hundreds of vessels, many of which resulted… Read more Weymouth lifeboat – stories of heroism at sea
‘Royal Weymouth’ is a four-volume book that we hold within our collection. Like ‘The Extra Illustrated Edition of Hutchins’, it has been put together by A.M. Broadley, but instead of grangerising one book, these volumes are based around several accounts of the Royal visits to Weymouth by King George III and his family. The first… Read more Royal Weymouth, Volume 1 – Cuttings and Correspondence
A huge collection of delicate photographs is now being preserved at Dorset History Centre.
Graham V Herbert spent his whole working life running the family photographic business in Weymouth, building up a considerable reputation as a commercial photographer. (more…)
Were you aware that in 1965, winner of the Miss World international beauty pageant and one-time Bond girl, came from none other than our own fair county? Watch, as blonde bombshell Lesley Langley wanders about Weymouth in these latest of photos from the Herbert Photographic Collection. A mayoral reception along the Esplanade, press teams pointing… Read more Miss World’s whistle-stop Weymouth tour!
Weymouth and its inhabitants suffered greatly during the war; its proximity to the naval base at Portland and its well-protected bay left it at the receiving end of several bombing raids. The worst affected area in the borough was Chapelhay, residing on the southern side of the harbour. Photographs taken after the war show the extent… Read more Destruction and Creation
Amber, our newly appointed Archives Project Technician, recommences work digitising the fascinating Herbert Collection. She shares some specially selected snapshots of Dorset from times gone by. As one of Dorset History Centre’s newest additions to the team, I find myself with the fascinating privilege of delving through three decades of local Dorset history, as documented pictorially… Read more Delightfully retro festive photography
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