News

Poole’s new Local History Centre at the Waterfront Museum, will be formally opened by The Mayor, Councillor Ron Parker, at noon on Friday 23 November.

Housed in the Town Cellars, one of the oldest buildings in the town, the centre is the result of important partnerships between heritage organisations working together and sharing their knowledge of the history of Poole and its people.

Graham Wilson, Executive Spokesperson Community Information & Support Services, said: "This is a fantastic facility in wonderful surroundings and is something which Poole and its people can be proud of. Not only is it providing valuable research services to people it is also making use of one Poole’s most interesting and ancient buildings. I am sure that local people and anyone who uses the centre will appreciate and benefit from this unique resource."

The first partnership is between the Museum and local societies that support different aspects of Poole’s unique heritage: the Museum is working with Poole Maritime Trust, Poole Historic Trust, the Dorset Family History Society and other similar groups to provide a major facility for users and researchers of local history. The second partnership combines the local history resources of Poole Central Library with those of the Waterfront Museum: this brings historic material relating to the town into one major centre. A third partnership is between the Centre and the Archives Service run in Dorchester by Dorset County Council.

Clive Fisher, Museum Development Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "This centre is a great asset to Poole and its history and provides an opportunity for students to study the history of the area in which they live, which is a growing and important part of teaching in schools today. Museum staff answer many thousands of enquiries each year from a wide range of people who can contact us in person, by telephone, letter, fax or e-mail."

He added: "Enquiries come from the academic world, industry, commerce, government, schools, past and present residents of the town, family history researchers from home and abroad. The centre will be staffed by Museum and local society staff to help give the researcher a greater and more powerful facility in which to find the information they require. I am very excited about this new centre being open for everyone to enjoy."

The Museum has worked with around 15 local societies to plan the Centre, apply for financial help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and set up and operate the facility. The Centre will be run and managed by the Museums Section of the Cultural Services Unit, Borough of Poole.

Costing around £120,000 to provide the Centre with the necessary facilities, a major part of this was making the different floor levels in the ancient building accessible for everyone. The Museum has been successful in obtaining £75,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund with the balance of costs being met by the Borough of Poole.