A GENEROUS grant has meant that Poole’s historic archive of more than 1,600 boxes of parchment and paper can be catalogued.

The National Archives and contributions from a range of other supporters has resulted in funding of £34,867. The archive contains written records of the town’s history ranging from its founding charter in 1246 to the current unitary authority.

Highlights include records of the Newfoundland Trade, the town’s courts and ownership of land across the borough. One document shows the purchase of gunpowder used to fight the Spanish Armada and another bears the signature of famous smuggler Isaac Gulliver.

The archive is housed in climate controlled strong rooms at Dorset History Centre in Dorchester, home to the county’s Joint Archive Service, which is funded by the three councils of Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset.

Funding was gained through a competitive national application process, with only one other archive collection in the south west receiving a grant. It will pay for an archivist for 18 months and a searchable online catalogue will be created allowing anyone to research the town’s history.

“Poole has a fascinating history,” said Cllr Xena Dion, Borough of Poole cabinet portfolio holder for a prosperous and sustainable Poole.

“This project means that these valuable and fragile documents, which have to be stored in strict environmentally controlled conditions, can be viewed by almost anyone.”

Poole’s archive is recognised as being one of the largest and most important of its type and it is hoped its cataloguing will enable it to be opened up to a new audience.

Sam Johnston, county archivist, said: “The strength of this archive is demonstrated by the fact that we were able to acquire grant aid in what has been a highly competitive process.

“Poole’s records are a vital part of its identity and provide evidence of the town’s past dating back nearly 800 years. We are proud to hold this superb collection at Dorset History Centre on behalf of Poole.”

l Contributions to the project totalling £8,000 were also received from Poole Museums and Arts Service, Poole Historical Trust, Perenco PLC and Dorset Archives Trust. Learning and outreach with schools and higher education will encourage the use of the collection and through digitisation it will be possible to make more of the collection available to online users.