Dorset:
Throughout the episcopal section of this catalogue, and where necessary in the index, it is indicated whether records for 1542-1836 cover the Dorset or Bristol division of the diocese, or both. As a general guide it may be taken that, if records survive, those not at Bristol are at Dorset Record Office, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP. One register of induction mandates (1693-1919) is at the Archdeacon of Sherborne's registry, Greenhill, Sherborne, Dorset.
In 1731 fire destroyed a large part of Blandford, including the Bishop of Bristol's registry and most of its records. This probably accounts for the absence of many records before that date.
A very few records of the 'Bristol Dorset Peculiars' are at Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, County Hall, Trowbridge BA14 8BS and some are at Dorset Record Office, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP. These peculiars are: Canford Magna, Poole, Corfe Castle, Sturminster Marshall and Wimborne Minster.
The Bishop's transcripts are at Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, and the parishes occur with the rest of the archdeaconry's records in series at Bristol (e.g., in Bishop Secker's diocesan survey (EP/A/2/2), presentations (EP/A/3)). It seems likely that the courts were never inhibited.
Bristol and Swindon:
The diocesan registrar acts as registrar to both the Archdeacon of Bristol and the Archdeacon of Swindon, and retains current records. Probably because both offices are modern in origin (1836 and 1904 respectively) there has never been a clear distinction between the archidiaconal and episcopal records. It has been the practice for both Archdeacons to deal with most of their own records. Visitation records have not been retained for more than a few years. Induction mandates have been kept by the incumbents rather than returned to the Archdeacon.
A few records of the Archdeacons of Bristol in the period of union of the sees are among the Gloucester diocesan records at Gloucestershire Record Office, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3AY (see Records of the Diocese of Gloucester, vol. I (1968)).
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