You can find out about our most recent projects, events and other news on our latest news page.

Who we are

The Dorset History Centre brings together two services - the Dorset Record Office and Dorset County Local Studies Library. We are funded in partnership by Bournemouth Borough Council (opens in a new window), Dorset County Council and the Borough of Poole (opens in a new window).

The History Centre is actually run by the county council. It is part of Cultural Services, which in turn is part of the Adult and Community Services directorate.

In 2010/11, we had more than two thousand enquiries by post and email, over four-and-a-half thousand enquiries by telephone and 7548 visits in person. A total of 10955 documents were requested and viewed in our searchroom. We also had over 176,000 visits to our web pages, plus tens of thousands of searches using our online catalogue.

In the 2010 National Archives self-assessment survey the Dorset History Centre received a 4-star rating (the highest grading possible).

What we do

• Collect, preserve and make available documents (paper, parchment and printed documents, audio-visual material, digital records and much more) relating to Dorset

• Collect, store and make available books and other printed material relating to Dorset

• Sort and catalogue these records and books to make them accessible

• Care for, and carry out conservation work on, documents in our custody

• Provide guidance for visitors, and answer enquiries regarding our collections

• Provide copies of documents, including high quality prints

• Deliver talks and educational events

• Organise and collaborate in projects and events relating to history and heritage in Dorset 

History

The Dorset Record Office was founded in 1955, based at County Hall in Dorchester. Its collections expanded considerably during the remainder of the decade, as it took custody of the archives formerly held at the County Museum in 1957, and became the Diocesan Record Office in 1959.

The Record Office was expanded in 1971 when a new search room was opened. In 1991, it moved to its current site when a new, purpose-built, office was opened on Bridport Road. In 2005 the County Local Studies Library was also moved in the same building, and the Record Office became the Dorset History Centre. Since 1997, we have operated as a joint service for Bournemouth Borough Council, the Borough of Poole and Dorset County Council.

There have been three County Archivists: Margaret Holmes from 1955 to 1983, Hugh Jaques from 1983 to 2009 and Sam Johnston, who is the current County Archivist.