VCH Dorset: The Isle of Purbeck
The new VCH Dorset project will be run by Mark Forrest, former collections archivist at the Dorset History Centre. The project will be overseen by a new VCH Trust full of local people with professional experience in historical and archaeological research, the heritage sector, and fundraising.
The aim of the project is, ultimately, a VCH Red Book for the Isle of Purbeck. Corfe Castle and one other parish (to be determined) will serve as pilot parishes. Possible VCH initial publications for two or three of the parishes in the Red Book (Corfe Castle, Swanage and perhaps Studland) are currently under consideration.
In the future we shall be looking for voluntary contributions to research and fundraising. At present we are establishing the Dorset Trust and still in the planning stage for the research. Financial donations will always be welcome. Please contact Mark Forrest by email for further details (opens in a new window).
The Victoria County History of Dorset
To date, two volumes of the Victoria County History of Dorset have been published. Volume II (1908) included Dorset's medieval religious houses, Political History, Maritime History, Social and Economic History, Agriculture, Forestry, Sport Ancient and Modern, Industries while Volume III (1968) provides the Domesday Book for Dorset and the accompanying Geld Rolls edited and translated by Ann Williams.
Part of VCH Dorset Volume II detailing the medieval religious houses is available free, open-access on British History Online. For full access to all volumes, check your local library catalogue or your local archive.
