The Local History Centre is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, year round, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, and at other times by appointment. It is advisable to ring in advance to reserve a space and to check that we are open. There is no charge to use the Centre, but donations are welcomed. There is a reasonable charge for photocopies. The Museum staff are unable to conduct private research on behalf of the public, but there is someone on hand to guide visitors while they are using the Centre.

The Local History Centre holds a range of material for:
-Local historians
-Genealogists
-People finding out about their homes
-Students of geography, history etc.

Material Held

General Register Office indices: -
-Births 1890 – 1945
-Marriages 1890 – 1945

International Genealogical Index
(1992 Edition) which covers much of the world, including the UK, Eire, USA and Canada.

Parish Registers
On microfilm for:  Allington, Askerswell, Beaminster, Bettiscombe, Bothenhampton, Bradpole, Bridport Broadwindsor, Burstock, Burton Bradstock, Charmouth, Chedington, Chideock, Chilcombe, Compton Valence, Hook, Little Bredy, Litton Cheney, Loders, Long Bredy, Lyme Regis, Mapperton, Marshwood, Monkton Wyld, Mosterton, Netherbury, North Poorton, Pilsdon, Powerstock, Puncknowle, Salway Ash, Seaborough, Shipton Gorge, South Perrott, Stanton St Gabriel, Stoke Abbot, Swyre, Symondsbury, Thorncombe, Toller Fratrum, Toller Pocorum, Walditch, Wootton Fitzpaine and Wynford Eagle.

Transcribed for: the list above as well as some parishes not in West Dorset.

Census Returns
-Internet access to UK and Welsh records 1841 – 1901; 1841 Scottish records
-1841 – 1891 for : Allington, Askerswell, Bothenhampton, Bradpole, Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Chideock, Chilcombe, Litton Cheney, Loders, Puncknowle, Shipton Gorge, Stanton St Gabriel, Symondsbury, Swyre, Walditch, Whitchurch Canonicorum and Wotton Fitzpaine.

Maps and Plans
-Ordnance Survey Maps from 1826.
-Tithe maps with apportionments for many local parishes.
-Plans including local drainage systems, proposed developments etc.

Trade directories
-Kelly’s, Pigot’s, Hunt’s covering 1792 to 1939.

Transcripts of nominal rolls
-includes Tudor Muster Rolls, Protestation Returns, Hearth Tax, Yeomanry etc.

Publications
-on Dorset, such as Hutchins, Coker and Pouncey .
-recent books on the local area and related subjects.
-on local history and genealogy research.

Other Material
-a range of family histories and private research.
-collections of articles, notes etc on local subjects.

Journals
-‘Proceedings’ of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.
-‘The Greenwood Tree’, of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society.

Photographs
Copies of the Museum’s collection are available to view and order copies of (depending on copyright).

Public Record Office 1901 Census vouchers sold

The Local History Centre has 1 computer (with internet access), 2 microfilm readers and 3 microfiche readers. If your research will mean that you want to use this equipment, please telephone us in advance to reserve one.
A member of staff is always on hand to help.

The Coach House, Gundry Lane, Bridport, Dorset, UK, DT6 3RJ.
www.bridportmuseum.co.uk
Tel: 01308 458703