Here are some links to family, local and national history sites that you may find of interest. Many have been suggested to us by our Members.
Each site will open in a new window. Close the window to return here.
If you find that any of these links no longer works, please notify us by selecting ‘Webmaster’ from the drop-down list on the Contact Us Form
| Dorset Specific Sites | “General” & Research Sites |
Dorset Specific Sites
The councils previously serving Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been replaced by one new council, responsible for all local government services for the area, known as BCP Council. Find information about services and support available in the area.
This website has been compiled to keep alive the memory of the men and women from Broadstone who died in World Wars I and II.
Christchurch Local History Society
This Society is dedicated to the study of the past of this ancient borough and the preservation of all aspects of their surviving heritage.
Dorset Council replaces the areas formerly served by the district and borough councils (East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland) and Dorset County Council. Provides information to give people easy and effective access to local government services.
The Dorset History Centre, in Dorchester, unites two services – Dorset’s Archives and Dorset Local Studies.
This project wants to find out about those from, or with connections to, Wimborne and East Dorset, who served in any way (not just in the forces). What roles were played by women and children, those in reserved occupations or Conscientious Objectors. Also, how the environment changed as a result of the war.
Milton Abbas Local History Group
An active and enthusiastic group researching the history of this amazing place. Its aim is to build a complete history of Milton Abbas from 934 to the present day. Some ambition, but great FUN finding new things and exploring documents. A large project is focusing on the family history of people living here in the 18th and 19th centuries. We would also like to hear from anyone with more recent ancestors.
Moordown Local History Society
Within these pages, they hope to provide all sorts of different Moordown History ‘snippets’ — about people, places, stories, pictures..and anything else that you think might be appropriate.
Poole, the First World War and its Legacy
How did the war affect all involved; from those who fought, and made munitions in the factories to those nursing wounded soldiers and those left in Poole? Uncover the stories of the 700 Poole men who fell, the ones who returned and the women who supported the war effort.
Discover a wealth of local heritage information and images. The website’s rich resource of thousands of photographs, documents and maps has been compiled and digitised by volunteers working in Poole History Centre over the years since it was founded in 2000.
Poole & District Philatelic & Postcard Club
Philately is actively pursued in the Bournemouth area with the many clubs holding meetings, shows and open days.
This is where you can find out all you need to know about where to stay, what to do and where to eat when you visit Poole. Includes family history and Church links.
Things to do in Dorset
The Society encourages members to be enthusiastic about all things “Dorset” and to foster a love and pride in the County, to ensure that its history, culture and traditions are not forgotten and to preserve and cherish the Dorset dialect.
Formerly The Society Of Poole Men, the Society was founded in 1924 and was instrumental in saving Scaplen’s Court, parts of which date from 1380, and which is acknowledged as a national treasure. Its aims are “To promote Poole; its history, culture and people”.
A virtual museum of individual memories, maps, publications, photographs, paintings and the history of the town.
Much work has been done over the years by Verwood Historical Society members to ensure the preservation of the history of Verwood in oral, written, photographic and tangible form. Whilst this Society has now closed the Heritage Centre holds all their information.
Western Front Association (Wessex Branch)
The Western Front Association (WFA) is an organisation formed with the aim of furthering interest in The Great War of 1914-1918. The Wessex Branch is one of 48 affiliated regional branches of the WFA in the UK and this website aims to keep you informed of the various branch activities.
“General” & Research Sites
Adoption Search Reunion Website
This website is intended to be the first port of call for anyone thinking about searching for or making contact with birth and adopted relatives or researching an adoption that took place in the UK.
Historical Australian newspapers which could be useful to those members whose ancestors have gone to Australia.
Barnsley Family History Society
Helping you to trace your ancestors in the Barnsley area.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The “Debt of Honour Register” is the Commission’s database listing the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars and the 23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other locations worldwide where they are commemorated. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World War.
A Guide to Researching your Australian Convict Ancestors – provides links to various online source materials.
Provides links to over 210 family history societies and other genealogical organisations world-wide, which it represents, advises and supports. (Formerly the Federation of Family History Societies.)
A CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) acting as an umbrella organisation for three individual projects: FreeBMD, FreeREG and FreeCEN, working with volunteers to make transcriptions of the England and Wales Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths (FreeBMD), historic Parish Registers (FreeREG) and 19th Century Censuses (FreeCEN). Each of the projects is a significant undertaking and in total, more than ten thousand volunteers have contributed over 350,000,000 records.
“Our aim is to offer mutual FREE help to each other in tracing our ancestors, following our family trees, and putting flesh on the skeletons that we discover. With a membership that stretches through 18 time zones around the world, and helpful moderators/admin on both sides of the globe, members will belong to an international, but friendly community. Our membership ranges from enthusiastic amateurs to professional genealogists, and if we do not know an answer we will certainly be able to point members in the right direction to find one.”
(GENealogical EVents and Activities). A full list of known Family History Fairs, events and activities can be found on this online calendar.
GENUKI provides a virtual reference library of genealogical information of particular relevance to the UK and Ireland.
Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS)
An umbrella group for one-name study organisations based at the Society of Genealogists in London. Site gives details of publications and activities.
Has one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1,000 years of British history, from the Domesday Book of 1086 to government papers recently released to the public.
National Federation of Cemetery Friends
Caring about the future of Britain’s Cemeteries. Formation of the Federation was the result of heritage and conservation minded groups concerned about the decline in care of Victorian cemeteries meeting like minded volunteers.
The Keith Matthews Name Files is a collection of data on individuals, families and businesses that were involved in the settlement, fisheries and trade of Newfoundland from earliest settlement to 1850.
Did your ancestor work for the Post Office? This site may be able to help you find out more about them.
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
They have a full index of BMDs for 1800 to 1960. If you are fortunate enough to find anyone you should be able to download a jpg of the certificate – for free! The certificate gives quite a lot more info than English ones do.
A heritage project dedicated to finding, tracking and recording any mention of Romany Gypsy families and individuals between the years 1500-1900, in the United Kingdom & United States of America.
A group of keen family historians with a special interest in their British Gypsy and Traveller roots.
UKBMD was started as a simple web site to enable the main BMD sites to be found via one convenient starting point. It was quickly discovered that there were many other sites offering BMD listings that were not readily accessible. UKBMD grew in the number of links it had.
A Vision of Britain Through Time
Britain between 1801 and 2001. Includes a huge number of places and maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
Cymru’n Cofio Wales Remembers 1914 – 1918
The official site providing news, events and signposting information for the commemoration of the centenary in Wales of the First World War. You may need to select the English version with the tab in the top right of the page.
The Cause Papers of York Database
A searchable catalogue of more than 14,000 cause papers relating to cases heard between 1300 and 1858 in the Church Courts of the diocese of York. The original records are held in the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, and are the most extensive records of their type in the United Kingdom.
The Dorset Family History Society is not responsible for the content of external web sites.
If you would like to be considered for a link from this page, please select ‘Webmaster’ from the drop-down list on the Contact Us Form and provide details. No commercial sites will be included.