History

  • The Cerne Abbas Giant

    Cerne Abbas giant
    The Cerne Abbas Giant is also known as the "Rude Man", for obvious reasons. It is the largest hill drawing in Britain and one of only two human representations

  • The Hardy Monument

    Hardy Monument
    The Hardy Monument is situated at the summit of Blackdown Hill overlooking the village of Portesham in West Dorset.

  • Medieval Dorset

    Sherborne Old Castle gatehouse

    In the Middle Ages battles were fought and castles built in Dorset. Dorset's strong ties with the military were formed partly owing to the defence of its coast

  • Prehistoric Dorset

    Plesiosaur fossil found by Mary Anning
    Dorset's well known Jurassic Coast is one of the World's most important geological sites. It gives us a layer by layer view of the formation of the Prehistoric Earth

  • T.E. Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia

    Lawrence of Arabia
    T.E.Lawrence, dubbed 'Lawrence of Arabia' for his part in leading the Bedouin tribes in a successful revolt against their Turkish oppressors during the second world war, was an archaeologist, soldier and writer who lived in Dorset on and off from 1923 until his death

  • William Barnes - Poet

    William Barnes - Poet
    A breif biography of poet William Barnes, best known for his poetry written in the Dorset dialect

  • The Saxons in Dorset

    corfe castle ruins
    Dorset in Saxon times was part of the Kingdom of Wessex. From the 5th to 10th century Dorset had many royal connections

  • 18th and 19th century Dorset

    Dorset button making

    Like many places in Britain, the Industrial Revolution wasn't widely welcomed in Dorset. Cottage industries suffered and the lot of agricultural workers came to a head

  • The Dorset Flag

    Dorset Flag

    The Dorset flag, a white cross edged with red on a gold background, began its existence in September 2008 following a public vote organised by the County Council.