Dorchester recently held it’s “Heritage Day”. I went to it last in 2023. I wrote a couple of posts about that, which you can read here, and here. I missed last years some how, but this year I made a point of going. Basically it’s a day for locals to get into places for free, that are normally visitor attractions that charge, or that entry is not normally allowed. This year seemed to be a much smaller event. The main road wasn’t closed, no one in costume, “The Keep” museum wasn’t even open, and no street entertainment. Having said that, I started the day with a visit to a monochrome photography exhibition by 5 local photographers, that was excellent. Next I made my way to “The Dorset History Centre”, I had managed to con my way into!!
In my day it was simply known as the Dorset Records Office, and indeed it does house records – lots of them, some going way back to the 1600’s. Take note of those three windows up-stairs! The entrance at the side leads to a library, exhibition space, and a place where, if you have requested to look at something, you can sit and read. A viewing room I suppose. Lesson One in “Archive” NO PENS. I never even thought about that, but pencils rule the roost here for obvious reasons. Then it got interesting!
I managed to get behind the scenes and into the climate controlled area where the archive items are actually kept. This is not normally open to the public, archive staff only, not even the volunteers.
Now you can see why I did my little test with pushing HP5 to 800. I’m pleased with these few images. I know I could have just gone digital, but where’s the fun in that!! Down on the left on that little table, is a record of one of the now defunct local breweries. A “day book” of sorts. Interesting for brewers yes, but also general history, especially environmentally as the weather and humidity are important in brewing apparently and it’s all recorded here!
Another gem, a letter from Mary Anning, a fossil hunter from Lyme Regis. Another letter from her was auctioned in 2020 and sold for over one hundred thousand pounds!! I’m very impressed with HP5 – the image of the letter below was taken in a dim archive, hand held, with the film pushed to 800 iso. Even with a relatively low res scan of 1200 dpi, I can read it!!
Up stairs the preservation lab has the tools to prepare items for long term storage and repair. The lady to whom this task falls, was kind enough to take time to answer a few questions and point out some of the sometimes un-expected trials involved. Unfortunately I never took note of her name. For viewers of “The Repair Shop” you will be pleased to hear that good old Japanese Tissue was mentioned! Remember those windows? Well hiding behind them is a copy stand to end all!
and a closer view…
I really enjoyed the visit, if there was an area of local history that I could get involved with, this would be it! Perhaps, in time, (when I’ve completed in project I have in mind) I have found a home for my collection of glass plate negatives!!
S.H.O.U.T. 