Poole
All you want to know about Poole
| Poole | |
  Poole shown within Dorset |
|
| Population | 138,288[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 111 miles (179 km) |
| Unitary authority | Poole |
| Shire county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | POOLE |
| Postcode district | BH12-17 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Dorset and North Poole Poole |
| Website: http://www.poole.gov.uk/ | |
| List of places: UK • England • Dorset | |
- This article is about a town in the United Kingdom, for the surname see Poole (disambiguation)
Poole (pronunciation ) is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset on the south coast of England. The town is 20 miles (32 km) east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council. The town had a population of 138,288 according to the 2001 census, making it the second largest settlement in Dorset.
Human settlement in the area dates back to before the Iron Age. The earliest recorded use of the town’s name was in the 13th century when the town became an important port, prospering with the introduction of the wool trade. In later centuries the town had important trade links with North America and at its peak in the 18th century it was one of the busiest ports in Britain. During the Second World War the town was one of the departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasion.
Today, the town is a popular tourist resort, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour well known for sailing and yachting, museums, the Poole Arts Centre and award-winning beaches. The headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker, and Merlin Entertainments are located in Poole, and the Royal Marines have a base in the town's harbour. Poole is also home to Bournemouth University, The Arts Institute at Bournemouth and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Contents |
History
Toponymy
The town's name derives from the Old English words pool which means a place near a pool or creek and pol which was given to people who lived near a small body of water.[2] Variants include Pool, Pole, Poles, Poll, Polle, Polman, and Poolman.[3][4]
Early history
The Poole Harbour area has been inhabited for at least 2,500 years.[4] During the Iron Age, Celtic people known as the Durotriges lived in Dorset, particularly around Wareham, five miles (8 km) to the west. In the 3rd century BC, these Celtic people moved from hilltop settlements, such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings on the chalk downs to the north, to the lower vales and heathland around the River Frome and Poole Harbour. This marshy area may have lent its name to the Durotriges, which means "water dwellers". The Durotriges engaged in cross-channel trading at Poole with the Veneti, a seafaring tribe from Brittany.[3] The earliest significant archaeological find in the harbour is the Poole Logboat, a 10 metres (33 ft) boat made from a single oak tree and dating to 295 BC.[5] During that time, the harbour was shallower than it is today and any settlement would now be under water.[6]
Poole was one of a number of harbouring sites along the south coast of Britain where the Romans landed in the 1st century AD.[4] The Romans founded Hamworthy, an area just west of the modern town centre, and continued to use the harbour during the occupation.[7]
Middle Ages
Following the Saxon invasion of southern Britain in the 7th century, Poole was included in the newly established West Saxon Kingdom or Wessex.[8] Poole was used as a base for fishing and a place for ships to anchor on their way to Wareham, an important Saxon stronghold.[9] A Danish Viking army captured Wareham in 876 but they were besieged and defeated by a Saxon army led by Alfred the Great. The Danish fleet retreated though Poole Harbour but most of their longships sank in a violent storm off the coast of Poole Bay and Studland.[10] The Danes returned to England under Canute the Great in 1015. He led his fleet to Poole Harbour which he used as a base to pillage the surrounding settlements of Wessex before returning back along the coast to attack London.[11][8]
Poole remained a small fishing town until the Norman Conquest. During the 12th and 13th centuries the maritime and fishing trade of Poole grew as the importance of Wareham declined.[12] Poole is first mentioned in written records in on a writ of 1224, addressed to the bailiffs and good men of La Pole (Poole), ordering them to retain all ships within their port.[13] A charter of liberties was sold to the Burgesses of Poole in 1248 by the Lord of the Manor and son of the Earl of Salisbury, Sir William Longspee, to raise funds for his participation the Seventh Crusade.[4][8] As a result of this charter, Poole obtained the right to appoint a mayor, hold a court within town, and was granted an exemption from certain tolls and customs duties on goods from the Port.[14]
A French and Spanish naval fleet attacked Poole in 1405, burning and looting much of the town in revenge for the exploits of Poole privateer captain Henry Paye.[15][16] Paye frequently led successful raids against the Spanish and French along the coast from Normandy through to the Bay of Biscay and Cape Finisterre.[15] Despite this setback, the town continued to grow and became the biggest port in Dorset.[12] In 1433 it was granted Port of the Staple status by King Henry VI, which enabled Poole to begin the lucrative trade of wool exportation.[12] This status also allowed Poole to receive a license for the construction of fortifications; a wall and ditch were constructed and a stone gatehouse was erected on the northern side of the town.[15][17]
Early modern history
During the English Civil War Poole was staunchly puritan and a Parliamentary stronghold within a mostly Royalist Dorset. Nearby, Wimborne and the Bankes family in nearby Corfe Castle had sided with King Charles.[18] The walled town of Poole constantly under the threat of siege but remained one of Cromwell's strongholds until the end of the war. In 1646 with the Royalists on the verge of defeat, the Parliamentary army from Poole laid siege to Corfe Castle.[19] The Royalists surrendered and Parliament ordered the destruction of the castle to ensure that it could never stand again as a Royalist stronghold.[18] Upon the restoration of the monarchy Poole's defences were demolished on the orders of King Charles II.[20]
The town continued to grow in importance despite the effects of piracy. In 1568, Poole was granted a greater amount of independence from Dorset when it was made a county corporate by the Great Charter of Queen Elizabeth I. The Great Charter also granted Poole the title of ‘the County of the Town of Poole’, a name it retained until the 18th century.[14]
Poole established successful commerce with the North American colonies, including the important fisheries of Newfoundland that later resulted in significant lasting trade.[21][14] By the mid 1500s records show that large quantities of salt, an essential ingredient for the salt cod trade, was being landed at Poole. Over the next fifty years the trade with Newfoundland steadily grew to meet the demand for fish from the Catholic countries of Europe. Poole's share of this trade varied but the most prosperous period of trade started in the early 18th century and lasted until the early 19th century.[21] The trade was a three-cornered route; ships went out to Newfoundland loaded with salt and provisions. Caught, dried, and salted in Newfoundland, the fish was brought back to ports in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Finally the ships returned to Poole with wine, olive oil, dried fruits, and salt.[21]
Modern history
In the early 18th century, Poole had more ships trading with North America than any other English port, which brought vast wealth to Poole's merchants.[6] This prosperity supported much of the development which now characterises the Old Town near the Quay. Many of the town’s Medieval buildings were replaced with extravagant Georgian houses, many of which can still be seen. Examples include Sir Peter Thompson's 1746 Grade I listed mansion designed by John Bastard, and Beech Hurst, a Grade II* listed mansion built on Poole High Street in 1789.[22][21]
The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814 and the conclusion of the War of 1812 changed the fortunes of Poole’s Newfoundland merchants.[14] Peace meant that the French and Americans could fish the waters and take over many of the services provided by Poole merchants at a lower cost.[23] The result was rapid decline in trade and within a few years most of the merchants had ceased trading.[24]
The town grew rapidly during the industrial revolution as urbanisation took place and the town became both an area of mercantile prosperity and of overcrowded poverty. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of ten workers in Poole were engaged in harbour activities, but as the century progressed ships became too large for the shallow harbour and the port began losing business to the deep water ports at Liverpool, Southampton and Plymouth.[6] In 1847 Poole's first railway station opened in Hamworthy and later extended to the centre of Poole in 1872, effectively ending the port's busy coastal shipping trade.[24]
During the 19th century the beaches and landscape of southern Dorset and south-west Hampshire began to attract tourists 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 surrounding towns, it continued to grow as the rapid expansion of Bournemouth created a large demand for goods manufactured in Poole.[12] In 1897, the Haven Hotel in Poole was the site of some of Marconi's wireless experiments.[25] Marconi was able to receive radio signals in Poole sent from Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, 20 miles (32 km) away.
World War II and redevelopment
Poole was the third largest embarkation point for D-Day landings of Operation Overlord, and afterwards served as a base for supplies to the allied forces in Europe.[14] Eighty-one landing craft containing U.S. Army troops from the 29th Infantry Division and the U.S. Army Rangers departed Poole Harbour for Omaha Beach in France.[26] Poole was also an important centre for the development of Combined Operations and it was the base for the U.S. Coast Gaurd's ‘Rescue Flotilla One’ of 60 cutters. The cutters patrolled the D-Day invasion areas, with 30 serving off of the British and Canadian sectors and 30 serving off the American sectors.[27] A U.S. Coast Guard ensign is buried at St James’ Church and a plaque on the quayside given by the United States Coast Guard commemorates the cutters departure for the Normandy Invasion and expresses appreciation for the kindness of the people of Poole to the crews.[28]
Many of the town's buildings suffered bombing during the Second World War and years of neglect in the post-war economic decline in the United Kingdom. Major redevelopment projects began across the town in the 1960s. Large areas of slum properties were demolished and replaced with modern public housing, Poole General Hospital was built in 1969,[29] and a large indoor shopping centre called the Arndale Centre (now known as the Dolphin Centre) was also finished that year.[30] Many of Poole's historic buildings were also demolished during this period, especially in the Old Town area of Poole. Consequently, a 15-acre Conservation Area was created in the town centre in 1975 to preserve some of Poole's most notable buildings.[31][32]
Building regeneration projects include the demolition of Hamworthy (Poole) power station in the early 1990s and the redevelopment of the old gas works. The latter has become part of the Poole Quarter, a housing project near the town centre, comprising of 512 new homes.[33] Other projects include the renovated arts centre and the new Royal National Lifeboat Institution headquarters. The construction boom was acknowledged in 2007, when the Borough of Poole received an award celebrating the best of the British construction industry.[34]
Governance
Council
On April 1, 1997 the town was made a unitary authority, once again administratively independent from Dorset after a review of the Local Government Commission for England.[14] The borough reverted to its previous title of the Borough and County of the Town of Poole, which recalled its status as a county corporate prior to the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888. For local elections, 42 councillors are elected across 16 wards in the Borough with elections taking place every four years.[35] The last election took place in May 2007 resulting in the Conservatives retaining overall control.[36] The Council is made up of 25 Conservative and 17 Liberal Democrat councillors and Poole's Council Leader is Councillor Brian Leverett (Conservative).[35] Poole's Sheriff, just one of fifteen Sheriffs in the country allowed by a special charter, is Charles Meachin, a Poole Liberal Democrat Councillor since 1996. The Mayor is Conservative Councillor Joyce Lavender.[37] In 2008, the Audit Commission rated the Borough of Poole one of the top performing councils in the UK.[38] The council was described as 'improving well' and was given a four star overall performance rating.[39] Poole has been twinned with the town of Cherbourg in France since 1977.[40]
| Party | Seats | Poole Borough Council 2007–2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lib Dems | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Labour | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parliamentary representation
Poole is represented by two parliamentary constituencies in the House of Commons; Poole and Mid Dorset and North Poole.[41] The county constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole was created in 1997 and covers the north east of Poole, it also includes Wimborne Minster and Wareham and extends into rural Dorset. The constituency elects one Member of Parliament; currently Annette Brooke, the Liberal Democrat spokeswomen for Children, Schools and Families.[41] At the 2005 general election, the Liberal Democrats won a majority of 5,482 and 48.7% of the vote in Mid Dorset and North Poole. The Conservatives won 36.6% of the vote, Labour 11.6% and the Independence Party 3.1%.[42] Poole has been a borough constituency since 1950. Previously it had been a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament from 1455 until 1865 when representation was reduced to one member, and in 1885 the constituency was abolished altogether. Robert Syms (Conservative) has been the elected Member of Parliament for Poole since 1997.[43] At the 2005 general election, the Conservatives won a majority of 5,988 and 43.4% of the vote in Poole. The Liberal Democrats won 28.6% of the vote, Labour 23.1%, the Independence Party 3.5% and the British National Party 1.4%.[44] Poole and the rest of South West England, and Gibraltar are in the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.[41]
Coat of arms
The design of the coat of arms originated in a seal of the late 1300s and were recorded by Clarenceux King of Arms during the heraldic visitation of Dorset in 1563.[45] The wavy bars of black and gold represent the sea and the dolphin is sign of Poole's maritime interests.[46] The scallop shells are the emblem of St James and are associated with his shrine at Santiago de Compostela, which was a popular destination for Christian pilgrims departing from Poole Harbour in the Middle Ages. St James is the Patron Saint of the Parish Church in the Old Town area of Poole.[46]
The arms were confirmed by the College of Arms on June 19, 1948 and at the same time the crest, a mermaid supporting an anchor and holding a cannon ball was granted.[47] Following local government reorganisation in 1974, the 1948 arms were transferred to the present Poole Borough Council.[48] In 1976 the council received the grant of supporters for the coat of arms.[46] The supporters refer to Poole's main charters; to the left is a gold lion holding a long sword representing William Longespee who in 1248 who granted the town's first charter. The supporter on the right is a dragon which is derived from the Royal Arms of Elizabeth I who granted Poole county corporate status in 1568.[46]
The Latin motto - Ad Morem Villae De Poole means, According to the Custom of the Town of Poole, and comes from the town's Great Charter of 1568.
Geography
Poole is located on the shores of the English Channel, 111 miles (179 km) west-southwest of London, at and it is famed for its large natural harbour. The town largely lies on the northern and eastern sides of the harbour. The oldest part of the town (including the historic quarter of Poole, the Dolphin Shopping Centre and Poole Park) lies to the south of Holes Bay and to the north of Poole Harbour. To the west of Poole is Upton and just across the northern border lies Wimborne. At the eastern edge of Poole, the town abuts Bournemouth and the settlements of Talbot Village, Wallisdown, Kinson, Winton and Westbourne. Within the northern boundaries of Poole are the settlements of Broadstone, Merley and Canford Heath. Canford Heath is a new settlement built on an internationally important heathland during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The remaining heathland is now protected and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[49] The administrative boundary of Poole also includes the mainly residential areas of Parkstone, Newtown, Branksome, Hamworthy, Oakdale, Broadstone, Canford Cliffs and Creekmoor. The Poole areas of Wallisdown and Talbot Village have a large student population who attend Bournemouth University. Sandbanks, a peninsula forming part of the harbour mouth along the coast of Poole Bay, has the fourth highest land value per square foot in the world.[50] The Sandbanks ferry crosses the narrow harbour entrance and connects Poole to Studland and the Isle of Purbeck.[51]
Poole is a gateway to the Jurassic Coast and is located directly to the east of this 95-mile (153 km) section of largely unspoilt coastline designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[52] The Jurassic Coast provides a complete geological record of the Jurassic period and a rich fossil record.[53] To the south of Poole along the coast lies Poole Bay. Along the bay, Poole has 3 miles (4.8 km) of sandy beaches that run from Sandbanks in the west to Bournemouth in the east. The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles (1,014 km), running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall and on to Poole where it ends. The path is the United Kingdom's longest national trail, at 1,014 kilometres (630 mi).[54]
Poole lies on very unresistant Tertiary beds of Eocene clays (mainly London Clay and Gault Clay), sands and gravels.[55] These thin soils support the heathland habitat surrounding the local area which supports all six native British reptile species. The River Frome estuary runs through this weak rock, and its many tributaries have carved out a very wide estuary. At the mouth of the estuary sand spits have been deposited enclosing the estuary to create Poole Harbour.[56]
Britain's largest onshore oil field operated by BP operates from Wytch Farm on the south shore of Poole Harbour.[57] The oil reservoirs extend under Poole Harbour and eastwards from Sandbanks and Studland for 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) under the sea to the south of Bournemouth.[58]
Climate
Poole has a temperate climate due to its location on the south coast of England with a small variation in daily and annual temperatures. The average annual mean temperature from 1971 to 2000 was 10.2 to 12 °C (50.4 to 53.6 °F).[59] 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 the coolest months are January and February, which have a range of 2 to 8.3 °C (36 to 46 °F).[60] Mean sea surface temperatures range from 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in February to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in August.[61]
| Weather averages for Poole, Dorset, England | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8 (46) | 8 (46) | 11 (52) | 13 (55) | 17 (63) | 19 (66) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 19 (66) | 15 (59) | 11 (52) | 9 (48) | |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2 (36) | 2 (36) | 3 (37) | 4 (39) | 7 (45) | 10 (50) | 12 (54) | 12 (54) | 10 (50) | 7 (45) | 4 (39) | 3 (37) | |
| Precipitation cm (inches) | 6.29 (2.5) | 5.03 (2) | 4.07 (1.6) | 4.55 (1.8) | 2.92 (1.1) | 3.56 (1.4) | 3.18 (1.3) | 3.55 (1.4) | 5.15 (2) | 7.53 (3) | 6.9 (2.7) | 6.72 (2.6) | |
| Source: Msn.com[62] 2008 | |||||||||||||
Demography
| Religion | %[63] |
|---|---|
| Buddhist | 0.16 |
| Christian | 74.34 |
| Hindu | 0.15 |
| Jewish | 0.32 |
| Muslim | 0.41 |
| No religion | 16.23 |
| Other | 0.32 |
| Sikh | 0.03 |
| Not stated | 8.03 |
| Age | Percentage[64] |
|---|---|
| 0–4 | 5.2 |
| 5–14 | 12.2 |
| 15–29 | 16.0 |
| 30–44 | 21.5 |
| 45–64 | 24.8 |
| 65+ | 20.3 |
Poole merges with several other towns to form the South East Dorset conurbation which has a combined population of 445,000 forming one of the South Coast's major urban areas.[64] The population of Poole according to the 2001 UK Census was 138,288[1] The population has grown steadily since the 1960s, inward migration has accounted for most of the town’s growth and a significant part of this has been for retirement.[65] Over the last 40 years there has been an increase of over 100% in housing stock from some 30,000 in 1961 to approximately 62,700 in 2004.[65] Compared to the rest of England and Wales there is an above average number of residents aged 65+ (20.3%), however this is less than the Dorset average of 22.2%, and the largest proportion of the population (24.8%) is between the ages of 45 to 64, slightly above the national average of 23.8%.[64] Population projections for Poole have predicted a continual growth, with an estimated population of 151,481 by 2016.[64]
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%.[63] 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 is Christianity, at almost 74.34%, which is slightly above the United Kingdom average of 71.6%.[66] The next-largest sector is those with no religion, at almost 16.23%, also above the UK average of 15.5%.[66]
The average house price in Poole is high compared to the rest of the UK and the surrounding south west region.[67] The average price of a property in Poole in 2008 was £274,011; detatched houses are 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.[67] The average house prices in Poole are boosted by those in Sandbanks, which has the fourth most expensive house prices in the world,[68] with property there selling for an average of £488,761.[69] A study in 2006 by the National Housing Federation, reported that Poole is the most unaffordable town in the UK.[70]
| Population growth in Poole since 1801 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 |
| Population | 6,682 | 6,752 | 9,021 | 9,401 | 9,901 | 10,595 | 12,152 | 13,710 | 15,267 | 20,446 | 29,068 | 41,344 | 50,024 | 60,527 | 71,089 | 83,494 | 94,598 | 107,204 | 117,133 | 135,066 | 138,299 |
| % change | – | +1.1 | +33.6 | +4.2 | +5.3 | +7 | +14.7 | +12.8 | +11.4 | +33.9 | +42.2 | +42.2 | +30 | +30 | +17.5 | +17.5 | +13.3 | +13.3 | +9.3 | +15.3 | +2.4 |
| Source: A Vision of Britain through Time |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Economy
| Poole's Employment Structure[64] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector | Poole | Dorset | Great Britain |
| Agriculture | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Energy and Water | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | 13.4% | 13.4% |
| Construction | 3.3% | 4.0% | 4.5% |
| Services | 78.7% | 81.7% | 80.5% |
Poole’s economy is more balanced than that of the rest of Dorset.[64] In the 1960s prosperity was fuelled by growth in the manufacturing sector, whereas the 1980s and 1990s saw expansion in the service sector as a number of major office based employers relocated to the area.[64] The importance of manufacturing has declined since the 1960s but still employs approximately 17% of the workforce in 2002, it remains more prominent than in the economy of Great Britain as a whole.[64] 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.[71] In 2004, it was estimated that Sunseeker generates £160 million for the local economy.[72] Other major employers in the local manufacturing industry include Sealed Air, Hamworthy Heating, Hamworthy Combustion, Lush, Penske Cars Ltd who build racing cars for Penske Racing, Kerry Foods, Precision Disc Casting, Siemens, Southernprint, Ryvita, and Zellweger Analytics Limited. Poole has the largest number of industrial estates in South East Dorset, including the Nuffield Industrial estate, Mannings Heath and the Arena Business Park.[73] Industrial Estate sites are in high demand and a number of developments are under construction including the Poole Trade Park near Tower Park and the Branksome Business centre.[73]
The service sector is the principal economy of Poole with a large number of employees working either for the service economy of local residents or for the tourist economy. During the 1970s, Poole’s location within the South West Region, with its less restrictive regional planning policies, attracted businesses wishing to relocate from London.[64] These included employers within the banking and financial sector, such as Barclays Bank (who operate a regional HQ in Poole), the Frizzell Insurance Group (now Liverpool Victoria), and American Express Bank. Other important service sector employers include Link House Publications, the Bank of New York Mellon who have their corporate trust division in the town, the national headquarters and Lifeboat College of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the UK headquarters of Fitness First, Bournemouth University and Poole NHS Primary Care Trust. Poole is also the headquarters for Merlin Entertainments, the world's second-largest theme park operator after Disney.[74]
Tourism is important to the Poole’s economy and was worth an estimated £158 million in 2002.[64] Poole's Harbour, the Quay, Poole Pottery and the beaches are some of the main attractions for visitors.[52] The visitor accommodation consists of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast rooms located around the town, especially in Sandbanks and the town centre. Rockly Park, a large caravan site in Hamworthy, is owned and operated by Haven and British Holidays.[75]
Poole has one of Britain’s busiest ports.[64] Investment in new port facilities on the southern side of Hamworthy, and the deepening of shipping channels has allowed growth in cross-channel freight and passenger traffic.[64] Commercial ferry operators run regular passenger and freight services from Poole to Cherbourg, St Malo and the Channel Islands.[76] In November 2005, the main shipping channels into the harbour and the Port of Poole were dredged and deepened in order to provide sand replenishment to the beaches of Poole and Bournemouth and secure the long term viability of the port.[77] The channel deepening works ensured that the port could accommodate larger vessels at all levels of the tide and attract other ferry and cruise line operators. Poole is also a major destination for bulk cargo imports; the port receives imports of steel, timber, bricks, fertiliser, grain, aggregates and palletised traffic. Export cargoes include clay, sand, fragmented steel and grain.[76]
One-hundred-five fishing boats are registered and licensed to the Port of Poole and hold a permit issued by the Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee (SSFDC) to fish commercially.[78] It 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.[79] Many other boats use Poole as their home port which do not hold permits and operate either as charter boats running angling trips or for personal use.[79] The fishing fleet catch mullet, squid, crab, and bass. Shellfish are fished in the harbour and during the summer plaice and sole are caught.[79] However, the fishing fleet is gradually declining as a result of rising fuel costs and restrictive fishing quotas introduced by the European Union.[78][80]
The Dolphin Shopping Centre is Poole's main retail area, and the largest indoor shopping centre in Dorset. It opened in 1969 as the Arndale Centre, and underwent three major refurbishments in 1980, 1989 and 2004. The centre provides 506,000 square feet (47,000 m2) of retail space with 110 stores and two multi-storey car parks with 1,400 parking spaces.[81] A pedestrianised high street containing shops, bars, public houses and restaurants connects the Dolphin Centre with the historic Old Town area of Poole and the Quay.[81]
Landmarks
Harbour
Poole Harbour is the largest natural harbour in Europe and the claimant of the title of second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney.[82] The harbour covers an area of 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi) and is extremely shallow. Although the main shipping channels are 7.5 metres (25 ft) deep the average depth of the harbour is just 48 centimetres (1.6 ft).[77][83] The harbour has several small islands, the largest is Brownsea Island, a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and the birthplace of the Scouting movement and first Scout Camp.[84] The harbour is an area of international importance for nature conservation and is noted for its ecology: supporting salt marsh, mudflats and an internationally important habitat for several species of migrating bird. It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar site as well as falling within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[76]
The harbour has been a working port for thousands of years and although the port has declined in importance since its heyday in the 18th century, it remains a busy commercial and ferry port.[6][85] It also has a large fishing fleet and is popular area for pleasure craft and water sports.[86] The Royal Marines operate out of the harbour at Royal Marines Poole, established on the shore of the harbour at Hamworthy in 1954.[87] The base is home to 1 Assault Group Royal Marines who are responsible for landing craft and small boat training, a detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve and special forces unit the Special Boat Service.[88][89]
Poole Quay
Poole Quay was once the busy centre of Poole's maritime industry but today operates as a popular visitor attraction. It is lined with a mixture of traditional public houses, redeveloped warehouses, modern apartment blocks and historic buildings. The Grade II* listed Custom House was built in 1814 in the same style as one which had stood there since in 1747 until destroyed by fire, and now functions as a restaurant and bar.[90] Nearby are the Grade I listed Town Cellars, a medieval warehouse built in the 15th century on the foundations of an older stone building dating from the 14th century, now home to the Local History Centre.[91] Scalpen's Court, another Grade I listed building on the quay, also dates from the medieval era.[92] Attractions on the quay include numerous restaurants, cafés, bars, public houses, views across the harbour, Poole Pottery and regular events and festivals held throughout the year. The Poole Pottery production factory once stood on the quay and attracted over 1 million visitors a year.[93][A] The factory was vacated in 2001 and the site redeveloped into a new luxury apartment bloack and marina. A Poole Pottery outlet store remains but since the factory moved from the Quay, the business has struggled financially.[94]
During the summer season boats regularly depart from the quay providing short cruises around the harbour and to Brownsea Island, the River Frome and along the Dorset coast to Swanage.[95] Public artworks along the Quay include ‘Sea Music’, a large metal sculpture designed by Sir Anthony Caro, and life-size bronze sculpture of Lord Baden-Powell to celebrate the founding of the Scout Movement in Poole in 1908.[96] Poole Bridge is a bascule bridge at the western end of the quay at the mouth of Holes Bay. Built in 1927, it is the third bridge to be located on the site since 1834 and connects the industrial Hamworthy area and Port to the central part of the town.[97]
Guildhall
A Grade II* listed building, the Guildhall was built in 1761, partly at the expense of the Members of Parliament of Poole.[98][99] The new building included a new open Market House on the ground floor, offices for the Poole Corporation and a debating chamber and courtroom on the first floor. For 150 years the building was also used for the Poole Court of Record, Quarter Sessions and the Magistrates' Court and until 1835 it was used for the Poole Court of Admiralty. Between 1819 and 1821 the building was consecrated as a Parish Church whilst the old St. James Church was pulled down and replaced with the present church.[98]
During the Second World War the building was used as a canteen and meeting room for American soldiers prior to the invasion of France.[98] The showers and washing facilities installed at this time were later converted into public baths which were used until the 1960s, and later it was used as a classroom by Poole College. The building was converted for use as the town museum between 1971 and 1991 but stood empty for the next 16 years. After a major renovation project funded by Borough of Poole the restored Guildhall opened in June 2007 as a Register Office for weddings, civil partnerships and other civic ceremonies.[100][98]
Beaches
Poole's sandy beaches are a popular tourist destination set along 3 miles (4.8 km) of Poole Bay backing onto steep sandstone cliffs extending from the Sandbanks peninsular to Branksome Dene Chine at the border with Bournemouth.[101][102] The beaches are divided into four areas: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs Chine and Branksome Chine. Poole's beaches have won the annually awarded European Blue Flag 21 times since 1987, more than any other British seaside resort.[103] Blue flags are awarded annually by ENCAMS and are an international recognition for well-managed and clean beaches. In 2000, they were rated amongst the top five beaches in the country by the Tidy Britain Group resort survey.[104] RNLI Beach Rescue lifeguards operate at the beaches between May and September.[105] There are seaside cafés, restaurants, beach huts and numerous water-sports facilities along the seafront.[102]
Poole Park
Poole has several public parks, the largest is Poole Park which lies adjacent to Poole Harbour and opened in 1890. The park is one of two Victorian parks in Poole and was designated a Conservation Area in 1995.[106] The park comprises 109.5 acres (0.443 km2) of which 60 acres include the park's artificial salt water lake. Facilities include two children's play areas, tennis courts, a bowling green and miniature golf. A cricket field and pavilion inside the park are home to Poole Town Cricket Club and water sport activities such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing take place on the lake.[107] A war memorial stands in the centre of the park as a monument to Poole citizens lost during the First and Second World Wars. In 2006 the park was redeveloped at a cost of £2 million; a new Italian restaurant and indoor ice rink were built and the lake was cleaned and dredged.[108][109] Poole Park hosts several road races such as the Race for Life and Poole Festival of Running which includes two races of 10 and 5 kilometres and attracted approximately 1,200 entrants in 2008.[110]
Religious sites
Poole is included in the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth. Poole has many sites of Christian worship including five Grade II* and five Grade II listed churches. 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 was first mentioned in documents from 1142 and had been extensively rebuilt in the 16th century, but in 1819 it was deemed structurally unsafe.[111] The United Reform Church, also in the town centre, is a Grade II* building built in 1777. The other Grade II* churches are St. Peters Parish Church in Parkstone which was first built in 1833 and replaced in 1876; St. Osmunds Church, also in Parkstone is a Byzantine style building, formally an Anglican church it became a Romanian Orthodox Church in 2005; the Parish Church of St. Aldhelm in Branksome, built by Bodley and Garner in 1892 in the Gothic Revival style.[112]
Sport and recreation
Poole Harbour and Poole Bay are popular areas for a wide variety of recreational pursuits, including sailing, windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing and water skiing.[113] The harbour attracts windsurfers with large areas of sheltered shallow waters, especially around the northern and eastern shores. Water skiing takes place in the harbour in a special designated area in the Wareham Channel. The waters around the harbour, Poole Bay and Studland Bay are also popular for recreational angling and diving.[113] Poole's wide and sandy beaches are used for swimming, sunbathing and water sports including catamaran sailing and windsurfing.[114] The beaches at Sandbanks are often used for sporting events such as the Beach Volleyball Classic and in 2008 it will host the first ever British Beach Polo Championship.[115][116]
Poole Harbour is one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with yacht clubs including Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Yacht Club. Parkstone Yacht Club hosted the OK Dinghy World Championships in 2004,[117] the J/24 National Championships in 2006 and the J/24 European Championships in 2007,[118] as well as being organisers of Youth Week and Poole Week, two of the largest dinghy regattas of their type in the country.[119][120]
Poole's oldest football team is Poole Town F.C., a semi-professional team who play in the Wessex League Premier Division (the ninth tier of the English football league system).[121] Established in 1880, the team has had erratic success at their level; once playing in the third round of the FA Cup, and making it through to the first round four times.[122] They played at Poole Stadium until 1994 and have since settled at Tatnam Farm, sharing the school playing field with Oakdale South Road Middle School.[123] Poole's other football teams are Hamworthy United, formed in 1970 and who also play in the Wessex Premier League and amateur team, Poole Borough F.C. who play in the Dorset Premier League. Poole is one of the largest towns in England without a professional football team.[124]
Poole is home to a