01935 429609
Somerset & Dorset
Family History Society
Family History Society
Please do check opening times, admission fees, etc before visiting – as these can change with little notice. See below for addresses in neighbouring counties – your ancestors may have moved there.
Address: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP
Telephone: 01305 250550 Fax 01305 257184
Opening Hours: Monday: closed to visitors.
Tuesday – Friday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday: 9.00 to 4.30pm (only open first and third Saturdays in the month)
On Mondays The Centre runs volunteer activities, visits by prearranged groups and other organised events.
(Additional note: car parking, which is often difficult on site on weekdays is easy on Saturdays).
If you are planning on looking at original documents you will need to register at reception. Please bring proof of identity showing name, address and signature. If you already have a CARN card from another record office, please bring this. There is no need to register if you are planning to use the computers, family history resources or the Local Studies Library. There is no charge for registering or using the service.
Closed for all Bank Holidays
Advance booking recommended.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/archives
Address:
Somerset Heritage Centre
Brunel Way
Langford Mead
Norton Fitzwarren
Taunton
TA2 6SF
Telephone: 01823 278805 (enquiries) 01823 337600 (Appointments if you want to reserve a space)
Opening Hours:
The Heritage Centre is open throughout the year with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, all bank holidays and during our annual closure (see below).
Monday 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Tuesday – Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Alternate Saturdays 9.00 am – 1.00 pm Check the website for exact dates.
The Heritage Centre issues its own readers’ tickets, which are valid for four years. If you have not visited before, please bring some form of ID containing your name and current address (e.g. a driving licence, or utility bill), so that they can issue you with one of our readers’ tickets. Please be aware that they do not accept passports, tickets from The National Archives or library cards. They do accept CARN tickets issued by them in the past, but not CARN tickets issued elsewhere – they are no longer part of the scheme.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/
Address: Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW
Telephone: 01225 477421
Opening Hours: Tues – Thurs 9.00a.m. – 1.00p.m., 2.00p.m. – 5.00p.m.; Fridays 9.00a.m. – 1.00p.m., 2.00p.m. – 4.30p.m. Book in Advance.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.batharchives.co.uk
Address: Heritage Librarian, The Heritage Zone, Bournemouth Library, 22 The Triangle, Bournemouth BH2 5RQ
Telephone: 01202 454848
Opening Hours: Mon: 10.00 – 7.00 Tues: 9.30 – 7.00 Weds: 9:30 – 5.00 Thurs: 9.30 – 7.00 Fri: 9.30 – 7.00 Sat: 10.00 – 4.00
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/libraries
Address: Dorchester Reference Library, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ
Telephone: 01305 224448/224501 Fax: 01305 266120
Opening hours: Monday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm, Tuesday 9.30 am – 7.00 pm, Wednesday 9.30 am – 7.00 pm, Thursday 9.30 am – 5.00 pm, Friday 9.30 am – 7.00 pm, Saturday 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Web Site: https://www.librarything.com/venue/21329/Dorchester-Reference-Library
Note:
The Library has copies on microfilm of local newspapers dating back to the start of the 19th Century. Film Reader booking is advisable. The Library also has access to the Internet for visitors use.
Address: 721 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Somerset
Telephone. 01275 838326
Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m., 7.00p.m. – 9.30p.m. Closed some Saturdays
Note: Telephone for all bookings.
Address: 8 Mount Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Telephone: 01202 730646
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9.30a.m. – 4.00p.m., 6.30p.m. – 9.00p.m.
Note: Phone during opening hours only for appointment.
Address: 396 Chickerell Road, Dorset
Opening hours: Thursday 9.00a.m. – 4.p.m., 7.00p.m. – 9.00p.m.
Address: Forest Hill.
Telephone. 01935 426817
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 10.30a.m. – 4.30.p.m.
Address. Weston Library, Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1PL
Telephone. 01934 636638
E-mail. [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Leisure/libraries/your_local_library/Pages/Your-local-library.aspx#j
Address. Dolphin Centre, Poole, Dorset BH15 1QE
Telephone. 01202 262424
E-mail. [email protected]
Address: The Coach House, Gundry Lane, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3RJ
Telephone: (01308) 422116.
Opening times (the Museum is closed on Sundays):
Monday 28 February to Friday 8 April, 11am to 3pm
Saturday 9 April to Saturday 28 October, 10am to 5pm
Monday 31 October to Saturday 17 December, 11am to 3pm
Entry Adults £5 (unlimited pass for a year).
Under 21s, carers and school visits free.
Website: https://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk/
E-mail: [email protected]
Please note that the Museum’s Local History Centre (The Grove, Rax Lane, Bridport, DT6 3JL) is still closed because of the pandemic. Check the website (https://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk/local-history-centre/) for updates.
Address: Whitcombe Road, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3BU
Telephone: 01308 863623
Opening times: Easter to end of September, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Bank Holidays, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm; 2.30 pm- 4.30 pm Sundays, 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm
Admission: Adults £1.00, children free
Web Site: http://beaminstermuseum.wordpress.com/
Note: A new museum in the making housed in an old congregational church. Displays feature the town with its historic buildings, the history of the chapel, and family history including the Hine Cognac family who came from the town.
Address: High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA
Telephone: 01305 262735 Fax: 01305 257180
Opening hours: October – June, Monday – Saturday 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. July -September also open Sunday same hours.
Admission charges: Adults £5.80 Children under 5 years free, 5 to 15 years 2 accompnaied children free, 3rd child £1.00, Family Rate £15.00 Concessions £4.80
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.dorsetcountymuseum.org/
Note: The Museum has strong literary connections with Hardy and Barnes, and also has collections of historic books and references to many families.
Address: Chantry Fields, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4UA
Opening times: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m., Sat 9.30a.m. – 12.30p.m.
Web Site: http://www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk/
Address: Bridge Street, Lyme Regis.
Telephone: 01297 443370.
Opening times: 1st April – 31st October, Mon – Sat 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m., Sunday 11.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. 1st November – 31st March open and weekends and school holidays.
Admission: Adults £2.20, Over 60s and 15 – 22s £1.60, accompanied children free.
Web Site: http://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
The building which housed the Museum of South Somerset closed on 31st March 2011. The items in the museum have been moved to the Community Heritage Access Centre (CHAC) at SSDC Lufton Depot, 7 Artillery Road, Lufton, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8RP which is open by appointment, Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm. Please ring 01935 462855 to make an appointment to visit.)
Web Site: http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-heritage/our-museums/
Address: Museum of East Dorset, 23 – 27 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1HR
Telephone: 01202 882533.
Opening times: 1st April – 31st October, Mon – Sat, 10.00a.m. – 4.30p.m. 1st November – 31st March 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m.
Adults £5.50. Children (0-4yrs) Free, (5-16yrs) £3.30. Family ticket (1 adult + up to 3 children) £14. (2 adults + up to 2 children) £16.
Web Site: https://museumofeastdorset.co.uk/
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Abbey Gate House, Church Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3BP
Telephone: 01935 812252.
Opening times: Easter – October, Tues – Sat, 10.30a.m. – 4.30p.m.,Sunday and Bank Holiday 2.30p.m. – 4.30p.m.
Admission: Adults £1.00, children and students free.
Web Site: http://www.sherbornemuseum.co.uk/
E-mail: [email protected]
Note: Opened in 1968, this museum features local geology, social history, and industrial and agricultural bygones.
Address: Town Hall, East Street, Wareham.
Telephone: 01929 553448.
Opening times: 9th April – 29th October, Mon – Sat, 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m.; 25th July – 29th August also Sunday 2.00p.m. – 4.00p.m.
Admission free.
Note: Local town history and collection of Lawrence of Arabia’s photographs and ephemera.
Website: http://www.warehammuseum.fsnet.co.uk/
Address: 4 High Street, Poole, Dorset BH15 1BW.
Telephone: 01202 683138.
Opening hours: Sunday 2.00p.m. – 5.00p.m. Mon – Sat 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m.
Admission charged.
Note: These museums are housed in historic buildings near Poole Quay. The Waterfront records Poole’s history, while Scaplen’s Court concentrates on domestic history and childhood with many ‘hands-on’ exhibits.
Address: Taunton Castle, Castle Green, Taunton TA1 4AA
Telephone: (01823) 355504 or 320201; fax (01823) 320229
Opening times: Tues – Sat and Bank Holiday Mondays 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m.; closed Good Friday.
Admission: Free
E-mail: [email protected].
Web Site: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/culturecommunity/museums/somersetmuseums/somersetcountymuseum
Note: Facilities for the disabled and baby changing area. Convenient car and coach parking near by in Tangier. For further details and enquiries contact Somerset County Museum.
Address: The Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset
Telephone: 01305 264066
Opening times:
9.30 – 5pm Monday to Saturday 1st April – 30th September
9.30- 5pm Tuesday to Saturday 1st October – 31st March
10.00am – 4pm – Bank Holidays
Last admission – 1 hour before closing
Closed – Sundays and for two weeks over Christmas/New Year
Admission: Adults £4.00, Concessions £3.00, Family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children) £12.00, Annual Membership – £8 per person (unlimited free admission during opening hours for one year)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.keepmilitarymuseum.org
Note: The Keep holds a number of records of Family History interests for the Devonshire, Dorsetshire and Devonshire and Dorset Regiments, although it does not hold any service records. Please write or email with full details of your enquiry. A charge may be made for research. Access to the Library is by prior appointment only.