143-609: Bournemouth Town Centre is an area of Bournemouth , Dorset . The town centre is the central business district and is located near the coast between West Cliff and East Cliff . In 1908 a tramway accident killed 7 people in the Town Centre . The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom has affected business in the town centre. The New Look store in the town centre will close in February 2022 after 21 years. The Wilko will close
286-503: A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) , a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar site as well as falling within the Dorset National Landscape area. The harbour covers an area of 15 square miles (11 sq nmi; 39 km ) and is extremely shallow. The main shipping channels are 7.5 metres (25 ft) deep the average depth of the harbour is 48 centimetres (1 ft 7 in). It contains several small islands,
429-576: A court of record , magistrates' court , court of admiralty and a venue for quarter sessions . Between 1819 and 1821 the building was consecrated as a parish church while the old St. James Church was pulled down and replaced with the present church. During the Second World War , the building was used as a canteen and meeting room for American soldiers before the invasion of France . The showers and washing facilities installed at this time were later converted into public baths which were used until
572-686: A semi-professional team who play in the Southern Football League – the seventh tier of the English football league system . Established in 1880, the team has had erratic success at their level; they have never risen above non-League levels but once reached the third round of the FA Cup . They played at Poole Stadium until 1994 and have since settled at Tatnam Farm, sharing the school playing field with Oakdale Junior School. Poole's other football teams are Hamworthy United , formed in 1970, and play in
715-406: A unitary authority in 1997 and was replaced by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in 2019; the current unitary authority also covers Poole , Christchurch and adjoining land. The town centre has notable Victorian architecture . St Peter's Church has a 202-foot (62 m) spire and is one of three Grade I listed churches in the borough. The town also has both an events venue and
858-476: A 36-hectare (89-acre; 0.14 sq mi; 0.36 km ) site, much of which is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest . This heathland habitat is home to all six species of native reptile, the Dartford warbler and some important flora such as sundew and bog asphodel . Small populations of Exmoor pony and Shetland cattle help to maintain the area. Bournemouth is directly north of Old Harry Rocks ,
1001-495: A 6-hectare (15-acre) Conservation Area was created in the town centre in 1975 to preserve Poole's most notable buildings. The Poole explosion of 1988 caused 3,500 people to be evacuated out of the town centre in the biggest peacetime evacuation the country had seen since the World War II . There is one tier of local government covering Poole, at unitary authority level: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council , which
1144-520: A base for supplies to the allied forces in Europe. Eighty-one landing craft containing American troops from the 29th Infantry Division and the US Army Rangers departed Poole Harbour for Omaha Beach . Poole was also an important centre for the development of Combined Operations and the base for a US Coast Guard rescue flotilla of 60 cutters . Much of the town suffered from German bombing during
1287-518: A base to raid and pillage Wessex. Following the Norman conquest of England , Poole rapidly grew into a busy port as the importance of Wareham declined. The town was part of the manor of Canford but does not exist as an identifiable entry in the Domesday Book . The earliest written mention of Poole occurred on a document from 1196 describing the newly built St James's Chapel in "La Pole". The Lord of
1430-628: A concert hall, the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) and Pavilion Theatre respectively. The first mention of Bournemouth comes in the Christchurch cartulary of 1406, where a monk describes how a large fish ("uni magno piscis"), 18 feet (5.5 metres) long, was washed up at "La Bournemothe" in October of that year and taken to the Manor of Wick ; six days later, a portion of the fish
1573-447: A county corporate. Poole is represented by three parliamentary constituencies in the House of Commons ; Poole , Mid Dorset and North Poole , and Bournemouth West . The borough constituency of Poole has existed since 1950. Previously the town had been a parliamentary borough , electing two members of parliament from 1455 until 1865 when representation was reduced to one member. In 1885
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#17328442574211716-545: A large selection of bars, clubs, and cafés. North of the centre there is an out-of-town shopping complex called Castlepoint. The 41-acre (17 ha) site has 40 units and was the largest shopping centre in the UK when it opened it 2003. Other major shopping areas are situated in the districts of Westbourne and Boscombe. Bournemouth is a tourist and regional centre for leisure, entertainment, culture and recreation. Local author and former mayor, Keith Rawlings, suggests that Bournemouth has
1859-454: A massive growth in seaside and summer visitors to the town, especially from the Midlands and London. In 1880 the town had a population of 17,000, but by 1900, when railway connections to Bournemouth were at their most developed, the town's population had risen to 60,000 and it had become a favourite location for visiting artists and writers. The town was improved greatly during this period through
2002-523: A narrow peninsula that forms the southern shore of Christchurch Harbour . It is a local nature reserve and the site of a Bronze Age settlement. Like all of the UK, Bournemouth has a temperate oceanic climate with moderate variation in annual and daily temperatures, mild summers, and cool winters. From 1991 to 2020 the annual mean temperature was 10 to 11 °C (50 to 52 °F). The warmest months are July and August, which have an average temperature range of 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F), while
2145-404: A place for recuperation. At a time when the most convenient way to arrive in the town was by sea, a pier was considered to be a necessity. The Holdenhurst parish vestry was reluctant to find the money, and an attempt to raise funds privately in 1847 had only succeeded in financing a small 100-foot (30 m) jetty. The Bournemouth Improvement Act of 1856 granted greater financial autonomy to
2288-550: A popular tourist destination extending 3 miles (4.8 km) along Poole Bay from the Sandbanks peninsular to Branksome Dene Chine at the border with Bournemouth . The beaches are divided into four areas: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs Chine and Branksome Chine. Poole's beaches have been awarded the European Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety 21 times since 1987, more than any other British seaside resort and in 2000
2431-445: A result which accounts for 15% of all employment in the town. Bournemouth seafront is one of the UK's biggest attractions with 4.5 million visitors in 2011. RNLI lifeguards provide seasonal coverage of Bournemouth's beaches. With a third of all town centre businesses in the leisure industry, Bournemouth has a booming nightlife economy and is a popular destination for stag and hen parties. These party-goers contribute £125 million
2574-411: A substantial increase in people moving into the area, has led to a sharp rise in the resident population since 2001. Of the total population, 3.3% are 85 or over, compared to 2.2% nationally; however the largest group of people moving into the area are students in the 16-24-year age group, and 9% of the current population are between 20 and 24. In England this age group accounts for only 7%. According to
2717-527: A thriving youth culture due to its large university population and many language school students. In recent years, Bournemouth has become a popular nightlife destination with UK visitors and many clubs, bars and restaurants are located within the town centre. In a 2007 survey by First Direct , Bournemouth was found to be the happiest place in the UK, with 82% of people questioned saying they were happy with their lives. Major venues for concerts include BIC , Pavilion Theatre and O2 Academy . Built in 1984,
2860-570: A venue for the municipal orchestra. It continues to provide traditional entertainment today, presenting West End stage shows, ballet and operas. The Palace Court Theatre opened in 1931, was later used as a Christian centre, and has recently been bought and reopened as a theatre by Arts University Bournemouth. Bournemouth has more than 200 listed buildings, mainly from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, including three grade I churches; St Peter's , St Clement's and St Stephen's. The Russell-Cotes Museum
3003-500: A wide estuary . At the mouth of the estuary sand spits have been deposited, enclosing the estuary to create Poole Harbour. The harbour is the largest natural harbour in Europe and the second-largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney Harbour . It is an area of international importance for nature conservation and is noted for its ecology, supporting salt marshes , mudflats and an internationally important habitat for several species of migrating bird . It has been designated
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#17328442574213146-513: A year to the economy and support 4,000 jobs. In 2010 the town was awarded a Purple Flag for providing a wide variety of night-time activities while maintaining the safety of both residents and visitors. An independent report published in 2012 indicates there has been a rise in antisocial behaviour which it attributes to the increase in nightlife. Those of working age make up approximately 65% of Bournemouth's population and of these, 74.6% are economically active although not necessarily employed within
3289-777: Is Christianity, at almost 74.34%, slightly above the United Kingdom average of 71.6%. The next-largest sector is those with no religion, at almost 16.23%, also above the UK average of 15.5%. The average house price in Poole is high compared to the rest of the UK and the surrounding south-west region . The average price of a property in Poole in 2008 was £274,011; detached houses were on average £374,150, semi-detached and terraced houses were cheaper at £226,465 and £217,128 respectively. An apartment or flat costs on average £216,097, more than any other part of Dorset. The average house prices in Poole are boosted by those in Sandbanks which had
3432-414: Is England's longest national trail . Due to its location on the south coast of England, Poole has a temperate climate with a small variation in daily and annual temperatures. The average annual mean temperature from 1971 to 2000 was 10.2–12 °C (50.4–53.6 °F). The warmest months in Poole are July and August, which have an average temperature range of 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F), and
3575-471: Is Poole's main retail area and the largest indoor shopping centre in Dorset. It opened in 1969 as an Arndale Centre and underwent three major refurbishments in 1980, 1989 and 2004. The centre provides 47,000 square metres (510,000 sq ft) of retail space with 110 stores and two multi-storey car parks with 1,400 parking spaces. A pedestrianised high street with shops, bars, pubs and restaurants connects
3718-497: Is a Grade II* listed , villa completed in 1901. It houses artefacts and paintings collected by the Victorian philanthropist Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife during their extensive travels around the world. The four art galleries display paintings by William Powell Frith , Edwin Landseer , Edwin Long , William Orchardson , Arthur Hughes , Albert Moore and Dante Gabriel Rossetti . It
3861-483: Is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset , England. The 2021 census built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest town in Dorset. Previously an uninhabited and rarely-visited heathland , other than by occasional fishermen and smugglers, a health resort was founded in the area by Lewis Tregonwell in 1810. After
4004-666: Is a tourist resort, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour , history, the Lighthouse arts centre and Blue Flag beaches . The town has a commercial port with cross-Channel freight and passenger ferry services, which connect with the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey , as well as the French port town of Saint-Malo , Brittany . The headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
4147-448: Is a visitor attraction to the south of the town centre lined with a mixture of traditional pubs and listed buildings alongside new bars, redeveloped warehouses and apartment blocks. Once the busy centre of Poole's maritime industry , all port activities moved to Hamworthy in the 1970s as the Quay became increasingly popular with tourists. The Grade II* listed Customs House on the quay-front
4290-593: Is based at the Civic Centre (formerly known as Bournemouth Town Hall) on Bourne Avenue in Bournemouth. The area that is now Bournemouth was historically mostly within the ancient parish of Christchurch in Hampshire. A chapel of ease was established at Holdenhurst to serve the west of the parish, and the chapelry of Holdenhurst subsequently came to be treated as a separate civil parish from medieval times. When
4433-462: Is based at the Civic Centre in Bournemouth . Poole was an ancient borough , which lay within the ancient parish of Canford Magna . The borough acquired its first charter in 1248 from William Longespée , who was lord of the manor . A chapel of ease dedicated to St James existed at Poole from at least 1142. In 1538, the borough was removed from the parish of Canford Magna to become its own parish, called Poole St James. In 1568, Poole
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4576-399: Is both a retail and commercial centre. Areas within Bournemouth include: Boscombe , Kinson , Southbourne , Springbourne , Throop , Westbourne , Winton and Pokesdown . The area's geology has little variety, comprising almost entirely of Eocene clays which, prior to urbanisation, supported a heathland environment. Patches of the original heath still remain, notably Turbary Common,
4719-591: Is characterised by lowland heathland to the north and wooded chines and coastline to the south. The heathland habitat supports the six native British reptile species and provides a home for a range of dragonflies and rare birds. Development has destroyed much of the heath but scattered fragments remain to the north of Poole and have been designated Special Protection Areas . The town lies on unresistant beds of Eocene clays (mainly London Clay and Gault Clay ), sands and gravels. The River Frome runs through this weak rock, and its many tributaries have carved out
4862-470: Is held by 13.9% of residents. An apprenticeship has been completed by 6.3% of the population while 16.9% have some other work-related or vocational qualification and 8.3% hold a foreign qualification. Historically Bournemouth has suffered from negative rates of natural increase and has relied on immigration to maintain population growth. In 2007 however, births exceeded deaths for the first time, and this trend has continued through to 2011. This, coupled with
5005-530: Is in Poole, and the Royal Marines have a base in the town's harbour. Despite their names, Poole is the home of The Arts University Bournemouth , the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a significant part of Bournemouth University . The area around modern Poole has been inhabited for at least the past 2,500 years, with nearby Christchurch Harbour evidencing human activity dating back to
5148-472: Is one of the few buildings designed by Ferrey still standing and operating. Bournemouth grew at a faster rate as Tapps-Gervis began developing the area similarly to the south coast resorts of Weymouth and Brighton . Despite enormous investment, the town's share of the market remained modest. In 1841 Tapps-Gervis invited the physician and writer Augustus Granville to stay. Granville was the author of The Spas of England , which described health resorts around
5291-408: Is predominantly based in neighbouring Poole, but still employed 2% of the workforce in 2010 and 2.6% in 2011. Notable employers in this sector include Escor Toys and Parvalux . Tourism is also important to the local economy. In 2011, domestic and overseas visitors made more than 5.6 million trips to the town and spent over £460 million between them. The equivalent of 8,531 full-time jobs exist as
5434-675: Is served by the Port of Poole . Since the 1970s, Poole has become one of Britain's busiest ports. Investment in new port facilities in Hamworthy and the deepening of shipping channels allowed considerable growth in cross-channel freight and passenger traffic. The port is a destination for bulk cargo imports such as steel, timber, bricks, fertiliser, grain, aggregates and palletised traffic. Export cargoes include clay, sand, fragmented steel and grain. Commercial ferry operators run regular passenger and freight services from Poole to Cherbourg , St Malo and
5577-592: Is the largest port in terms of licences in the SSFDC district which covers the coastline of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and one of the largest registered fishing fleets in the UK. However, the fleet is gradually declining because of rising fuel costs and restrictive fishing quotas introduced by the European Union . A large number of unlicensed boats also operate charted or private angling excursions. Poole Quay
5720-789: The Anglican Church of St Osmund, in a Neo-Byzantine style building; and the Parish Church of St. Aldhelm in Branksome , built by the architects Bodley and Garner in 1892 in the Gothic Revival style. Described by English Heritage as "one of Poole's most important landmarks", the Gothic Revival church of St Mary's in Longfleet , built in 1833, is one of Poole's Grade II listed churches. There are also two Christadelphian meeting halls in
5863-626: The Channel Islands . The Royal Marines operate out of the harbour at RM Poole , established in Hamworthy in 1954. The base is home to special forces unit the Special Boat Service and a detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve . In 2008, 105 fishing boats were registered and licensed to the port and held a permit issued by the Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee (SSFDC) to fish commercially. It
Bournemouth Town Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
6006-577: The Earl of Southampton noted that the area was "Devoid of all habitation", and as late as 1795 the Duke of Rutland recorded that "... on this barren and uncultivated heath there was not a human to direct us". There were some prehistoric settlements in the area, notably along the River Stour, including Longham where a skull thought to be 5,500 years old was found in 1932. Bronze Age burials near Moordown , and
6149-601: The Hampshire Advertiser . In the late 19th century "Bournemouth" became predominant, although its two-word form appears to have remained in use up until at least the early 20th century, turning up on a 1909 ordnance map. The Coat of arms of Bournemouth was first granted on 24 March 1891. In the 12th century the region around the mouth of the River Bourne was part of the Hundred of Holdenhurst . The hundred later became
6292-477: The House of Commons of the United Kingdom . The current MP, since 2010, is the Conservative Conor Burns . 50°43.2′N 1°52.8′W / 50.7200°N 1.8800°W / 50.7200; -1.8800 This Dorset location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bournemouth Bournemouth ( / ˈ b ɔːr n m ə θ / BORN -məth )
6435-515: The Liberty of Westover when it was extended to include the settlements of North Ashley, Muscliff , Muccleshell, Throop , Iford , Pokesdown , Tuckton and Wick , and incorporated into the Manor of Christchurch . Although the Dorset and Hampshire region surrounding it had been the site of human settlement for thousands of years, Westover was largely a remote and barren heathland before 1800. In 1574
6578-470: The Napoleonic Wars , spent much of his time searching the heath and coastline for French invaders and smugglers. Anticipating that people would come to the area to indulge in the newly fashionable pastime of sea-bathing , an activity with perceived health benefits, Tregonwell built a series of villas on his land between 1816 and 1822, which he hoped to let out. The common belief that pine-scented air
6721-568: The Neolithic period at Hengistbury Head . During the 3rd century BC, Celtic-speaking people known as the Durotriges moved from hilltop settlements at Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to heathland around the River Frome and Poole Harbour . The Romans landed at Poole during their conquest of Britain in the 1st century and took over an Iron Age settlement at Hamworthy , an area just west of
6864-614: The Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours in 2022 but was unsuccessful. On 13 March 2022, 21-year-old Thomas Roberts was stabbed to death in Bournemouth Town Centre by Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai in a high-profile murder case. On 31 May 2023, two people died and eight others were injured in an incident at Bournemouth beach . There is one tier of local government covering Bournemouth, at unitary authority level: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council , which
7007-571: The Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway opened in 1870, it grew into an important resort town which attracts over five million visitors annually with the town's beaches and popular nightlife. It now has a financial sector that is worth more than £1 billion in gross value added . Part of Hampshire since before the Domesday Book , it was assigned to Dorset under the Local Government Act 1972 in 1974. Bournemouth Borough Council became
7150-515: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth . Poole has many sites of Christian worship including five Grade II* and five Grade II listed churches, but no notable sites of worship for any other major religious groups . The Grade II* St James' Church is a simplified Gothic Revival style Church of England parish church in the Old Town which was rebuilt in 1820. The previous church on the site
7293-471: The South East Dorset conurbation should be in the same county. Bournemouth's borough status was transferred to the new district, allowing the council to take the name Bournemouth Borough Council and giving the chair of the council the title of mayor, continuing Bournemouth's series of mayors dating back to 1890. On 1 April 1997, Bournemouth Borough Council became a unitary authority , taking over
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#17328442574217436-518: The South East Dorset conurbation which has a combined population of over 465,000, forming one of the South Coast's major urban areas. In the 2011 census , the population of the borough of Poole was 147,645, an increase from 138,288 in 2001 . The town has a built-up area of 25 square miles (65 km ), giving an approximate population density of 5,532 inhabitants per square mile (2,136/km ) in 60,512 dwellings. The population has grown steadily since
7579-524: The Tidy Britain Group resort survey rated Poole's beaches among the top five in the country. Along the seafront, there are seaside cafés, restaurants, beach huts and numerous water-sports facilities. Royal National Lifeboat Institution Beach Rescue lifeguards patrol the coastline in the busy summer season between May and September. Poole falls within the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury and
7722-480: The service sector as office-based employers relocated to the area. The importance of manufacturing has declined since the 1960s but still employed approximately 17% of the workforce in 2002 and remains more prominent than in the economy of Great Britain as a whole. Sunseeker , the world's largest privately owned builder of motor yachts and the UK's largest manufacturer, is based in Poole and employs over 1,800 people in its Poole shipyards . Other major employers in
7865-422: The 16th century "Bourne Mouth" seems to be preferred, being recorded as such in surveys and reports of the period, but this appears to have been shortened to "Bourne" after the area had started to develop. A travel guide published in 1831 calls the place "Bourne Cliffe" or "Tregonwell's Bourne" after its founder. The Spas of England , published ten years later, calls it simply "Bourne" as does an 1838 edition of
8008-573: The 1948 arms were transferred to Poole Borough Council. In 1976, the council received the grant of supporters for the coat of arms. The supporters refer to important charters given to the town; to the left is a gold lion holding a long sword representing William Longespee who in 1248 granted the town's first charter; on the right is a dragon derived from the Royal Arms of Elizabeth I who granted Poole county corporate status in 1568. The Latin motto – Ad Morem Villae De Poole , means: According to
8151-445: The 1960s, inward migration has accounted for most of the town's growth and a significant part of this has been for retirement. Housing stock has increased by over 100 per cent in the past 40 years from 30,000 in 1961 to approximately 62,700 in 2004. Compared to the rest of England and Wales , Poole has an above-average number of residents aged over 65 (20.3%), but this is less than the Dorset average of 22.2%. The largest proportion of
8294-459: The 1960s. The building was converted for use as the town museum between 1971 and 1991 but stood empty for the next 16 years. After a renovation project funded by Poole Borough Council, the restored Guildhall opened in June 2007 as a Register Office for weddings, civil partnerships and other civic ceremonies. Poole has several urban parks – the largest is Poole Park adjacent to Poole Harbour and
8437-460: The 1970s, Poole's less restrictive regional planning policies attracted businesses wishing to relocate from London. These included employers in the banking and financial sector, such as Barclays Bank (who operated Barclays House as a regional headquarters in Poole), American Express Bank and the corporate trust division of Bank of New York Mellon . Other important service sector employers include
8580-460: The 19th century and the villages to the east of Poole began to grow and merge until the seaside resort of Bournemouth emerged. Although Poole did not become a resort, like many of its neighbours, it continued to prosper as the rapid expansion of Bournemouth created a large demand for goods manufactured in Poole. During World War II , Poole was the third-largest embarkation point for D-Day landings of Operation Overlord and afterwards served as
8723-535: The BCP councillors representing wards in the former borough of Bournemouth. The trustees preserve the town's civic charters and traditions, including appointing one of their number each year to serve as mayor. Bournemouth is represented by two parliamentary constituencies in the House of Commons; Bournemouth East and Bournemouth West . In the 2024 general election , the former was gained for Labour by Tom Hayes with 40.8% of
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#17328442574218866-576: The BIC is also a popular place for party political conferences and has been used by all three major political parties. Its four auditoria make it the largest venue on the south coast. The O2 and Pavilion are older and are both Grade II listed buildings . The O2, which opened in 1895 as the Grand Pavilion Theatre, was initially used as a circus and later for music hall theatre. The Pavilion opened in 1929 as concert hall and tea room while also providing
9009-898: The Bournemouth area. Industry in Bournemouth employed more than 76,400 people in 2011 but not all of these were Bournemouth residents. Of those employed in Bournemouth based industries, 29.32% were employed in the public administration, education and health sector. This compares favourably with Dorset, the South-West region, and the country as a whole, as do the other large sectors; distribution, hotels & restaurants (29.06%), and banking, finance and insurance (24.48%). 37.2% of Bournemouth's resident population are employed full-time while 13.3% are employed part-time. An additional 7.1% full-time workers are self-employed, 3.1% are self-employed part-time. Full-time students with jobs account for 5.3% and 3.8% are unemployed. The shopping streets are mostly pedestrianised with modern shopping malls, Victorian arcades and
9152-501: The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councillors representing wards in the former borough of Poole. The trustees preserve the town's civic charters and traditions, including appointing one of their number each year to serve as mayor and another to serve as sheriff; these roles are now purely honorary with no practical functions. Poole is one of only fifteen towns and cities across England and Wales which appoint their own sheriff, with Poole's right to do so stemming from its former status as
9295-546: The Centre for Cities in 2016, Bournemouth's population had the third highest average age among 63 large towns and cities in the UK, at 42.8 years. Similarly to the rest of Dorset, Bournemouth's economy is primarily in the service sector , which employed 95% of the workforce in 2010. This was 10% higher than the average employment in the service sector for Great Britain and 11% higher than the South West . Of particular importance are
9438-691: The Custom of the Town of Poole , and derives from the Great Charter of 1568. Poole is a complex shore of the English Channel ; it lies on the northern and eastern edges of Poole Harbour , 97 miles (156 km) west-southwest of London. The oldest part of the town (including the historic Old Town, Poole Quay and the Dolphin Shopping Centre ) lies to the south-east of Holes Bay on a peninsula jutting into
9581-523: The Dolphin Centre with the historic Old Town area and Poole Quay. Tourism is important to the Poole's economy and was worth an estimated £158 million in 2002. Poole's Harbour, Quay and the beaches are some of the main attractions for visitors. Visitor accommodation consists of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast rooms located around the town, particularly in Sandbanks and the town centre. Poole
9724-491: The Manor , Sir William Longspée , sold a charter of liberties to the burgesses of Poole in 1248 to raise funds for his participation in the Seventh Crusade . Consequently, Poole gained a small measure of freedom from feudal rule and acquired the right to appoint a mayor and hold a court within the town. Poole's growing importance was recognised in 1433 when it was awarded staple port status by King Henry VI , enabling
9867-595: The Newfoundland fisheries and other nations took over services provided by Poole's merchants at a lower cost. Poole's Newfoundland trade rapidly declined and within a decade most merchants had ceased trading. The town grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as urbanisation took place and the town became an area of mercantile prosperity and overcrowded poverty. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of ten workers were engaged in harbour activities, but as
10010-411: The River Stour, Stour Valley Way , Millhams Mead and Stour Valley nature reserves and arboretum, Hengistbury Head , and the small communities of Throop and Holdenhurst. Turbary Park is a heathland which is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest . The 2011 census records the population of Bournemouth as 183,491, comprising 91,386 males and 92,105 females, which equates to 49.8% and 50.2% of
10153-695: The Royal Motor Yacht Club. Parkstone Yacht Club hosted the OK Dinghy World Championships in 2004, the J/24 National Championships in 2006 and the J/24 European Championships in 2007, with the 2020 J24 Worlds hosted here also and are the organisers of Youth Week and Poole Week – two of the largest annual dinghy regattas of their type in the country. Poole's oldest football team is Poole Town F.C. ,
10296-457: The area has otherwise been provided from Poole Lifeboat Station . The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), a large conference and exhibition centre, was constructed near the seafront in 1984, and in the following year Bournemouth became the first town in the United Kingdom to introduce and use CCTV cameras for public street-based surveillance. In 1993, the IRA orchestrated a terrorist attack in
10439-560: The beach, later to become known as the Invalids' Walk. After the death of Tapps in 1835, his son Sir George William Tapps-Gervis inherited his father's estate. He hired the young local architect Benjamin Ferrey to develop Bournemouth Gardens along the coastal area on the east side of the stream. Bournemouth's first hotel, later to become part of the Royal Bath Hotel , opened in 1838 and
10582-459: The borough council bought the former Mont Dore Hotel on Bourne Avenue, which had been completed in 1885, and converted into the Town Hall. The county borough of Bournemouth was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . The district kept the same boundaries, but was transferred from Hampshire to Dorset, it being considered desirable that the whole of
10725-413: The boroughs of Bournemouth and Christchurch to become a new local government district called Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , the council of which is a unitary authority. The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district remains part of the ceremonial county of Dorset for the purposes of lieutenancy . Since the abolition of Poole Borough Council in 2019, Poole has had charter trustees , being
10868-494: The century progressed, ships became too large for the shallow harbour and the port lost business to the deepwater ports at Liverpool , Southampton and Plymouth . Poole's first railway station opened in Hamworthy in 1847 and later extended to the centre of Poole in 1872, effectively ending the port's busy coastal shipping trade. The beaches and landscape of southern Dorset and south-west Hampshire began to attract tourists during
11011-649: The competitors as well as previously a Disco on the Saturday evening which has since been scrapped, hundreds of competitors from across the country compete each year, the competition celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. Following a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is hoped it will return in 2022. Poole Harbour is one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with a number of yacht clubs such as the: East Dorset Sailing Club, Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole Yacht Club, Sandbanks Yacht Company and
11154-493: The constituency was abolished altogether and absorbed into the East Dorset constituency until its reintroduction in 1950. The design of the coat of arms originated in a seal from the late 14th century and were recorded by Clarenceux King of Arms during the heraldic visitation of Dorset in 1563. The wavy bars of black and gold represent the sea and the dolphin is a sign of Poole's maritime interests. The scallop shells are
11297-471: The construction of Bournemouth Gardens alongside the Bourne stream , an idea first mooted by Granville. The fields south of the road crossing (later Bournemouth Square ) were drained and laid out with shrubberies and walks. Many of these paths, including the Invalids' Walk, remain in the town today. A second suggestion of Granville's, a sanatorium, was completed in 1855 and greatly raised Bournemouth's profile as
11440-484: The coolest months are January and February, which have a range of 2 to 8.3 °C (35.6 to 46.9 °F). Mean sea surface temperatures range from 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in February to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in August. The average annual rainfall of 592.6 millimetres (23.33 in) is well below the UK average of 1,126 millimetres (44.3 in). Poole lies at the centre of a green belt region that extends into
11583-649: The coolest months are January and February, which have an average temperature range of 2 to 9 °C (36 to 48 °F). Average rainfall in Bournemouth is around 34.4 inches (875 mm) annually, well below the national average of 45.8 inches (1,163 mm). It records both higher and lower temperatures than would be expected for its coastal location. Since 1960, temperature extremes as measured at Bournemouth Hurn Airport have ranged from 34.1 °C (93.4 °F) in August 1990, down to −13.4 °C (7.9 °F) in January 1963. The lowest temperature recorded in recent years
11726-419: The country, and as a result of his visit, he included a chapter on Bournemouth in the second edition of his book. The publication of the book, and the increase in visitors seeking the medicinal use of seawater and the pine-scented air, helped the town to grow and establish itself as an early tourist destination. In the 1840s Benjamin Ferrey was replaced by Decimus Burton , whose plans for Bournemouth included
11869-455: The demand for fish from the Catholic countries of Europe. Poole's share of this trade varied but the most prosperous period started in the early 18th century and lasted until the early 19th century. The trade followed a three-cornered route; ships sailed to Newfoundland with salt and provisions, then carried dried and salted fish to Europe before returning to Poole with wine, olive oil, and salt. By
12012-401: The development of Bournemouth began in 1810, the site straddled the parishes of Holdenhurst and Christchurch. An ecclesiastical parish of Bournemouth was created in 1845, but for civil purposes the town continued to straddle the parishes of Holdenhurst and Christchurch. A body of improvement commissioners was established in 1856 to provide local government services in the town. Bournemouth
12155-474: The discovery of Iron Age pottery on the East Cliff in 1969, suggest there may have been settlements there during that period. Hengistbury Head , added to the borough in 1932, was the site of a much older Palaeolithic encampment. During the latter half of the 16th century James Blount, 6th Baron Mountjoy , began mining for alum in the area, and at one time part of the heath was used for hunting, although by
12298-488: The early 18th century Poole had more ships trading with North America than any other English port and vast wealth was brought to Poole's merchants. This prosperity supported much of the development which now characterises the Old Town where many of the medieval buildings were replaced with Georgian mansions and terraced housing . The end of the Napoleonic Wars and the conclusion of the War of 1812 ended Britain's monopoly over
12441-486: The east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . The town had an estimated population of 151,500 (mid-2016 census estimates) making it the second-largest town in the ceremonial county of Dorset. Together with Bournemouth and Christchurch , the conurbation has a total population of nearly 400,000. The settlement dates back to before the Iron Age . The earliest recorded use of
12584-520: The eastern end are home to Poole Town Cricket Club and water sport activities such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing take place on the large lake. A war memorial stands in the centre of the park as a monument to Poole citizens killed during the First and Second World Wars . The park hosts several road races such as the Race for Life and the annual Poole Festival of Running. Poole's sandy beaches are
12727-470: The easternmost end of the Jurassic Coast , 96 miles (155 km) of coastline designated a World Heritage Site in 2001. Bournemouth's own coastline stretches from Sandbanks to Christchurch Harbour and comprises mainly sandy beaches backed by gravel and sandy clay cliffs. These cliffs are cut by a number of chines which provide natural access to the shore. At the easternmost point lies Hengistbury Head,
12870-413: The efforts of Sir Merton Russell-Cotes , the town's mayor and a local philanthropist, who helped to establish the town's first library and museum. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum was housed in his mansion, and after his death, it was given to the town. Bournemouth became a municipal borough in 1890 and a county borough in 1900. As Bournemouth's growth increased in the early 20th century,
13013-521: The emblem of Saint James and are associated with his shrine at Santiago de Compostela – a popular destination for Christian pilgrims departing from Poole Harbour in the Middle Ages . The arms were confirmed by the College of Arms on 19 June 1948, and at the same time, the crest (a mermaid supporting an anchor and holding a cannonball) was granted. Following local government reorganisation in 1974,
13156-454: The financial and public service sectors which through 2011 continued to show sustained growth. Compared to the rest of the country, Bournemouth performed well in these two areas but under performed in transport and communications. The smallest geographical region for which gross value added information is available is the NUTS3 area, Bournemouth and Poole. The latest figures, as of 2012 , are for
13299-494: The fourth-most expensive house prices in the world in 2000; in 2007 the average house price was £488,761. A study in 2006 by the National Housing Federation reported that Poole was the most unaffordable town in which to live in the UK. Poole's economy is more balanced than the rest of Dorset. In the 1960s, prosperity was fuelled by growth in the manufacturing sector , whereas the 1980s and 1990s saw expansion in
13442-496: The front were removed and melted down for munitions, as was much of the superstructure from both Bournemouth and Boscombe piers before they were breached to prevent their use by enemy ships. The large amounts of barbed wire and anti-tank obstacles along the beach, and the mines at the foot of the chines , took two years to remove when peace was finally achieved. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution stationed an inshore lifeboat at Bournemouth between 1965 and 1972. Coverage for
13585-560: The future of the town centre. The town centre is where The Square is. Areas include Richmond Hill and Lansdowne . Bournemouth Town Centre is part of the Bournemouth Central ward for elections to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . The same ward elected councillors to the former Bournemouth Borough Council . The town centre is also part of the Bournemouth West parliamentary constituency for elections to
13728-455: The hands of five private owners, including James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury , and Sir George Ivison Tapps . In 1809 the Tapps Arms public house was built on the heath. A few years later, in 1812, the first official residents, retired army officer Lewis Tregonwell and his wife, moved into their new home built on land purchased from Tapps. The area was well known to Tregonwell who, during
13871-634: The harbour, Poole Bay and Studland Bay are also popular for recreational angling and diving. The beaches at Sandbanks are often used for sporting events such as the Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival, and the annual British Beach polo Championship. Since 1999, the town's Rossmore Leisure Centre has hosted the GMPD Poole Gymnastics Competition every October with the Holiday Inn Express hosting some of
14014-545: The harbour, although much of the land to the east of the peninsula has been reclaimed from the harbour since the mid-20th century. To the west is Upton and Corfe Mullen and across the northern border at the River Stour lies Wimborne Minster . At the eastern edge of Poole, the town abuts Bournemouth and the settlements of Kinson , Winton and Westbourne . To the south of Poole along the coast lies Poole Bay , which has 3 miles (4.8 km) of sandy beaches from Sandbanks in
14157-518: The identity of outlying communities, and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas, and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building. Bournemouth has small areas of green belt within its district to the north and east, mostly along the fringes of the shared border with the Christchurch and East Dorset districts. These cover landscape features and greenfield facilities including
14300-508: The largest is Brownsea Island , a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and the birthplace of the Scouting movement and location of the first Scout Camp . Britain's largest onshore oil field operates from Wytch Farm on the south shore of the harbour. The oil reservoirs extend under the harbour and eastwards from Sandbanks and Studland for 6.2 miles (10 km) under the sea to
14443-691: The late 18th century little evidence of either event remained. No-one lived at the mouth of the Bourne river and the only regular visitors to the area before the 19th century were a few fishermen, turf cutters and gangs of smugglers . Prior to the Christchurch Inclosures Act 1802 , more than 70% of the Westover area was common land . The act, together with the Inclosure Commissioners' Award of 1805, transferred 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) into
14586-561: The local manufacturing industry include Lush , Siemens and Ryvita . Poole has the largest number of industrial estates in South East Dorset , including the Nuffield Industrial estate, Mannings Heath, Arena Business Park, Poole Trade Park and the Branksome Business Centre. The service sector is the principal economy of Poole; a large number of employees work for the service economy of residents or for tourists. During
14729-422: The main urban area, and while inset, are not covered by green belt. However, the isolated hamlets of Knighton, Merley Hall and Ashington are 'washed over', and development is limited in these locations. A specific function of the restrictions is to prevent further urban encroachment towards Wimborne Minster , to help maintain its historic character and surroundings. Poole merges with several other towns to form
14872-441: The modern town centre. This was used as a supply base for the fortress at Lake Farm, Ashington and a settlement at Vindocladia (Bradbury Rings) . The town's name may have originated around the post-Roman or Anglo-Saxon periods, and seems to have originally applied to the harbour. It is derived from the late Brittonic or early Old English words pol meaning a pool or creek. By the middle to late Anglo-Saxon period, Poole
15015-491: The mouth of Holes Bay, is Poole Bridge . Built in 1927, it is the third bridge to be located on the site since 1834. Poole Guildhall has played a varied part in the history of the town. A Grade II* listed building, the Guildhall was built in 1761 at a cost of £2,250. The new building included an open market house on the ground floor and a courtroom and offices for the town council on the first floor and has also been used as
15158-520: The national headquarters and college of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) , the UK headquarters of Fitness First , Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth . Poole is also the headquarters for clothing company Animal , cosmetics manufacturer Lush, and Merlin Entertainments , the world's second-largest theme park operator after Disney . The Dolphin Shopping Centre
15301-728: The north and west of the district, mostly on the fringes of the shared border with the Purbeck and East Dorset districts. These cover landscape features and greenfield facilities including the rivers Stour and Sherford and their floodplains , the Stour Valley Way , Canford Heathland , Dunyeats Hill and Corfe and Barrow Hill nature reserves, Upton Country Park, Pergins Island , and the Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers miniature railway. The small communities at Merley, Canford Magna, Oakley and Oakley Hill are separated from
15444-610: The population (24.8%) is between the ages of 45 to 64, slightly above the national average of 23.8%. Population projections have predicted a continual growth; a population of 151,481 is estimated by 2016. The district is overwhelmingly populated by people of a White ethnic background, 95.98% of residents are of White British ethnicity, well above the rest of England at 86.99%. Minority ethnic groups (including those in White ethnic groups who did not classify themselves as British) represent 4.0% of Poole's population. The largest religion in Poole
15587-607: The population respectively. The mean average age of all persons is 40 years. With 4,000 residents per square kilometre, Bournemouth has the highest population density of any authority in the South-West region, and is the eighth most populated. Much of the population, 83.8%, describe their ethnicity as ' White British ' while other white groups account for a further 8.1%. Asian groups; Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese and other Asian, make up 3.9%. Black British , Black African, Black Caribbean and other Black groups form 1.0% of
15730-423: The population while 15.2% have a level 2 NVQ, a City and Guilds craft certificate, BTEC or general diploma. Just over 20% of residents had two or more A-levels, four or more AS-Levels or an advanced diploma while 15.8% possessed a degree, such as a BA or BSc or a higher degree such as an MA or PhD. An NVQ level 4 or 5, HNC , HND , higher BTEC or higher diploma , is held by 4.2% and a professional qualification
15873-720: The population, Those who are Mixed race make up 2.3% of the population, and 0.9% are from other ethnic groups. Christians made up 57.1% of the population but 30% of residents said they had no religion and 7.8% declined to say whether they were religious or not. Muslims were 1.8%, Buddhists, Hindus and Jews each had a 0.7% share, Sikhs were 0.1%. and other religions made up 0.7%. Of all Bournemouth residents aged 16 or over, 19.1% had no qualifications at all, although 35% said they had between one and four O-levels , CSEs , GCSEs or equivalent, and 36.5% have more than five O-level equivalents (grade C and above), an A-level or two to three AS-levels. Those with an NVQ level 1 comprise 8.0% of
16016-469: The port to begin exporting wool and in turn granting a licence for the construction of a town wall. In 1568, Poole gained further autonomy when it was granted legal independence from Dorset and made a county corporate by the Great Charter of Elizabeth I . During the English Civil War , Poole's puritan stance and its merchants' opposition to the ship money tax introduced by King Charles I led to
16159-491: The provision of county council functions from Dorset County Council . As from April 2019, the nine councils of Dorset were merged into two and Bournemouth became part of a unitary authority with Christchurch and Poole (known as BCP). For the purposes of the Lieutenancy it remains part of the ceremonial county of Dorset. Since the abolition of Bournemouth Borough Council in 2019, Bournemouth has had charter trustees , being
16302-464: The quay during the summer and provide cruises around the harbour and to Brownsea Island , the River Frome and Swanage . Public artworks along the Quay include Sea Music – a large metal sculpture designed by Sir Anthony Caro , and a life-size bronze sculpture of Robert Baden-Powell created to celebrate the founding of the Scout Movement on Brownsea Island. At the western end of the quay, near
16445-452: The same month. A shift from retail towards entertainment and eating out is predicted to be the future of the town centre. On 13 March 2022, the towns House of Fraser , closed for the final time. The store, which first opened in 1873, was Bournemouth's last remaining department store after the flagship Beales closed in 2020, and Debenhams closed in 2021. Despite this Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are reportedly optimistic about
16588-569: The south of Bournemouth. Situated directly to the east of the Jurassic Coast , Poole is a gateway town to the UNESCO World Heritage Site , which includes 95 miles (153 km) of the Dorset and east Devon coast important for its geology, landforms and rich fossil record . The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles (1,010 km) from Minehead in Somerset, along the coast of Devon and Cornwall and on to Poole. The path
16731-470: The town and a pier was approved that year. A number of wooden structures were built before an 838 feet (255 m) cast iron design by Eugenius Birch was completed in 1880. Under the Act, a board of 13 Commissioners was established to build and organise the expanding infrastructure of the town, such as paving, sewers, drainage, street lighting and street cleaning. The arrival of the railways in 1870 precipitated
16874-578: The town centre . The only injuries sustained were minor ones but over £1 million in damage was caused. From 2000 to 2001 the Tesco bomb campaign hit the town with a plot to extort money from Supermarket giant Tesco . Visitors to the town plummeted during the campaign, especially after a bomb exploded at an elderly woman's home after she opened a letter sent by the bomber. During the eight months, over seven bombs were found by Dorset Police , ranging from small letter bombs, to pipe bombs and parcel bombs. The culprit
17017-530: The town centre spawned theatres, cafés, two art deco cinemas, and more hotels. Bournemouth Corporation Tramways was established in 1902, becoming the town's first public transport system. In 1908, a deadly tram crash in the town gardens killed 7 people. Other new buildings constructed included the war memorial in 1921 and the Bournemouth Pavilion , the town's concert hall and grand theatre, finished in 1925. The Bournemouth Blitz saw heavy damage to
17160-505: The town centre. It opened in 1890 and is one of two Victorian parks in Poole. Designated a Conservation Area in 1995 and awarded a Green Flag in 2008, the park comprises 44.3 hectares (109 acres) of which 24 hectares (59 acres) include the park's human-made lake and ponds. The park contains two children's play areas, a miniature railway , tennis courts, a bowling green , a miniature golf course, an Italian restaurant and an indoor ice rink for children. A cricket field and pavilion at
17303-607: The town declaring for Parliament . Poole escaped any large-scale attack and with the Royalists on the brink of defeat in 1646, the Parliamentary garrison from Poole laid siege to and captured the nearby Royalist stronghold at Corfe Castle . Poole established successful commerce with the North American colonies in the 16th century, including the important fisheries of Newfoundland . Trade with Newfoundland grew steadily to meet
17446-457: The town during the Second World War despite initially escaping heavy bombing. A raid by German fighter bombers on 23 May 1943 killed 131 people and damaged 3,359 buildings, with two large hotels being completely destroyed. It is believed that the large number of RAF airmen billeted in the town may have been the reason for the attack. The seafront incurred damage when it was fortified against invasion . The cast iron lampposts and benches along
17589-499: The town's name was in the 12th century when the town began to emerge as an important port, prospering with the introduction of the wool trade . Later, the town had important trade links with North America and, at its peak during the 18th century, it was one of the busiest ports in Britain. In the Second World War , Poole was one of the main departing points for the Normandy landings . Poole
17732-464: The town. Poole Harbour and Poole Bay are popular areas for recreational pursuits such as: sailing, windsurfing , surfing , kitesurfing and water skiing . The harbour's large areas of sheltered waters attract windsurfers, particularly around the northern and eastern shores. Water skiing takes place in the harbour in a specially designated area known as the Wareham Channel. The waters around
17875-447: The vote, while the latter was also gained for Labour by Jessica Toale with 36.4%. However, the seats had previously both been considered Conservative safe seats. In 2022, both of the towns Conservative MPs , Conor Burns and Tobias Ellwood had the whip withdrawn forcing them to sit as Independents . Bournemouth is about 94 miles (151 km) southwest of London. The town borders the neighbouring towns of Poole and Christchurch to
18018-482: The war - in which the Municipal Borough lost 75 civilian lives - and years of neglect in the post-war economic decline . Major redevelopment projects began in the 1950s and 1960s and large areas of slum properties were demolished and replaced with modern public housing and facilities. Many of Poole's historic buildings were demolished during this period, particularly in the Old Town area of Poole. Consequently,
18161-499: The west and east respectively. Poole Bay lies to the south. The River Stour forms a natural boundary to the north and east, terminating at Christchurch Harbour ; while the River Bourne rises in Poole and flows through the middle of Bournemouth town centre, into the English Channel. The towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch form the South East Dorset conurbation with a combined population of over 400,000. Bournemouth
18304-615: The west to Bournemouth in the east. Urban areas and districts of the town Poole is made up of numerous suburbs and neighbourhoods, many of which developed from villages or hamlets that were absorbed into Poole as the town grew. Alderney – Bearwood – Branksome – Branksome Park – Broadstone – Canford Cliffs – Canford Heath – Creekmoor – Fleetsbridge – Hamworthy – Lilliput – Longfleet – Merley – Oakley – Newtown – Oakdale – Parkstone – Penn Hill – Sandbanks – Sterte – Talbot Village – Wallisdown – Waterloo – Whitecliff The natural environment of Poole
18447-470: The wider surrounding counties. It is in place to reduce urban sprawl , prevent the towns in the South East Dorset conurbation from further convergence, protect the identity of outlying communities, and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building. Poole has areas of green belt to
18590-752: The year 2009 which showed that the Bournemouth and Poole area enjoyed the strongest annualised growth in the South-West region. In 2009 the South West Regional Accounts showed that the Financial Services sector in Bournemouth was worth £1,031.8 million in Gross Value Added . Important employers in this sector include JPMorgan , Nationwide Building Society , and the Liverpool Victoria , Tata Consultancy Services (formerly Unisys), and RIAS insurance companies. The manufacturing sector
18733-432: Was Russell-Cotes who successfully campaigned to have a promenade built; it runs continuously along the Bournemouth and Poole shoreline. Poole Poole ( / p uː l / ) is a coastal town and seaport on the south coast of England in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in Dorset , England. The town is 21 miles (34 km) east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to
18876-465: Was built in 1814 and now functions as a restaurant and bar. Nearby the Grade I listed Town Cellars, a medieval warehouse built in the 15th century on the foundations of a 14th-century stone building, houses a local history centre. Scaplen's Court , another Grade I listed building, also dates from the medieval era. Poole Pottery has been redeveloped into an apartment block . Boats regularly depart from
19019-415: Was collected by a canon from Christchurch Priory and taken away as tithe . "La Bournemowthe", however, was purely a geographic reference to the uninhabited area around the mouth of the small river which, in turn, drained the heathland between the towns of Poole and Christchurch. The word bourne , meaning a small stream, is a derivative of burna , old English for a brook. From the latter half of
19162-600: Was first mentioned in documents from 1142 and had been extensively rebuilt in the 16th century, but in 1819 it was deemed structurally unsafe by a surveyors report. The United Reformed Church hall, also in the town centre, is a Grade II* building built in 1777. The other Grade II* churches are: St. Peter's Parish Church in Parkstone which was first built in 1833 and replaced in 1876; St Dunstan of Canterbury Orthodox Church , also in Parkstone, an Antiochian Orthodox church, formerly
19305-406: Was found to be Robert Edward Dyer, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Waterfront complex , which was intended to hold an IMAX cinema, was constructed on the seafront in 1998. The 19-metre-high (62-foot) concrete and smoked glass building featured a wavy roof design, but was despised by residents and visitors alike because it blocked views of the bay and the Isle of Purbeck . In 2005 it
19448-469: Was given the right to appoint its own sheriff , making it a county corporate , independent from the jurisdiction of the Sheriff of Dorset . In 1836, Poole was reformed to become a municipal borough . As part of that reform, the borough boundaries were enlarged to take in Hamworthy , Longfleet and Parkstone . When elected county councils were established in 1889, despite being a county corporate, Poole
19591-417: Was good for lung conditions, and in particular tuberculosis , prompted Tregonwell and Tapps to plant hundreds of pine trees . These early attempts to promote the town as a health resort meant that by the time Tregonwell died in 1832, Bournemouth had grown into a small community with a scattering of houses, villas and cottages. The town would ultimately grow up around the scattered pines and tree-lined walk to
19734-598: Was included in the Kingdom of Wessex . The settlement was used as a base for fishing and the harbour a place for ships to anchor on their way to the River Frome and the important Anglo-Saxon town of Wareham . Poole experienced two large-scale Viking invasions during this era: in 876, Guthrum sailed his fleet through the harbour to attack Wareham, and in 1015, Canute began his conquest of England in Poole Harbour, using it as
19877-519: Was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1890. In 1900 it was elevated to the status of a county borough , making it independent from Hampshire County Council , whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Hampshire. The borough boundaries were enlarged on several occasions, notably in 1901 when it absorbed Pokesdown , Southbourne and Winton , and in 1931 when it absorbed Holdenhurst and Kinson (the latter being transferred from Dorset to Hampshire on its absorption into Bournemouth). In 1921
20020-446: Was not considered large enough for the borough council to take on county council functions. It was therefore included in the administrative county of Dorset under the new Dorset County Council . The borough boundaries were enlarged in 1905 to take in Branksome , and again in 1931 to absorb Canford Magna. In 1932 the borough council built itself Poole Civic Centre on Parkstone Road to serve as its headquarters. The borough of Poole
20163-431: Was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . The district kept the same boundaries and its borough status , but there were some changes to the council's responsibilities. In 1997, Poole Borough Council became a unitary authority, taking over the provision of county council functions from Dorset County Council. The borough of Poole was abolished in 2019, merging with
20306-700: Was voted the most hated building in England in a 10,000-person poll conducted by the Channel 4 programme Demolition , and was pulled down in spring 2013. The site is now used as an outdoor event arena. The council has recently completed a larger redevelopment of the site and adjoining council land. In 2010, Bournemouth celebrated its bicentenary. In 2012 Bournemouth was unsuccessful in its bid for city status , losing out to Chelmsford , Essex in competition with 26 other towns to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II 's Diamond Jubilee . Bournemouth sought city status once again for
20449-454: Was −10.4 °C (13.3 °F) in December 2010. The February and winter month record high was broken in 2019, with a temperature of 17.8 °C (64.0 °F). Bournemouth lies at the centre of a green belt region that extends into the wider surrounding counties. It is in place to reduce urban sprawl , prevent the towns in the South East Dorset conurbation from further convergence, protect
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