Collection Items

A collection of ephemera taken from various sources e.g. local newspapers, national newspapers, magazines, Facebook etc.  They cover a vast range of subjects both local and national e.g. accidents, paddle steamers, Dorset oil industry, Bolsons etc. The volunteers at PMT can research for you and send photocopies of material or you can make a personal visit and search for yourself. These are ongoing indexes being added to all the time.  They will be updated on the website from time to time.

PMT has a collection of DVDs and films covering all aspects of maritime history both local and national. They include “Time Team on Green Island” (BBC), RNLI 175th anniversary, the Story of Poole, Story of the Titanic, “Any more for the Skylark” etc. We also have a small collection of videos. These DVDs can be borrowed by members from the library.

PMT has a library of almost 3,000 books which is held at the Office above Canford Cliffs Library. These cover a vast array of maritime subjects both local and national. The subjects include paddle steamers, ferries (UK & Foreign), biographies of sailors such as Chay Blyth, Poole histories, sailing, piers, liners etc. PMT members can borrow these books when visiting the library.

PMT has a collection of magazines and periodicals. There are 44 different titles including Sea Breezes (1946-2018), Ships Monthly (1968-2019), Piers (2009-2020 incomplete), Paddle Wheels (1960-2020) etc. There are also short incomplete runs of some titles. These magazines can be viewed at the library.

Poole Maritime Trust also has several small archive collections which have been donated by individuals  e.g.  Greg Child,  Gerry Wareham,  Eric Payne,  Robert Norman Bush.

There are also collections of Tickets and Handbills for many local and national boat trips. A collection of historic nautical charts are being indexed and will be available to view.  There is a collection of various material relating to Swanage Pier including stock transfers, visitors books, reports and maps as well as a collection of photographs. The archive also includes autobiographical material on shipping personalities.

These records were recovered from the roof space of the old Harbour Office. The ledgers include Day Books, Invoice ledgers,  Wages books,  Dredging books, Treasurer’s Accounts, Cash Books, Harbour Dues, Ships Movements.  

Many of these ledgers are in a fragile condition and should be sent to the Dorset History Centre where they can be cared for properly. The most useful volumes are the Ships Movements. Some of these have been transcribed and more have been photographed in preparation for transcription.

These files contain photocopies of photographs which are only held in electronic format. The index is arranged alphabetically by subject e.g. aerial views – Poole;  J Bolson & Son; Brownsea Island;   Queen Elizabeth  etc. etc.   This is an ongoing index that is being added to all the time.  It will be updated on the website from time to time.