Upton, Dorset

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Upton
latitude= 50.738
longitude= -2.03
map_type=Dorset
civil_parish=Lytchett Minster and Upton
shire_district= Purbeck
shire_county= Dorset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster=Mid Dorset and North Poole
post_town= POOLE
postcode_district = BH16
postcode_area= BH
dial_code= 01202
os_grid_reference= SY978932

Upton is an small town in south east Dorset, England. It is the second largest town in Purbeck behind Swanage.

Geography

The town is built around a road junction where the Blandford to Hamworthy road crosses the main Poole to Dorchester road. The Poole suburbs of Hamworthy and Turlin Moor adjoin the town to the south, whilst Lytchett Minster is to the west. An area of heathland, Upton Heath, is situated to the north of the town and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Additionally there are Upton Woods, as well as Lytchett Heath and Lytchett Bay, which leads onto Poole Harbour. Although mostly residential, Upton features a small industrial estate with businesses including Penski Motors and Southern Print. Close to Upton lies Upton House, a country park and former Upton Estate. In 2000, The Upton Clock Tower was built at the Upton Crossroads to celebrate the new millennium and represent the town's pride.

Governance

Upton forms part of the civil parish of Lytchett Minster and Upton, which in turn forms part of the Purbeck local government district of Dorset. It is within the Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency of the House of Commons and the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.cite book | title = OS Explorer Map OL15 - Purbeck & South Dorset | publisher = Ordnance Survey | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-319-23865-3 ]

Education

Upton has two state schools, Upton Infant School and Upton Junior School, which are feeder schools for Lytchett Minster School. The Yarrells Preparatory School is also based there.

Transport

The A35 trunk road runs past Upton, as does the A350. Upton is served by Wilts & Dorset bus routes numbers 8 and 40 which provide links to Poole, Wareham and Swanage. First Bus also operate the X53 service through the town serving Poole, Wareham, Weymouth, Bridport and Exeter. Damory Coaches operates two services, 347 and 387. The 347 serves, Poole, Fleetsbridge, Creekmoor and Lytchett Matravers whilst the 387 serves Poole, Hamworthy, Lytchett Matravers, Bere Regis and Dorchester.

The nearby Hamworthy railway station provides access to rail travel, with half hourly trains to London, Southampton, Weymouth, Wareham, Poole and Bournemouth. Poole station is a short drive away, with more frequent services.

References

External links

* [http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=354963 Dorset County Council: Lytchett Minster/Upton]
* [http://www.uptoninf.dorset.sch.uk/ Upton Infant School website]
* [http://www.uptonjun.dorset.sch.uk/ Upton Junior School website]
* [http://www.eluk.co.uk/luca/2000 Memories of Upton - Upton Millennium Project]
* [http://www.eluk.co.uk/luca/ LUCA Website - Lytchett Minster and Upton Community Association]