William Barnes Fundraiser Update

30^th Jun 2025 DAT has been working with the William Barnes Society and Dorset Museum and Art Gallery to raise funds to catalogue the archive of the Dorset dialect poet. 66 boxes of material are held at Dorset History Centre. We are delighted to report that the target for the Barnes For All! fundraiser has now been met. The £35,000 raised through a combination of personal giving and grant aid will fund an ... click for more

New Panels for DHC Searchroom

26^th Jun 2025 Anyone visiting DHC’s searchroom will be greeted with the sight of three new sets of colourful panels. The panels have been funded by Dorset Archives Trust as part of its work to support DHC and its promotion of the service and its collections. The images reflect the range of material held by the service – over 1000 years of recorded history – as well as giving researchers a sense of what li ... click for more

Round up of May events

24^th May 2025 It was a busy week for of events for DAT and the Dorset History Centre. Firstly onWednesday evening saw a packed audience held enthralled by an enchanting mix of music, songs and words. Thank you to the Wessex based Wyvern group for an amazing performance inspired by the works of Thomas Hardy.Wyvern comprise: Sophia Wright - Director (Voice and Guitar), Sarah Deere-Jones (Harp, Voice, Concertin ... click for more

Visit from Antiques Road Trip

24^th Mar 2025 The Dorset History Centrehad a visit recently from the BBC Antiques Road Trip team, Tim Laycock came in to tell them all about William Barnes, with resources bought for the History Centre by DAT, it'll be a few months till you can see it on screen - we'll let you know when it's due to go on air! DAT are running a fundraising campaign withthe William Barnes Society, working with Dorset History C ... click for more

A Sad Farewell and a New President For Dorset Archives Trust

19^th Dec 2024 With sadness we said goodbye to our President Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers, CVO DL who stepped down in December 2024. Mrs Pitt-Rivers presided over DAT since its inception in 2009 and we are hugelyappreciative of all of the help and support that she has given DAT. We are therefore delighted that our previous chair who stood down in July 2024, Carola Campbell, has agreed to take on the role of DAT Presi ... click for more

Barnes for All!

25^th Jun 2024 DAT is supporting the efforts of the William Barnes Society, working with Dorset History Centre and Dorset Museum and Art Gallery to raise funds to catalogue the Dorset dialect poet’s archive. The collection, owned by the museum but deposited at DHC is the key resource to understanding and studying the man who along with his acquaintance Thomas Hardy best defines the county’s literary traditio ... click for more

The Place Names of Dorset - Dorset History Centre event

15^th Sep 2023 Join The English Place Names Society at the Dorset History Centre, to find out the fascinating stories behind of some of Dorset's unusual place names. Sat 14 October, 2pm - 4.30pm tickets £8 available from eventbrite. This is not a DAT event. ... click for more

DAT Purchase of Portland Naval Plan

10^th Aug 2023 Latest DAT purchase for the Dorset History Centre Hand-coloured planA Draught of Portland the Shambles, and the Race of Portland,late 18thcentury print of a 17thcentury original. Drawn by Captain Greenville Collins (DHC reference: M/207) Collins was an important figure in naval history, being a prominent hydrographer, appointed by Samuel Pepys (Secretary to the Admiralty) to chart the coa ... click for more

Successful Grant Bid for Hardy Appeal Boosts Fundraising

25^th Jul 2023 Dorset Archives Trust and Dorset History Centre with the support of the Thomas Hardy Society are leading a campaign to create a complete catalogue of all the archives of Thomas Hardy and so make this UNESCO-inscribed, internationally important collection available to everyone. We require £68,000 to employ an archivist to complete this task. Work is progressing well, but we are still some way off ... click for more