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You are Here: Living / Libraries / Information / Bournemouth / Local Studies and Family History
Bournemouth Library - Local Studies and Family History
The Heritage Zone

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 
  • 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.
  • 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:

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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Bournemouth Library's Heritage Zone

Bournemouth Sands looking E 1859
East Cliff Beach c. 1900
Richmond Hill from The Square 1873
Bournemouth Square c. 1872
Westbourne OS map 1898
Ordnance Survey map of Westbourne 1898

Bournemouth Libraries Logo
Contact details

Bournemouth Libraries
Envelope Icon22 The Triangle,
Bournemouth
BH2 5RQ
Telephone IconTel: 01202 454848
Fax: 01202 454840
Minicom: 01202 454847
Email usEmail: Bournemouth Library
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    Page Updated: 12 Dec 2008