History of Poole

The history of Poole, a town in Dorset, England, can be traced back to the founding of a settlements around Poole Harbour during the Iron Age. The town now known as Poole was founded on a small peninsular to the north of the harbour. Poole experienced rapid growth as it became an important port following the Norman Conquest of England.

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.cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/pages/Subjects_and_Titles__2B_05|last=Mills|first=A.D.|year=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0198527586] Variants include Pool, Pole, Poles, Poll, Polle, Polman, and Poolman.

Early history

The Poole Harbour area has been inhabited for at least 2,500 years.cite book | first = C | last = Cochrane | title = Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660 | publisher = Longman | year = 1970 | isbn = 0905868145 | accessdate 2008-07-06] 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.cite book | first = Cecil | last = Cullingford | title = A History of Poole | year = 2003 | publisher = Phillimore & Co Ltd | isbn = 1860772676] The earliest significant archaeological find in the harbour is the Poole Logboat, a convert|10|m|ft boat made from a single oak tree and dating to 295 BC. [cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6346837.stm | title = Ten-year clean for Iron Age boat | publisher = BBC News | accessdate = 2008-07-06] During that time, the harbour was shallower than it is today and any settlement would now be under water.

Poole was one of a number of harbouring sites along the south coast of Britain where the Romans landed in the 1st century AD. The Romans founded Hamworthy, an area just west of the modern town centre, and continued to use the harbour during the occupation. [cite web | url = http://www.roman-britain.org/places/hamworthy.htm | title = Romano-British Port | publisher = Roman-Britain.org | accessdate = 2008-08-04]

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.cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 1) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story1.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-20] Poole was used as a base for fishing and a place for ships to anchor on their way to Wareham, an important Saxon stronghold. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.wareham-tc.gov.uk/WTC_pages/wtc_history.htm#topofpage | title = History of Wareham | publisher = Wareham Town Council | accessdate = 2008-07-17] 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.cite book | last = Shipley Duckett | first = Eleanor | title = Alfred the Great: The King and His England | publisher = University of Chicago Press | year = 1956 | pages = 73-74 | isbn = 0226167798] 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. [cite book | last = Sydenham | first = John | title = The History of the Town and County of Poole | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1986 | isbn = 0950491446 | pages = 69-71]

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.cite web | year = 200 | url = http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/Place/P100.htm | title = Poole, Dorset, England | publisher = The Dorset Page | accessdate = 2008-07-18] 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. [cite web | year = 1911 | url = http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/POL_PRE/POOLE.html | work = Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition | title = Poole | accessdate = 2008-07-08] 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. 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.cite web | title = History Of Poole | work = Borough of Poole | publisher = | year = 2008 | url = http://www.boroughofpoole.com/go.php?structureID=U464057c6c52db&ref=S4649D38C61551 | accessdate = 2008-05-30]

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.cite book | last = Sydenham | first = John | title = The History of the Town and County of Poole | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1986 | isbn = 0950491446 | pages = 90-95] [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1942624/Town-returns-Spanish-cross-stolen-in-1400.html | title = Town returns Spanish cross stolen in 1400 | publisher = The Daily Telegraph | accessdate = 2008-07-11] Paye frequently led successful raids against the Spanish and French along the coast from Normandy through to the Bay of Biscay and Cape Finisterre. Despite this setback, the town continued to grow and became the biggest port in Dorset. 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. 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. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/3007.html | title =Poole Town Wall | publisher = The Gatehouse | accessdate= 2008-07-08]

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.cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 3) | work = | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story3.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-20] 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. [cite book | last = Sydenham | first = John | title = The History of the Town and County of Poole | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1986 | isbn = 0950491446 | pages = 127-128] The Royalists surrendered and Parliament ordered the destruction of the castle to ensure that it could never stand again as a Royalist stronghold. Upon the restoration of the monarchy Poole's defences were demolished on the orders of King Charles II. [cite book | last = Sydenham | first = John | title = The History of the Town and County of Poole | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1986 | isbn = 0950491446 | pages = 94]

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.

Poole established successful commerce with the North American colonies, including the important fisheries of Newfoundland that later resulted in significant lasting trade.cite book | last1 = Beamish | first1 = Derek. | last2 = Hillier | first2 = John | last3 = Johnstone | first3 = H. F. V. | title = Mansions and Merchants of Poole and Dorset | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | location = Poole | year = 1976 | pages = 8-11 | isbn = 07137 0836 0] 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. 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.

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.cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.phc.co.uk/History.htm | title = The Harbour's History | publisher = Poole Harbour Commissioners | accessdate = 2008-06-30] 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.cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.pooletourism.com/filemanager/Cockle_Trail.pdf | title = Poole Cockle Trail | publisher = Poole Tourism | format = pdf]

The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814 and the conclusion of the War of 1812 changed the fortunes of Poole’s Newfoundland merchants. 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. [cite book | last = Sydenham | first = John | title = The History of the Town and County of Poole | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1986 | isbn = 0950491446 | pages = 398-402] The result was rapid decline in trade and within a few years most of the merchants had ceased trading.cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 4) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story4.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-23]

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. 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.

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. In 1897, the Haven Hotel in Poole was the site of some of Marconi's wireless experiments. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/marconi-bio.html | title = Guglielmo Marconi | publisher = The Nobel Foundation | accessdate = 2008-07-18] Marconi was able to receive radio signals in Poole sent from Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, convert|20|mi|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. 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. [cite book | last = Beamish | first = Derek | title = Poole and World War II | publisher = Poole Historical Trust | year = 1980 | pages = 184-193 | isbn = 086251004X | accessdate = 2008-07-03] 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. [cite web | year = 2005 | url = http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/ResFlot1_Normandy_Photo_Index.asp | title = Coast Guard Rescue Flotilla One at Normandy | publisher = US Coast Guard | accessdate = 2008-04-26] 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. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.destinationsouthwest.co.uk/main/general/themes_marine.asp | title = Marine and Military | publisher = Destination South West | accessdate = 2008-04-26]

Many of the town's buildings suffered bombing during the Second World War and years of neglect in the post-war 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, [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.poole.nhs.uk/nhs60.asp | title = NHS60 Celebrations | publisher = Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | accessdate 2008-07-20] and a large indoor shopping centre called the Arndale Centre (now known as the Dolphin Centre) was also finished that year. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk/about_us.php?content_id=6 | title = About the Dolphin Shopping Centre | publisher = Dolphin Shopping Centre | accessdate 2008-07-20] 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.cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 5) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story5.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-23] [cite web | title = The Built Environment | publisher = Borough of Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://poolelocalplan.wisshost.net/text/text5.htm#PolicyBE_1 | accessdate = 2008-07-20]

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. [cite web | url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/travelplans/rpt/makingresidentialtravelplans5775?page=27 | title = Poole Quarter, Poole, Dorset | publisher = Department for Transport | accessdate 2008-08-04] 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. [cite web | url = http://www.poole.gov.uk/news/rss/ref:N46BB19105EF82/ | title = Best of British Construction | publisher = Borough of Poole | accessdate = 2007-12-10]

References