Dorset Record Office

The Dorset Record Office preserves and makes available to the public the archives and records of the history of Dorset.

These archives form a magnificent, historical record of the lives, government, business and activities of the people, communities and organisations that have made up Dorset over the last ten centuries.

The archives preserved in the Dorset Record Office survive from 965 to the present day and relate to every town and parish in the areas of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. They record the ownership and management of the land, the operation of businesses, the conduct of local government, the administration of justice, the lives of families and individuals and much, much else.

At the Dorset Record Office we store the records in carefully regulated storage areas, catalogue them and conserve them. In addition we help members of the public use the records for a variety of research purposes.

In order to help with access to the records volunteers have been working on projects to transcribe and index certain types of records. This involves learning to decipher the old handwriting and writing or typing out the information so that it is easier to read. This information is then made available to visitors to the Record Office.

Volunteers would receive guidance on handling the records, however an interest in history is essential. The information is recorded in a specific format. Some of our volunteers input the information directly into a Word document on a laptop. Others record the information longhand, which is then typed up by Record Office staff. Volunteers work in the Record Office search room with other users of the service and therefore are able to decide when they wish to visit the Record Office - regular working hours are not required.

If you would like further information please use the contact details below.