Electoral Rolls - Wool

[Anna_C]

Hi,

Does anyone know if  the electoral rolls for Wool, Dorset, exist for the years 1945-1955, and, if so, where would I go about looking for them?

Thanks in advance,
Anna x

[dawnsh]

Hi Anna

I think the first registers after WW2 were compiled in 1948.

Have you contacted he Dorset History Centre?

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/dorsethistorycentre/electoralregisters

Dawn

[Redroger]

Wool is currently and I think historically part of the South Dorset parliamentary constituency. Dorset History centre should be able to direct you to the Rural District which at that time contained Wool.

[Anna_C]

Thank you both for your replies, will check this out

Anna

[Redroger]

Referring to Dawn's reply above i.e. first registers after WW2 produced in 1948. What register was used for the 1945 general election then? I believe an update was made immediately prior to the election.

[dawnsh]

A special register was compiled for 1945 and 1948 should have read 1946.

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/offpubs/electreg/electoralregisters.pdf

Dawn

[Redroger]

The reference given Dawn is a most useful access to the British Library's holding of registers, and I suggest anyone trying to find a relative on the historic registers to read it.Thanks.

[June Horsham]

I lived in Wool until 1953, at that time the Local Authority was, I believe, called Wareham and Purbeck Rural District Council (even though Wool is not in Purbeck).

Roy Martin (June Horsham's husband!)

[Redroger]

This a a problem for people researching via electoral registers, all too often a community is hidden within a very opaque local authority name, as in this case.