Celebrating documents that shed light on one of England's richest families

The centre is working in partnership with the National Trust at Kingston Lacy and the Priest's House Museum in Wimborne on an exciting project focused on one of Dorset's largest and most significant archive collections, that of the Bankes family.

The Bankes family, who have lived in Dorset since the 17th century, have owned land in east Dorset and Purbeck, including Studland. During this time the Bankes were considered to be one of the most powerful families in England, owning both the estates of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy. When Ralph Bankes died in 1981 he left the 16,000 acre estate to the National Trust.

The Bankes Archive is housed at and cared for by Dorset History Centre. The collection is stored in 800 boxes and is made up of approximately 25,000 individual items, containing a rich collection of documents that date from the 13th century right through to the present day.

Dr Martin Papworth, regional archaeologist with the National Trust for the south west, spoke on the value of Treswell’s Survey of Purbeck from 1585 to 1586. This assessment of the Purbeck estate, enables historians to see changes in the landscape over almost 450 years.

The history centre's project archivist, Luke Dady, shared some highlights from the Bankes Archive.

Archivists were close to hitting 30,000 documents catalogued in the collection, but missed by just a fraction – much to Luke’s annoyance! He also talked about a few of his personal favourites and showed some examples from the collections including a17th century map of the world.

Luke talked about the many ways the project team have helped to share the Bankes Archive with the public and his hope that, as a result of the project, more people would be interested in this fascinating collection.

Anne Sebba, author of William Bankes: the Exiled Collector, and That Woman, a life of Wallis Simpson, based on her discovery of 15 unpublished letters, spoke on Bankes’ life as a serious art collector, and the events leading to his eventual exile.

Project volunteers David Beardsley and Eileen Dunnachie gave an insight into the work they have undertaken with the project during the last three years.

Dr Patricia Usick, visiting academic at the British Museum, discussed the value of William John Bankes’ drawings.

The final keynote speaker was Professor Henry French of Exeter University who spoke on Food, Finery and Farming: Life at Kingston Lacy in the later seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

Henry has used account books in the Bankes Archive to delve into the spending habits of John Bankes (1692-1772), and how these reflect life on the wider estate during the 18th century. Using documents, Professor French was able to shine a light on one of the more under-represented members of the Bankes family, and to bring to life the many people who worked on the Bankes estate.

Kate Bethune, regional curator for Dorset with the National Trust, gave an overview of the latest exhibition at Kingston Lacy. Beyond the Portrait is a collaboration between the National Trust at Kingston Lacy and the Unlocking the Bankes Archive project that aims to bring the stories of the women at Kingston Lacy to the forefront.

In keeping with 2018’s centenary of partial suffrage for women, Beyond the Portrait will highlight the lives of Lady Mary Bankes, Frances Woodley, Anne Bankes, and Henrietta Bankes.