The Poll Book of the Dorset County Election of 1857 was printed and published by The Dorset County Chronicle in that year. It lists all voters qualified to vote in that election by voting district. It gives both their place of residence and qualification.
In his introduction to the volume, the editor of The Dorset County Chronicle wrote:
“In placing on permanent record the details of the recent struggle which ensued in the County of Dorset at the General Election of 1857, it is proper to explain that the County is one which has always been characterised by its Conservative strength. Being the second Poll Book that has been published in a County which, throughout the long period of a quarter of a century now elapsed since the passing of the Reform Bill, has experienced only two political contests, the present publication may well be deemed, not merely interesting and important, but essentially desirable for preserving the history of local opinion.”
The book was digitized by Google in March 2007 and may be read or searched on-line here or downloaded as a pdf file for reading off-line.
