The Heritage Zone is situated on the Second Floor of Bournemouth Library.
In the Heritage Zone you can trace your local ancestors, or those from further afield, and discover the history of Bournemouth. There is also material relating to the history of Dorset and Hampshire. The collection of materials in the Heritage Zone has been developed over many years and includes:
- Census Returns
- 1841-1901 Bournemouth and Holdenhurst
- 1881 England and Wales
- 1901 South Coast counties plus London, Middlesex & Essex
- Directories
- Bournemouth from 1894/5 onwards
- Dorset and Hampshire from 1830 onwards
- Bournemouth Electoral Rolls from 1890/91 onwards
- Parish Registers for Bournemouth and Christchurch Priory
- International Genealogical Index (IGI)
- Old Ordnance Survey and street maps for Bournemouth
- Illustrations including photographs and postcards
- Books and pamphlets
- Victoria County Histories of England
- Burke's and Debrett's Peerage
- Army, Navy and Air Force Lists
- Newspapers including:
- Bournemouth Echo [1900 to date]
- Bournemouth Graphic [1902 - 1937]
- Bournemouth Guardian [Sept. 1883 - 1921]
- Bournemouth Observer [1875 - 1908]
- Bournemouth Visitors Directory [1868 - 1919]
- Bournemouth Times [1919 - 1983]
- Christchurch Times [1858 - 1949]
- A range of CD-Roms
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Free access to the online resource Ancestry Library Edition from any public computer in all Bournemouth libraries: Search, view and print records from a large collection of databases both English and worldwide. Some records have options to save or email. English databases include Census records from 1841 to 1901, Birth, Marriage and Death Records (e.g. Indexes from 1837 to 2004; Dorset and Hampshire Parish and Probate Records), Directories and many other resources.
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Free access to the online resource 19th Century British Library Newspapers from any public computer in all Bournemouth Libraries. Search a range of 48 regional and national newspapers held in the British Library. The regional titles include the Bristol Mercury, Manchester Times, Aberdeen Journal, North Wales Chronicle and Freeman's Journal (Dublin). The national titles include The Morning Chronicle, The Examiner and The Illustrated Police News. There are over 2.2 million newspaper pages that are searchable.
Free access to the internet for online research:
- World War II - seach our online database of resources. (See also Local Studies Local Links, especially WW2 People's War which contains contributions from Bournemouth residents)
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- For other recommended websites try the Cyberlibrary, where you can browse by broad subject or try the A-Z Index of more specific subjects. Compiled by Librarians across the South West.
The dates listed above are guides to coverage. For detailed information please contact the Heritage Zone.
Much of the material listed above is on microfilm, microfiche and CD-Rom or is available via the Internet. Copies can be made from the microfilm, microfiche viewers or computers for a small charge. It is advisable to book a viewer or computer in advance.
There is a photocopier and scanning service (subject to copyright) for most of the material for which there is a charge.
Most of the material in the Heritage Zone is unique and for reference only so that it is accessible at all times. Some books are available for loan and these are indicated by the letters LH on the spine.
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Research Service
If you are unable to visit the Heritage Zone in person to undertake your own research, the Heritage Librarian is able to answer enquiries by telephone, letter or email. Basic enquiries are free.
More detailed searches of street directories, electoral rolls or census returns can be carried out for a fee of £20 per hour or part hour (rate for 2006/07). This fee is payable in advance. These charges will include limited photocopies or printouts that are made as part of the search. Bournemouth parish registers, census returns, street directories and newspapers can be consulted as well as many other types of material. Please contact the Heritage Librarian for further details.
To request the research service please complete the application form and send with cheque (made payable to Bournemouth Borough Council) to the contact details at the bottom of this page.
The Research Service Application Form (will open as a Word doc in a new window).
Bournemouth Local Studies Publications
The Bournemouth Civic Society has reprinted a further five titles from the Bournemouth Local Studies Publications series. These booklets were published from about 1970 until the late 1990s and have been out of print for many years. The booklets formed detailed accounts of Bournemouth and its history. View the full list of titles (will open as a pdf document in a new window) which are on sale at the larger Bournemouth Libraries.
Contact us:
- Heritage Librarian
- The Heritage Zone
- Bournemouth Library
- 22 The Triangle
- Bournemouth
- BH2 5RQ
- Tel: 01202 454848
- Fax: 01202 454840
- Email: heritage@bournemouthlibraries.org.uk
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