Address: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP

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 - as we have the whole car park virtually to ourselves.)

Please note that we no longer have an advance booking system.

Closed for all Bank Holidays

Advance booking recommended.

E-mail: archives@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Web Site: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/archives

Somerset Record Office is now closed until September 2009.

Telephone: 01 823 337 600

E-mail: archives@somerset.gov.uk

Web Site: http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/

Online catalogue can be accessed directly at: http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/dserve/

The documents are now being transferred to the Somerset Heritage Centre. For full details click here.

Bath City Record Office

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: archives@bathnes.gov.uk

Web Site: http://www.batharchives.co.uk

Bournemouth Reference Library

Dorchester Reference Library

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: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=4419

Note:

The Library has copies on microfilm of local newspapers dating back to the start of the 19^th Century. Film Reader booking is advisable. The Library also has access to the Internet for visitors use.

Local Studies Library, Taunton

Will close on 5th July 2010. It will then reopen as part of the Somerset Heritage Centre

Address: Somerset Studies Library The Library, Paul Street, Taunton, TA1 3XZ;

Telephone:  01823 340300; Fax 01823 340301.

Opening times: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9.30 am - 5.30 pm, Wednesday and Friday 9.30 am - 7.00 pm, Saturday 9.30 am - 4.00 pm.

Web Site: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/culturecommunity/culturalservice/libraries/information/somersetstudies

LDS Family History Centre, Bristol

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 booking.

LDS Family History Centre, Poole

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.

LDS Family History Centre, Weymouth

Address: 396 Chickerell Road, Dorset

Opening hours: Thursday 9.00a.m. - 4.p.m., 7.00p.m. - 9.00p.m.

LDS Family History Centre. Yeovil

Address: Forest Hill.

Telephone. 01935 426817

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 10.30a.m. - 4.30.p.m.

North Somerset Studies Library

Address. Weston Library, Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1PL

Telephone. 01934 636638

E-mail. weston.library@n-somerset.gov.uk

Web Site: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/enjoying/libraries/resources/north+somerset+studies+library1.asp

Poole Central Library

Address. Dolphin Centre, Poole, Dorset BH15 1QE

Telephone. 01202 262424

E-mail. centrallibrary@poole.gov.uk

Bridport Museum

Address:  The Coach House, Gundry Lane, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3RJ

Telephone: (01308) 422116.

Opening times: April to end of October, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm Monday – Saturday, Summer only.

Admission: Adults £1.00, accompanied children free.

Web Site: http://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk

E-mail: office@bridportmuseum.co.uk

Beaminster Museum

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://www.btinternet.com/~chemeg/

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.

Dorset County Museum

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: dorsetcountymuseum@dor-mus.demon.co.uk

Web Site: http://www.dorestcountymuseum.org

Note:

The Museum has strong literary connections with Hardy and Barnes, and also has collections of historic books and references to many families.

Gillingham Museum

(The Museum for Gillingham and the villages of northern Dorset)

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.brwebsites.com/gillingham.museum/

Lyme Regis Philpot Museum

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: info@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Museum of South Somerset

Address: Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1UN

Telephone: 01395 424774

Opening times: 1st April - 30th September, Tues - Sat, 10.00a.m. - 4.00p.m.; 1st October - 31st March, Tues - Fri, 10.00a.m. - 4.00p.m.

Admission: Free

Web Site: http://www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk/southsomerset/ss-intro.htm

E-mail: heritage.services@southsomerset.gov.uk

Click here for information about what the museum can offer family historians.

Priest's House Museum, Wimborne

Address: The Priest's House, 23 - 27 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1HR

Telephone: 01202 882533.

Opening times: 1st April - 30th October, Mon - Sat, 10.00a.m. - 4.30p.m.; also for the two weeks after Christmas.

Admission: Adults £3.00 Senior Citizens/NUS Students £2.00 Children £1.00 Family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children ) £7.50

Web Site: http://www.aboutbritain.com/PriestsHouseMuseum.htm

E-mail: priestshouse@eastdorsetdc.gov.uk

Sherborne Museum

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.aboutbritain.com/SherborneMuseum.htm

E-mail: admin@shermus.fsnet.co.uk

Note: Opened in 1968, this museum features local geology, social history, and industrial and agricultural bygones.

Wareham Museum

Address: Town Hall, East Street, Wareham.

Telephone: 01929 553448.

Opening times: 9th April - 29th Ocotber, 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.

Waterfront and Scaplens Court Museum, Poole

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.

Somerset County Museum

This Museum is now closed until January 2010 for refurbishment. It will then include The Museum of the Somerset Light Infantry.

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: county-museums@somerset.gov.uk.

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.

The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester

Address: The Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset

Telephone: 01305 264066 

Opening times: