Dorset History Centre is dedicated to preserving, sharing and celebrating the rich heritage of Dorset.
Dorset History Centre brings together two services: Dorset Record Office and Dorset County Local Studies Library. We were awarded Archive Service Accreditation by The National Archives in 2018. Dorset Record Office was founded in 1955, originally based at County Hall in Dorchester. The collections expanded considerably and in 1991 the Record Office moved to a purpose-built building with environmentally controlled strong rooms on Bridport Road.
In 2005 the County Local Studies Library was moved to the Record Office which was then renamed Dorset History Centre. We now hold the archives of Dorset, ranging from Council records to personal collections, as well as books, pamphlets and other publications.
What we do:
- collect, preserve and make documents available to view; these include paper, parchment and printed documents as well as audio-visual material and digital records
- care for, and carry out conservation work on documents if necessary
- provide copies of documents
- support projects relating to history and heritage in Dorset
