The Dorchester Association

Dorchester Corn Exchange

The Association is a non profit-making, charitable organisation (charity reg. no. 293998) which was formed over 25 years ago with the co-operation of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. Its aims are to promote public interest in the local history and archaeology of Dorchester and its surrounding area.

Our meetings are normally on a Friday evening in the Victorian Hall at the County Museum, Dorchester. Our usual routine is that the Museum doors are open from 7.00pm for tea, coffee and socialising, followed by a talk starting at 7.30 and lasting about one hour, with an opportunity for a few questions afterwards; we are due to vacate the Museum premises by 9.00pm.

To become a member of the Association please contact our Membership Secretary, Tony Jeffers, at 64 Southcourt Avenue, Dorchester DT1 2BZ or speak to him at one of our meetings. Visitors are welcome at all our meetings (£2 charge.)

2008
September 19: Audrey Grindrod and Una Russell:
Researching the Manor Houses of Dorset
These two local authors (they both live in Briantspuddle) took seven years to research and write their recently published book on 75 of Dorset's wonderful Manor Houses and the story of people who have lived in them.
October 24: Peter Laurie:
Abbotsbury Heritage Research Project
This is a famous historic village with much surviving physical evidence of occupation since prehistoric times. It retains many important archaeological and geological features and listed buildings, but its heritage had been relatively little studied, until the Local Heritage Initiative awarded a grant of £25,000 to help the local community look at all aspects of its history.
November 21: Damian De Rosa:
Excavations at Poundbury
In advance of further building development in Poundbury, Wessex Archaeology dug a great many trial trenches in 2006. The results justified the full excavation of 3 hectares of the site in summer 2007. They found a Roman sarcophagus, and much else...
2009
January 9, Brownsword Hall, Poundbury: Social Evening:
Refreshments, quiz, details to follow. Please note: a small charge will be made. More details with the November newsletter.
January 23: Sarah Harbige:
Dorchester Roman Town House.
(Joint meeting with the Civic Society)
This Grade 1 listed building, dating from the 4th century, was excavated in the 1930s. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded Dorset County Council £50,000 to improve the presentation and interpretation of the site. The recently appointed Roman Town House Heritage Officer will bring us up to date.
February 20: James Crowden:
Cider and Dorset Farm Work.
Our speaker is a remarkable author, poet and broadcaster, who after travelling widely in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, north-west India and Ladakh, spent 20 years working in Dorset and Somerset as a shepherd, sheep shearer, forester and cider maker. His books include Dorset Man, Dorset Footsteps and Dorset Women. His book Ciderland will be published in October 2008.
March 20: AGM at 7.15pm, followed by
The Rev K Stewart Timbrell:
Discovering Dorset.
Stewart Timbrell trained to be an engineer before entering the Church. He spent his curacy in the north of England. He has also published a booklet on Herbs and the History of Medicine. So naturally when he came to Dorset he made some unusual discoveries!
April 17: Chris Tripp:
Community Archaeology
Chris has been teaching field techniques for twenty years. He was an archaeological advisor for Time Team's 'The Big Dig'.
May 15: Susann Palmer:
The Archaeological History of Portland
Susann Palmer, the Director of the Association for Portland Archaeology, is a qualified archaeologist, museum curator, lecturer and author. She has been directing archaeological excavations since 1964, including 30 years of work at the Culverwell Mesolithic site in the south of Portland. But Portland also has Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman remains, and our speaker has researched and recorded most of them.