Dorset Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
Avon Valley Archaeological Society Ann Rose Hall Greyfriars Community Centre Christchurch Road Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 1DW UK Telephone: 02380 332844 Email: [mailto:jolyonc100@yahoo.co.uk jolyonc100@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Avon Valley Archaeological Society


 * Promoting archaeology in the Hampshire Avon Valley and surrounding areas of West Hampshire (particularly the New Forest), East Dorset, and South Wiltshire.

The Christchurch Antiquarians Upper Meeting Room Stanpit Village Hall 162 Stanpit Christchurch, Dorset BH23 3NE UK Telephone: 01425 273333 Email: [mailto:tca@donne.free-online.co.uk tca@donne.free-online.co.uk] Website: The Christchurch Antiquarians


 * The Christchurch Antiquarians is a local society promoting history, heritage, archeology, and conservation in the borough of Christchurch in Dorset. The town of Christchurch, now in Dorset but formerly in Hampshire, is an ancient borough with its origin as a Saxon burh named Twynham.

Christchurch History Society Highcliffe Day Centre 250 Lymington Road Highcliffe Christchurch, Dorset BH23 5ET UK Email: [mailto:admin@historychristchurch.org.uk admin@historychristchurch.org.uk] Website: Christchurch History Society


 * The Christchurch History Society was formed in 1989 and is dedicated to the study of the past of the Borough of Christchurch and its environs and the preservation of all aspects of the past and surviving heritage.  One objective of the Society as a non-profit making Society is to promote and encourage the study of history, heritage and archaeology in Christchurch and its environs in Hampshire and Dorset, by means of lectures, talks, visits, research projects, and publications and through general social intercourse of its members.

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society Blackmore Vale The Bow Room The Exchange Old Market Hill Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH UK The Hub Station Rd Stalbridge, Dorset DT10 2RG UK Telephone: 01258 472942 Email: [mailto:anfh68@gmail.com anfh68@gmail.com] Website: Blackmore Vale

East Dorset Hilda Coles Learning Centre Priests House Museum 23-27 High St Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1HR UK Telephone: 01202 772327 Website: East Dorset

Mid Somerset Residents' Lounge Bluestone Court Oxendale St Street, Somerset BA16 0NF UK Telephone: 01934 712724 Email: [mailto:as.wilkinson@btinternet.com as.wilkinson@btinternet.com] Website: Mid Somerset

South Dorset St Aldhelm’s Church Centre Spa Rd Weymouth, Dorset DT3 5EW UK Telephone: 01305 776008 Email: [mailto:theyallops@tiscali.co.uk theyallops@tiscali.co.uk] Website: South Dorset

Taunton Kilkenny Court Station Approach Taunton, Somerset TA2 7QL UK Telephone: 01278 722706 Email: [mailto:SueBurne@aol.com SueBurne@aol.com] Website: Taunton

West Dorset Loders Village Hall Loders Bridport, Dorset DT6 3SA UK Telephone: 01308 425710 Email: [mailto:jferentzi@aol.com jferentzi@aol.com] Website: West Dorset

West Somerset Memorial Hall (Doll Museum) 17 High St Dunster Minehead, Somerset TA24 6SF UK Telephone: 01984 639428 Email: [mailto:janeyb8@hotmail.co.uk janeyb8@hotmail.co.uk] Website: West Dorset

Yeovil Holy Trinity Church Lysander Road Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2BU UK Email: [mailto:tedudall@hotmail.com tedudall@hotmail.com] Website: Yeovil

Email: [mailto:society@sdfhs.org society@sdfhs.org] Website: Somerset & Dorset Family History Society


 * The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society aims to provide assistance to all those researching their families in the two counties, no matter where they live.

Dorset Societies
Association for Portland Archaeology Telephone: 01305 783701 Email: [mailto:apa@dsl.pipex.com apa@dsl.pipex.com] Website: Association for Portland Archaeology


 * The Association is a small group dedicated to researching, investigating, and excavating.

Bournemouth and Beyond Discovery Group Richmond Hill St. Andrews United Reformed Church Hall St Stephen’s Road Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 6JJ UK Email: [mailto:info@bournemouthandbeyond.co.uk info@bournemouthandbeyond.co.uk] Website: Bournemouth and Beyond Discovery Group


 * Formerly known as the Bournemouth Local Studies Group, the Group aims to stimulate members’ interest and increase their knowledge about the archaeology, architecture, flora and fauna, geography, history, and people of the Local Area.

Bridport History Society United Church Hall East St. Bridport, Dorset DT6 3LJ UK Telephone: 01308 425710 Email: [mailto:jferentzi@aol.com jferentzi@aol.com] Website: Bridport History Society

Cerne Abbas Historical Society Cerne Abbas Village Hall Cerne Abbas, Dorset DT2 7GY UK Telephone: 01300 341269 Website: Cerne Abbas Historical Society


 * The Society's object shall be to promote knowledge of and care for Cerne Abbas and its region from early times to the present day.

Dorset Family History Society St John’s Church Centre Ashley Road Upper Parkstone Poole, Dorset BH14 0AA UK Telephone: 01202 785623 E-mail: [mailto:contact@dorsetfhs.org.uk contact@dorsetfhs.org.uk] Website: Dorset Family History Society


 * Dorset Family History Society is for beginner and expert researchers who live in the UK or overseas with Dorset interests, as well as those who live in Dorset but whose families may have lived in other counties or countries.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Dorset County Museum High West Street Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XA UK Telephone: 01305 262735 Email: [mailto:enquiries@dorsetcountymuseum.org enquiries@dorsetcountymuseum.org] Website: Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society


 * The main purpose of the Society's website is to assist researchers in all the different disciplines or fields of study that the Society supports.

Dorset Record Society Email: [mailto:smith_wellbridge@btinternet.com smith_wellbridge@btinternet.com] Website: Dorset Record Society


 * Dorset Record Society was set up in the 1960s with the aim of publishing original manuscripts to make them accessible to the general reader. The Society has concentrated on documents that are not readily available for study, those that are difficult to read, or those that are of particular interest.

East Dorset Antiquarian Society St Catherine’s Church Hall 4 Lewens La Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1LE UK Email: [mailto:mail@dorset-archaeology.org.uk mail@dorset-archaeology.org.uk] Website: East Dorset Antiquarian Society


 * The East Dorset Antiquarian Society is an amateur society which is actively engaged in all aspects of archaeology and historical research.

Ferndown Historical Society Barrington Centre Pennys Walk Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9TH UK Email: [mailto:kchipo42@gmail.com kchipo42@gmail.com] Email #2: [mailto:andy.m.palmer@gmail.com andy.m.palmer@gmail.com] Website: Ferndown Historical Society


 * The society is interested in Ferndown and the surrounding area, including West Parley, Longham, Heatherlands, and West Moors etc.

Gillingham Local History Society Gillingham Town Hall School Rd Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QR UK Telephone: 01747 825558 Email: [mailto:office@gillinghammuseum.co.uk office@gillinghammuseum.co.uk] Website: Gillingham Local History Society


 * The Gillingham Local History Society was founded in 1953 and its aims are to support the Gillingham Museum, an independent museum which is shows you how more than a thousand generations have seen this corner of the Blackmore Vale grow from a Neolithic settlement to what it is today, and to bring local history to the inhabitants of Gillingham and the surrounding area.

Langton Matravers Local History and Preservation Society Langton Matravers Village Hall High Street Swanage, Dorset BH19 3HA UK Telephone: 01929421481 Email: [mailto:selman@globalnet.co.uk selman@globalnet.co.uk] Website: Langton Matravers Local History and Preservation Society


 * The Society aims to research, collect, store, exhibit, and publish all aspects of the history of the parish.

Shaftesbury & District Historical Society Anna McDowell Garden Room Gold Hill Museum Shaftesbury, North Dorset SP7 8JW UK Telephone: 01747 852157 Email: [mailto:enquiries@goldhillmuseum.org.uk enquiries@goldhillmuseum.org.uk] Website: Shaftesbury & District Historical Society


 * Shaftesbury & District Historical Society owns and manages the Gold Hill Museum, Shaftesbury’s  local history museum. This houses a collection exploring everything from  Roman archaeology to the area’s agricultural and market heritage, local traditions, domestic life, cottage industries and  Saxon roots.

Sherborne Historical Society Digby Hall Hound Street Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA UK Telephone: 01935 813842 Email: [mailto:robgillsharpe@hotmail.com robgillsharpe@hotmail.com] Website: Sherborne Historical Society


 * Founded in 1957, Sherborne Historical Society is a group of people who are interested in history, both local and worldwide.

Verwood Historical Society Website: Verwood Historical Society


 * The Society was officially formed in 1978 after several years of meeting in member's homes. For many years it was a very popular and active organisation.   However, due to a lack of volunteers willing to take over from the old faithfuls it was decided in May 2016 to end our monthly meetings and summer outings.   Our archives are stored in the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre where they are available to consult during opening hours when an archivist is available.

Wareham Archaeology and Local History Society Town Hall East St Wareham, Dorset BH20 4NS UK Email: [mailto:s.cullinane@btinternet.com s.cullinane@btinternet.com] Website: Wareham Archaeology and Local History Society


 * The Wareham and District Archaeology & Local History Society was first formed in 1985. We are a friendly group of like-minded people from all walks of life, who are brought together by our shared interest in archaeology, local history, and heritage.

Wimborne Historical Society Wimborne Community Hall Telephone: 01202 883701 Email: [mailto:wimbornehistory@hotmail.com wimbornehistory@hotmail.com] Website: Wimborne Historical Society


 * The Wimborne History Society has taken on the project of putting together a community history book. This is a huge project and we invite all community members past and present to take part in this book.

Hundred of Yetminster Historical Society The Jubilee Hall Church St Yetminster Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6LQ UK Telephone: 01935 812042 Email: [mailto:mrsshill@globalnet.co.uk mrsshill@globalnet.co.uk] Website: Hundred of Yetminster Historical Society


 * The Hundred of Yetminster History Society to give it the full name, but more often known just as The Yetminster History Society, has been in existence for a number of years. During this time it has collaborated on a number of books and collected a large amount of material relating to the village.