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 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 Website: Association for Portland Archaeology

Dorset Family History Society E-mail: [mailto:contact@dorsetfhs.org.uk contact@dorsetfhs.org.uk] Website: Dorset Family History Society


 * This Society is for those who are interested in tracing their family history, whether they are beginners or experts. For people in Dorset or people with Dorset ancestors.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Website: Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

East Dorset Antiquarian Society Website: East Dorset Antiquarian Society

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.