The Mansel-Pleydell & Cecil Memorial Trusts offer prizes of up to £1000 plus smaller prizes of up to £250.
The two Mansel-Pleydell Trust essay competitions are open to anyone resident in Dorset (including Poole and Bournemouth) or having past or present connections with the county.
Essays should be original research into an aspect of Dorset's local, cultural or natural history, and be of a sufficiently high standard and interest to be published in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.
As a rough guide, the length should be about 10,000 words. Sources used should be listed with full references. The format should conform to the guidelines set out in the Notes to Contributors to the Proceedings. Cash prizes of up to pound;1,000, plus prizes for runners-up.
Shorter essays (2000 words or more) may be submitted on any subject relating to Dorset generally. The Trustees particularly welcome illustrated articles on aspects of present day life in the county which may otherwise go unrecorded. These essays may not necessarily be published, but should be original research and of a standard to be a placed in the Dorset County Museum library. Cash prizes of up to £250.
This is open to anyone aged between 16 and 30 who was either born in Dorset, or has lived here for at least a year. Essays should be on chemistry or electricity as applied to healing and medicine, farm or garden cultivation, or motor power and machinery. The Trustees will accept broad interpretations, provided the theme is applied chemistry or electricity in Dorset. Cash prize of up to £250.
John Clavell Mansel-Pleydell of Whatcombe was one of the founder members of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, from which the present DNHAS has evolved. He was President from 1875 until his death twenty-seven years later and spent a vast amount of his time and energy developing the Museum and the Field Club. On his death a Memorial Fund was set up to promote natural history, archaeology and science in Dorset, these being his lifelong interests. Two years later the Fund was increased by a donation from Lord Eustace Cecil, who succeeded him as President.
The Mansel-Pleydell and Cecil Memorial Trusts exist to attract and reward writers on topics relating to Dorset. The award for the first essay was made in 1906. A list of previous prize-winners is being compiled, and meanwhile a few are listed below; some essays may be seen in the Museum Library.
All communications should be addressed to
the Secretary to the Trustees,
Mansel-Pleydell and Cecil Trusts,
Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA.
Telephone 01305 262735;
for e-mail, follow this link.