The Poole Borough Archive is the largest borough collection held in Dorset. Although a considerable proportion of the archive comprises modern departmental papers and clerk's files derived from 19th and 20th century governmental functions, the earliest records date from 1248, the year that the Longespée Charter was granted.
The borough's pre-1835 records form the richest section of the collection, covering medieval and early modern charters [DC-PL/A/1], record books dating from the 15th century onwards [DC-PL/B/1], records of the burgesses and mayor [DC-PL/B/9-11], financial accounts [DC-PL/DA], papers concerning parliamentary elections [DC-PL/F], legal case papers [DC-PL/H/1] and title deeds [DC-PL/K]. The borough's role in national defence is well documented, particularly in relation to military and militia activity in the 1580s and the Napoleonic era [DC-PL/B/8; DC-PL/I]. Poole's several courts [DC-PL/C] are also well represented, with records surviving from the Quarter Sessions, Admiralty Court, Petty Sessions, Court of Record and Sheriff's Court, along with a single volume Clerk of the Market's court book, dating to the mid-17th century.
A large volume of 20th century departmental records are held relating to planning, highways, finance and legal services. These records range from council minutes, [DC-PL/B/1] and borough financial ledgers [DC-PL/DB], to photographs, planning files and building control records [DC-PL/L].
The Poole Borough Archive encompasses several small collections of non-borough records. Of particular note are a small collection of title deeds relating to the Lester-Garland Family of Poole [DC-PL/Y/1], papers of the Durell Family of Poole, including deeds and probate documents relating to workers in Newfoundland [DC-PL/Y/2] and a collection of papers originating from Aldridge and Aldridge, solicitors - highlights here include a wealth of election posters, accounts, legal papers and correspondence relating to 19th century politics [DC-PL/Y/5].
This cataloguing project was run between 2014 and 2016, and involved assessing, repackaging and conserving important elements of the Poole historical record. The cataloguing of the Poole Borough Archive was made possible thanks to funding from the National Archives Cataloguing Grants Programme, along with generous contributions from Poole Museums Service, Poole Historical Trust, Perenco PLC and Dorset Archives Trust.
