Dorset History Centre

microfilm [original at Harvard] of letterbook of Robert Gregory, Mayor of Weymouth, Vice Admiral of Dorset and Searcher at Poole, c.1560-1610

letter to corporation of Bridport from the Captain of HMS Orestes about measures for coastal protection, 1782

certificate of unloading at Rye of 28 quarters of malt carried in le trynyte (of ?Christchurch), John Burges master, 2 May 1533

customs certificate for 9 quarters of wheat carried in lez lucke of Christchurch, Elias Pountes master and owner, bound for Rye, 9 January 1542/3

customs and excise: Poole accounts, 1559-60, 1562-3

customs cocket of the Jesus at Bridport, 1564/5

petition regarding arrest at Poole of the Diamond, licensed for France but intending to sail to Spanish territories, 1587

appraisal under writ directed to Richard Enys and Timothy Hamlyn of 26 bunches of coral, six remnants of cambric and one piece of coarse black say seized by William Gluvias as forfeit, Cornwall, 1667

papers in the case of John Willie, collector of customs for Poole, 1677-9

release for money held by deputy Collector of Customs, Plymouth, 1682

a list, made in 1922, of records at the Weymouth Customs House, with transcripts of some letters, (1694-1722)

memorandum on rating dispute in consequence of exciseman moving from Bere Regis to Shitterton, eighteenth century

warrant authorising searches of ships etc. by Commissioners of Customs, Poole, 1721

appointment of Roger Clavell as collector of customs, Poole, 1721

customs bonds (coal and pipe clay), of Patience of Poole, 1732 and customs bond, 1734

letter from Robert Cribb to Henry Drax regarding position within Customs, 1739

letters regarding detention of fly cutter by customs officers, Poole, 1769

assignment of portions of salary of Anthony Lucas as Commissioners of Excise, 1788

petition concerning schooner Margaret seized by customs officials, Poole, c.1800

letters from Thomas Keech to his brother Henry at Toller Porsorum, describing his job as an excise man in Southampton, Cornwall and Bristol, 1816-29

half page concerning smuggling case at Lyme regis with defendent Lancelot Jordan, seventeenth century

burial of Robert Trotman, smuggler shot on the shore, 30 March 1765

list of goods seized at Lyme Regis and elsewhere, eighteenth century

out-letter book of Henry Fox, Secretary of War with reference to troops required to suppress smuggling, 1747-8

Charmough vestry minutes including resolution to pay for defence of diggory gordge, parish clerk, prosecuted for smuggling, 1765

Act for prevention of smuggling, 1774

letters of George Garland from Rouen, 1775-6, with remarks on advantages of smuggling for private individuals

diary of Benjamin Lester of Poole with reference to visit of excise officer in consequence of information laid about rum on Lester's premises, 9 August 1790

petition concerning schooner Margaret, seized by Customs officers at Poole, c.1800

description of smuggling activites of one Bennet at Upton turnpike gate, nineteenth century

gaol register note of smuggler released in consequence of coronation of William IV, 1821

papers concerning inquest on Anne Fry of Canford Magna and trial of three excise officers for her murder, 1821-2

draft reports of Clerk of Peace and gaol chaplain containing remard on numbers, comparitive disorderliness and `feverish state of mind' of smugglers in Dorchester gaol, 1825; remarks on diminution of numbers, 1826-8

extract from King's Bench plea roll of case against Luke Presley Moon of Preston for signalling to smuggling vessel with lights, rockets, etc., 1828

note in Sydling St Nicholas register that John Webber of Broadmayne, aged 15, was shot in 1832 by the coastguard having been employed by his master to assist smugglers in carrying away tubs

account of death of Preventative officer on Purbeck coast, pre-1839

journal of voyage from Gravesend to Australia of Mrs Annie Beere of Beaminster, emigrant, 1854-5

copy of emigrant's diary to Australia, 1888-9 and photocopy of passenger list of Sobraon owned by JT Wright and Co. of Plymouth

records of the Lester and Garland families including diaries, ledgers, letter-books, particularly concerned with the trade with Newfoundland, seventeenth - nineteenth centuries, for details see below

records of Bridport-Gundry Ltd of Bridport, manufacturers of fishing nets, ropes etc., who held shares in various ships and were involved in the shipment of goods, eighteenth to twentieth centuries, includes journey books recording traveller's acc

(original in Wiltshire Record Office), Bond for £2OO relating to a Newfoundland fishing trip, 1608

provision in a Wareham deed for f5O to be adventured in the Dolphin of Bristol (150 tons) sailing to Newfoundland for a summer fishing voyage, 1671

diary of Benjamin Lester, at Newfoundland, with highly detailed entries referring to the fisheries, 1762 with detailed specifications for vessel, 1719 & 1745

photocopy of sea journal of Benjamin Lester to Newfoundland, 1767-71, with description of French and English fishing there

photograph of old stone pier at ?Swanage, 1929

photographs of Charmouth beach, n.d.

account by Mrs Hannah Abbot of five week holiday from Clapham to Dorset, September 1798, includes references to the Royal Family and their saltwater bathing, their staying onboard the St Fiorenzo, the Guernsey Packet, and the celebrations o

journal of George Harris of voyages to India, 1793 (Bengal) & 1801; local Indian voyages, 1794-1800, 1803-12; passenger list for voyage to India, 1803; passenger list of voyage to England, 1822

papers of Henry John Woolcott, including orders as captain of SS Guayaguil, 1860 & letters of thanks from passengers of SS Pacific, 1868

papers relating to the Weld family yachts and races, 1859-78

accounts of George Penney of Poole, mariner, 1763-77 (with reference to a voyage to Newfoundland)

plea in libel case concerning conduct of John Crouch, master of ship belonging to Samuel Rolles, in Savannah and elsewhere, 1786

certificates of service of William Hansford on Blenheim, Colossus & Leander, 1860-3

certificate of banns called onboard HMS Ajax, 1916

members' tickets of Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, 1855-68

Lyme Regis apprenticeship indentures, principally seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, includes many to mariners and some sailmakers, shipwrights, many sent to Maryland, Virginia and Barbadoes, late seventeenth century

certificate of entry into service of William Norris, 1830

discharge certificates from ships of Richard Frampton of Weymouth,    1847-66

letter book of Isaac Solly, chiefly concerned with Royal Dockyard matters, 1837-8

papers of Anthony Sturt, Cashier of the Victualling Service, 1683-9, 1706-7

minutes taken at the Committee of the Council by the Secretary of State, 1693, concerning the navy which was engaged in the War of the League of Augsburg, 1689-97

letters concerning the fleet, to Sir John Trenchard, Secretary of State from the Secretary at War and the First Lord of the Admiralty, 1692-5

list of ships under command of Sir Cloudesley Shovell to go before Dunkirk, 1695

order from Admiralty Commissioners to allow free passage for the Wentworth, 1699

certificate that the Wentworth, about to sail for the Straights, was free of plague, 1718

photocopy of letter of Capt. John Byng to the Mayor of Lyme regarding convoy from Plymouth to Newfoundland, 23 April 1742

rules of discipline on board HM ships, 1730, with act amending laws relating to government of ships, 1748-9

out-letter books and papers of Henry Fox, Secretary at War, referring to Army transports, marine regiments, occasionally to Naval affairs, 1746-55

advice on management of crew in a letter from Admiral T M Russell, 1813

letters to Captain, later Vice Admiral, Robert O'Brian Fitzroy, some about command of HMS Royal Sovereign, 1859-95

journal of Lieut. A H W Battiscombe in Pelorus Naval Brigade during Maori war in New Zealand, 1860-1, and papers regarding his promotions and commands

letters from Samuel Morley to John Bright at the Board of Trade about the use of HM ship as a training vessel at Bristol, 1869

copy of an Order of Council referring to the seamen of Dorset press-ganged, 1756

papers concerning payment of wages to relations and dependents of men serving in the Royal Navy, including abstracts of Acts concerning payment of wages, 1792 and applications for payments and Pay Office circular, 1807

references to press gangs in diaries of the Lester family of Poole, 1770-1802

Council Orders to Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum to take up seamen, 1779

Admiralty Office letter to Mayor of Lyme Regis, enclosing press warrants, 1787

complement of HMS Victory before paying off, 1868

letter from Harry Jennings to brother Wal of account of first world war naval actions and the sinking of HMS Speedy, 9 October 1914

papers concerning the naval career of Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy, 1818-63

instructions to Whitechurch Canonicorum vicar on procedure to obtain payment of naval prize-money to a parishioner, 1812

papers, commissions, etc. of Commander E F Weld, RN, 1844-66

papers of Rear-Admiral H W Battiscombe, 1846-63, including order to join his new command the Snipe, certificates as to conduct and service on HM ships

note of vessels seized from 'Hynton and Blunte two Pirates' and brought into Poole, 1580

indictments of Edward Thynn, Joseph May and Henry Hurding for piracy, Weymouth, 1603

warrant from Lord High Admiral to Lord Howard to deliver up a ship with Spanish wine taken by pirates, 1604

references within Bridport borough accounts to pirates kept in prison, 1613

petition against Turkish pirates from the merchants and ship owners of Exeter, Plymouth, Barnstaple, Dartmouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, n.d. [?1636]

reference to money collected for the redemption of seamen held captive by Turks, 1668

notes referring to four Lyme Regis sailors held for ransom by Algiers pirates, 1677-9

certificates concerning men taken on a voyage from Lyme Regis to Virginia, 1678 and enslaved in Algiers, 1681-2

Acts of Parliament, Notices and Orders, and Plans and Books of Reference relating to Docks, Ferry, Harbours and Piers for coastal towns in Dorset, 1821-1973 (see attached list)

records relating to harbour, 1280-1922, including G1, `Old Doom Book', c.1312-64 with memorandum on Bridport's maritime rights, grants of indulgences for repair of harbour, 1446, petitions to the Crown regarding repair money, 1619-20, harbour mast

Act of restoring and rebuilding the haven and piers..., 1714-21, printed 1722

harbour Acts, 1722, 1823

engineers agreement to build harbour, 1740; accounts; Improvement Act, 1823; agreement on proposed canal, 1825

table of imports and exports, 1743-1808

photographs and information about shipping, particularly Bridport

Lyme Regis borough archive, including F, G & H, records relating to the Cobb, including the sea-walls, repairs, officials, Customs House, shipping and financial accounts, 1547-1949; PE/LR:CW 12/2, 12/5, PCC 3/2,SP, correspondence and plans rel

includes Cobb Committee Minutes, 1898-1954; Sea Defence Committee, 1947; Reports of Inspector under pleasure boat bye-laws, 1899-1904; legal papers relating to sea-bathing, 1856 & Cobb duties, 1869; Cobb papers including plan, n.d., extention

pleas concerning anchorage and docking of vessels (1336), copy made, 1792

copy of inquisition concerning customs (1341) made in 1792

customs and excise accounts 1559-60, 1562-3

draft warrant for grant of embanked lands in harbour, summary of statements concerning 'drowned lands', c.1638

grant to reclaim lands in harbour, 1665

warrant authorising searches of ships etc. by Commissioners of Customs, 1721

draft letters concerning dues, c.1776

letters of attorney to sign petition for private Act to inclose and divide mudlands in manor of Canford and town of Poole, 1784

letter concerning proposal to construct bank for protection of harbour, 1785

memoranda and legal opinions concerning encroachments on mudlands and waste, rights of Sir John Webb as lord of Canford manor etc., 1788-96

rate on ships and assessments of value of imports and exports, 1790s-1837

ballast regulations 1811-21 and notice about ballast lighters, 1821; bills of exchange and sale for various ships, 1817-71; crew list for Two Brothers of Poole, 1820; deed of settlement and papers about Poole, Isle of Purbeck, Isle o

Parliamentary bill to authorize works on harbour, 1914

Swanage

list of contents of JC Robinson's scrapbook on Swanage [held at county library reference dept]

Legal Papers, including memorandum of procedure in the Poole Admiralty Court, c.1698; quay duties papers, 1773, 1835-7, 1796-7

two letters mentioning stone for Ramsgate Pier, 1771

Wareham

leases of coal wharfs near Wareham Quay, 1759-72

Wareham Docks Bill, including schedule of tolls, 1849

records relating to the Portland Ferry Bridge, 1834-1938

a list, made in 1922, of records at the Customs House, with transcripts of some letters, (1694-1772)

Port Books at five-yearly intervals, 1660-1750

petition by the inhabitants of Melcombe Regis regarding exemption of Exeter merchants from payment of Petty Customs, c.1625

correspondence and papers concerning the completion of the sea wall, 1802-11

agreement to mortgage harbour dues, petty customs etc. to pay for harbour improvements and rebuilding bridge, 1847

contract for lighting outer pier and bridge, 1847

programme and souvenier of Prince of Wales visit to open harbour, 1933

Southboume Coastguard Records, 1963-8

sale particulars for Osmington station property, 1925

water supply to coastguard property, West Bay, Bridport, 1896

water supply to Portland coastguard station by Portland Water Supply Committee, 1905 onward

 records of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Swanage, including returns of services, 1876-1975 & minutes 1895-1957

letter of thanks to E Dean for help in conveying Isle of Purbeck lifeboat, 1866

out-letter book of Thomas Milner Gibson at the Board of Trade, including references to Trinity House, lighthouses, Ramsgate harbour and other coastal matters, Fitzroy's storm signals etc., 1861-6, notably letters about Sir David Brewster's claims

annuities charged on 3/32 share of Eddystone Rock lighthouse, 1761, 1764

Trinity House certificate of exemption from impressment for Robert Comben, assistant keeper of the Portland lights, 1806

correspondence, 1906, concerning water supply to new lighthouse, Portland, between Southwell and coastguard stations, with advice as to wording of license as lighthouse situated on common land vested in the Crown

correspondence regarding water supply to Portland Bill lighthouse, 1925 with Portland Water Supply Committee minutes

notes about Portland Bill lighthouses, n.d.

transcripts of letter to and from the Weymouth collector of Customs mentioning wrecks, 1694-1772

various wrecks mentioned in the diaries of the Lester family, 1761-1802

letter referring to vessel forced onto Portland Beach, 1774

certified copy parish register entries for Worth Matravers, concerning wreck of the Halsewell off Purbeck coast, 1786

note of wrecks of Alexander (1815), Taberan (1821), Golden Grove (1795), Spritly (1821), Saggitario (1840), and others unnamed off Portland, 1795-1840

notes on sudden deaths, including many drownings, and interesting details of shipwrecks, 1837-8, all in Burton Bradstock burial register, 1813-48

description of wreck of Norwegian vessel Christiane on Portland Beach, 8 September 1883 by JC Camben

references to burials and wrecks at Lyme Regis, the Alexander, an East India ship (1815), the Angelina (1851), Heroine (1852), La Jeune Rose (1854), HMS Formidable (1915)

memoranda by John Thomas Elliott on Portland wrecks, 1815-76

Calendar of Prisoners Epiphany QS 1839, prosecutions for theft of articles washed ashore from the schooner Mary Ann of Plymouth stranded on the beach at Abbotsbury, Novemb

letters mentioning the loss of HMS Camilla, 1861

Dorset County Chronicle giving inter alia account of wreck of the Royal Adelaide, 1872

history and development of Messrs Cosens and Co. Ltd of Weymouth, and their pleasure steamers, 1923

Burridge family papers include agreement about the Hopewell of Lyme Regis, 1653

articles of co-partnership between Katherine and George Penney of Poole in family coal and clay shipping business, 1806, inventory of ships and stock, 1805

accounts and shares in various ships, 1810-47; description of the launching of Alfred the Great, 1850

Mayoral ship certificate for the Ann and Emily , 1848

bills of sale of Ocean Lady and Harwick, 1854, 1874, 1875

Notice of auction of Mariner and Port Glasgow at Bristol, 1869

account book of insurance broker or office keeper, with accounts due to underwriters, names of ships & ports, 1716, notes of transactions with William Bignall, 1717

alphabetical register of ships or index to insurance broker's register of accounts, with some memoranda and addresses, 1715-17

agreement for sale of new-built ship on stocks at Hamworthy, 1768, with references to purchase of ships allegedly at election bribe, in Poole election papers, 1768-9

includes poster of Bournemouth/Swanage Motor road and Ferry Company, n.d.

deeds of Thomas Green's New Passage House and ferry to Poole, 1721-53

inquest into drowning of Elizabeth Taylor, whilst trying to walk across mudland when the Ower passage boat was driven aground, 1759

deeds and lease of Ower Passage House, 1698, 1722 and 1789

 Portland ferry agreement, 1671

sale of 1/16th of the William of Weymouth, 1683

sale of 1/8th of the pink Adventurer to James Gould of Dorchester, 1689

bills of sale of shares in the Elizabeth (formerly the Halifax1714-17

bundle of bills of sale of the Thomas and Ann, 1718-24

deed of 1/16th of the Grantham, 1725

sale of shares in various Bridport ships, 1752-97; other papers regarding Gundry family ships, 1874-5 - note of shares of Hounsell family in Bridport ships, 1777-1856

assignment of 1/4th share of the ship Wheatsheaf, 1776

bill of sale of the sloop Liberty of Weymouth, 1790

timetables for London and South Western Railway and Steam Packet, 1858

summary of Bridport Shipping Registers, 1832-80; Crew Lists and Agreements, 1863-80

Lyme Regis shipping Registers, 1786-1880 and summary; Transactions Book, 1836-55; Crew Lists and Agreements, 1863-80

Poole Shipping Registers, 1855-93; Summary of Shipping Registers, 1855-1913; Crew Lists and Agreements, 1863-1913

summary of Weymouth Shipping Registers, 1786-1913; Crew Lists and Agreements, 1863-1913

letter from George Garland to HO Wills, with mention of slave trade, 1806

bill of £13 as an adventure in a trading voyage to the West Indies by the Edward of Weymouth, 1604

copies of accounts rendered of Burridge family, Lyme Regis, merchants and shipping agents, includes trade with America, 1703-31

day book of John Richards (of Warmwell) London merchant trading to Spain, 1713-18

memorandum concerning the Friendship of London in Lyme Regis harbour laden with tobacco from Virginia, 1714

account of the cargoe of tobacco aboard the Elizabeth from the Potomac River to Lyme Regis which arrived 13 July 1739

lease of carriage of earth, sand, clay and gravel from Canford Heath for buildings in Poole, ships' ballast and brick kilns, 1741

request of John Strugnell for post of coal meter at Portsmouth, undated but within bundle 1755-71

cash book of William Hounsell & Co of Bridport, 1777-1856

diaries and letter books and other business papers of the Lester and Garland families of Poole, Newfoundland merchants, eighteenth to nineteenth centuries

letter book of Messrs Ledgard, Gosse and Chancey of Poole, chiefly Newfoundland merchants, 1807-10

ballast regulations, 1811-21; bills of exchange and sale for various ships, 1817-71; crew list, 1820 and papers about Newfoundland trade; deed of settlement and papers about Poole, Isle of Purbeck, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Steam Packet Company

letters to John Buddle mainly concerning Tanfield Moor Colliery, Durham, 1824-33 with references to shipments of coal to Swanage and Weymouth

copy will of George Holland of Poole, coal merchant, 1838, with notes; accounts of his estate and executors giving details of the shipping and coal trade, 1833-45

trade book of Waterworks Company with reference to water for ships, 1857-73

examples of contemporary sea trade to France, Cape Town and Jamaica, used in book-keeping exercises, 1873

Weymouth marine history, by A M Gill

newspaper article by A C Cox on losses of salt and malt certified in the Quarter Sessions

specimen letters of credit for Greek warship, 1832

2 small notebooks containing material for Dorset naval history lectures by RG Bartelot, c.1900

papers regarding Sir Bourchier Wrey's estates, 1799-1877, including letters to EJ Weld regarding Ilfracombe harbour

misc., fragment of brief relating to the proposed building of a harbour at Seaton, Devon, n.d.

Great Britain's Coasting Pilot, by Captain Greenville Collins, 1753 (Dorset only)

chart of Portland to Christchurch, 1946

chart of Straight Point, Exmouth (Devon) to Portland, 1946

chart of the Isle Road and Race of Portland, 1779

list of charts and surveys held by the Hydrographer of the navy

plan of part of harbour, ?seventeenth century

plan of harbour, 1787

plan of harbour, 1823

map of harbour, 1883

map of Harbour, 1671

 plan of Harbour, Poole and surrounding land, 1597

rough plan of harbour showing part of Poole, ?early seventeenth century

particulars of project for recovering drowned lands, with chart of harbour, c.1662

map of mudlands, ?seventeenth century

part of map of harbour showing part of Poole, ?early seventeenth century

plan of Poole harbour and Studland Bay, 1783, corrected, 1829

[D.400/4, corrected plan, 1848]

harbour entrance, 1829

plans for Breakwater (pier) in Portland Roads, 1825

chart by Alexander Lamb to illustrate suggestions for converting Portland Roads into a harbour, 1826

plan for Portland Breakwater, 1835

chart of Portland and Weymouth Roads showing proposed harbour and breakwater, 1847

charts showing Portland Bill and St Aldhelm's Head with Portland Harbour, 1848 and Start Point to Portland, 1857

chart of Dorset coast (part) showing Portland Bill and Harbour, 1863

plan of Weymouth harbour, 1787

plan of proposed site of wooden pier at Castleton for steamboat passengers etc designed by Capt. Charles Aug. Manning, Portland Castle, 1848

3 volumes of the diary of Sir George Bingham KCB Lt Col. 53rd Reg. during the voyage from Plymouth to St Helena on board HMS Northumberland which took Napoleon to St Helena, 1815-21

diaries of Isaac Lester, 1765-78

journal of Robert Cater Oakley with 20th Reg., includes description of Heligoland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, St Helena, 1811-24

includes journals of voyages from St Helena to Bombay, 1822 and aboard the Duchess of Athol from England to Bombay via the Cape of Good Hope and return via Egypt, illustrated, 1828

journal of Charles K Sheridan on a voyage to Portugal & Spain, 1837, with some illustrations

diary of Guy Montagu Marston as Sub-Lieutenant & Lieutenant serving in gunboats mainly in Scottish and West African stations, 1892-4

many references to shipping in transcript of  John Mowlem's diary, 1845-51

letter from Thomas Honeybome on the ship Princess Amelia in the East Indies, 1809

letters from George Till on the ship Duke of York to his wife, 1820

Belle of Weymouth: log book 1866.

HMS Osprey, Royal Navy Air Station, Portland: maps and plans 1960-99.

Trinity House, Isle of Wight: Engineers Department drawings for lighthouses at Portland and Swanage, 1952-92.

National Coastwatch, St Alban's Head: daily registers of passing ships 1995-2009.

 Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath: employee records 1918-1966