Warning
Dorset History Centre will be closed to the public between Monday 2 November and Friday 13 November 2026 for our annual Collections Fortnight. This time offers us a chance to work on collections and material which need attention, but that we are otherwise unable to get to when we are open.
During this period we will be unable to answer emails or enquiries, or welcome researchers into Dorset History Centre. We will try to answer all enquiries received during this period as quickly as possible when we reopen.
... a thousand years, a million stories
Dorset History Centre is the archives service and local studies library for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset and Poole.
We house Dorset's local archives - from council records to personal collections.
We house Dorset's local archives - from council records to personal collections.
