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EspañolPOOLE
:''For people with Poole as surname, see Poole (disambiguation)''
'Poole' is a large English coastal town, Borough, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset. The town has a population of 141,128 and is part of the South East Dorset conurbation. Poole is famed for its large natural harbour, claimed to be the second largest in the world (after Sydney Harbour.
The town has close links with the sea and maritime trade has a long history within the town, reaching its apex when the town was granted exclusive rights to fish off Newfoundland by Queen Victoria in the 19th century.[1] During the Second World War the town was one of the central departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasions.[2]
These maritime links continue as today the town is one of the principal centres of sailing and yachting in the United Kingdom. Poole is home to the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker. The Special Boat Service (SBS) also operate out of the harbour.[3]
During the summer months the town serves a large number of tourists who visit the waterfront, the town centre and the nearby Sandbanks beach and Brownsea Island. Other prominent employers in Poole include Barclays Bank, Hamworthy Engineering, Poole Packaging, Penske Cars, Ryvita, cosmetics company Lush, and the clothing company, Animal.
Poole is positioned on a popular stretch of coastline, with the resort of Bournemouth to the east, Studland and the Jurassic coast to the west.
Poole lies on the northern and eastern sides of Poole Harbour. The oldest part of the town (including the historic quarter of Poole, the Dolphin Shopping centre and Poole Park) lie to the south of the Holes Bay and the north of Poole Harbour. To the west of Poole is Upton. Within the northern boundaries of Poole are the settlements of Broadstone and Merley, with Wimborne lying just across the northern border. Also within the northern boundary is Canford Heath, a new settlement built on an internationally important heathland during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Thankfully, what is left of the heath is now protected, although still in private hands. At the eastern edge of Poole, the town abuts Bournemouth and the settlements of Talbot Village, Wallisdown, Kinson, Winton and Westbourne. The administrative boundary of Poole also includes the mainly residential areas of Parkstone, Newtown, Branksome and Hamworthy. The Poole areas of Wallisdown and Talbot Village house students who attend Bournemouth University (the administrative area and main campus of which is in fact located in Poole itself).
Sandbanks, a small sand peninsula across part of the harbour mouth (to the east of the main town centre), is so popular that it has the highest land value, per sq foot, in the world. There are exclusive homes both on Sandbanks and the area stretching east from the Harbour to The Avenue (the eastern boundary of Poole).
:''Main article: Poole Harbour.''
Poole Harbour (said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney) has been a working port for many hundreds of years, though the port has declined as the shallow water cannot take any container ships. Today the port is amongst other things the home of Sunseeker, manufacturers of luxury yachts, and the departure point for ferries (Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries) to France and the Channel Islands.
The harbour is noted for its ecology: supporting saltmarsh, mudflats and an internationally important population of wintering waterfowl. The Harbour is home to Brownsea Island, a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and the birthplace of the Scouting movement and first ever Scout Camp. Why Brownsea? The Beginnings of Scouting, , Brian, Woolgar, Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee (re-issue 2007, Wimborne Minster: Minster Press), 2002,
During the Second World War the quayside and harbour was one of the central departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasions.[2] There is currently a plan to expand the port and enlarge the capacity and facilities so that larger ships, even cruise ships can dock in Poole. This is all part of the rejuvenation of the town, alongside many new developments and amenities including the new town bridge (over to Hamworthy), which will be built over the next few years.[5]
Poole is also a popular surname in England!
The Poole Harbour area has been inhabited for well over 2,500 years.[6] The local tribe were the Celtic Durotriges who lived in Dorset in the Iron Age, particularly around Wareham, five miles to the west. The earliest significant archaeological find in the harbour itself is the Poole Logboat, a 10 metre boat made from a single oak tree and dating to 295 BC. At the time the harbour was probably shallower and any settlement would now be under water.[1]
During the last few centuries before the Roman invasion the Celtic people were moving from the hilltop settlements, such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings on the chalk downs to the north, and onto the lower vales and heathland around the River Frome and Poole Harbour. It may be this marshy area which gave the local tribe of the area, the Durotriges, "water dwellers", their name.[6] The Durotriges probably engaged in cross-channel trading at Poole with the Veneti, a seafaring tribe from Brittany.[1][6]
In the Roman invasion of Britain in the 1st century, Poole was one of a number of harbouring sites along the south coast where the Romans landed.[6] The Romans founded Hamworthy, an area just west of the modern town centre, and continued to use the harbour during the occupation. The town's name derives from the Old English 'pol' which was given to people who lived near a small body of water such as a pool or pond. Variants include Pool, Pole, Poles, Poll, Polle, Polman, and Poolman.[1][6]
After the retreat of the Romans, trade in the area diminished, though several small settlements continued to thrive. During the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries the maritime and fishing trade of Poole continued to grow. As such, Poole was given its first charter in 1248 under William Longspee, Lord of the Manor, a knight and crusader.[6] Poole however remained a small fishing town until the time of the Norman Conquest.
In 1405 the French burnt Poole to the ground because local pirate Harry Paye was attacking their trading vessels.[1] Afterwards the town grew rapidly into an important port exporting wool and in 1433 was made Port of the Staple as it had become the biggest port in Dorset.[16] By then the town had trade links from the Baltic to Spain.
The town continued to grow in importance despite the effects of piracy and, in 1571, was made a county corporate. In the 16th, 17th and 18th century Poole became an important salt centre, with large salt warehouses dominating the waterfront The saltmasters mansion, ''Salterns House'' still exists in Sandbanks. In the 17th century transatlantic trade and travel developed and at the start of the 18th century the town was beating rival Bristol as the busiest port in England.[1]
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. Poole was granted exclusive rights to fish off Newfoundland by Queen Victoria, which improved the importance and wealth of the town. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of 10 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. Poole was also the site of technological innovation, when in 1897, the Haven Hotel in Poole was the site of some of Marconi's wireless experiments. Marconi was able to receive radio signals in Poole sent from Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, 20 miles away.
In the 19th century the beaches and landscape of south-west Hampshire and south east Dorset, as well as the Isle of Purbeck district of Dorset, began to attract large numbers of tourists and the villages to the east of Poole began to grow and merge until the holiday town of Bournemouth emerged. Growth accelerated and Poole and Bournemouth (along with Christchurch to the east) have become a large built-up area. Although the three towns are well known as popular holiday destinations, each has its own individual character.
Despite the growth in leisure activities, Poole retains a considerable part of its industrial heritage. The Town Centre retains many of the older buildings put up by the wealthy merchants, such as the 1761 market house and Sir Peter Thompson's 1746 town house designed by John Bastard (in Market Street). Other buildings such as the medieval Wool house, ''Scaplen's Court'' and the Tudor Ancient Guild of St George Tudor almshouse erected in 1586. However, the town suffered from bombing in World War II. In recent years some regeneration has taken place, with the demolition of Hamworthy (Poole) power station and the redevelopment of the old town gas gas-works.
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. The Borough's name was officially changed at this date to ''Borough and County of the Town of Poole'', which recalled its status as a county of itself prior to the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888.
The first Coat of Arms was confirmed by Clarencieux, King at Arms, in approximately 1563. It originates to a seal of the late 1300s and therefore predates the setting up of the College of Heralds in 1484 and also the order of King Henry V in 1417, which disallowed the bearing of arms without authority from the Crown. The wavy bars (black and gold) represented water and the dolphin "the king of the sea", just as the lion represents "king of the beasts". The dolphin reminds was a sign of Pooles strong maritime heritage, as does the mermaid. The three scallop shells originate from St James in Spain, in the shrine of Saint James of Compostela, as Santiago de Compostela is believed to be the burial place of St James, apostle of Jesus Christ. St James is the Patron Saint of the Parish Church in Old Town of Poole.
The present Coat of Arms now has two mermaid supports. This addition was granted by the College of Arms in 1976. The supporters added to the Arms was a gift to the town by Lord Murton of Lindisfarne, the then Rt Hon Oscar Murton OBE TD JP MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, to commemorate his period of service as a Councillor and MP for Poole from 1964. The current town motto - "Ad Morem Villae De Poole" means "According to the Custom of the Town of Poole".
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Bournemouth and Poole at current basic prices published(pp.240-253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
# Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
# includes hunting and forestry
# includes energy and construction
# includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
The principal economy of Poole is the Service sector with a large number of employees working either for the service economy of local residents or for the tourist economy. However Poole is home to the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the cosmetics company Lush, Ryvita and the luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker, all of which are the largest employers in the town. Other prominent employers in Poole include Barclays Bank (who operate a regional HQ), Hamworthy Engineering, Poole Packaging, Penske Cars, Samsung and the clothing company, Animal. Poole is also the head quarters for Merlin Entertainments, the worlds second largest theme park operator after Disney.
Poole Harbour is a popular location for watersports because it is sheltered and calm. The Sandbanks / shore road area is very popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with plenty of on road (charged) parking adjacent to the harbour. Poole Harbour is also one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with many yacht clubs including Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Yacht Club. Parkstone Yacht Club has recently been hosts of the OK World Championships, as well as being organisers of Youth Week and Poole Week, two of the largest dinghy regattas of their type in the country.[18]
Poole is home to its own motorcycle speedway team, the Poole Pirates. The Pirates opened in 1948 in the National League Division Three but rose to the top flight. The current team races in the British Elite league.
Poole's oldest football team is Poole Town F.C. who play in the Wessex League Premier Division. Poole Borough F.C. play in the Dorset Premier League. Poole's entertainment sites include Tower Park and the refurbished arts centre now known as ''The Lighthouse''. Poole also has a large collection of restaurants, cafes and historic pubs, many of which are located on the waterfront/Quay. Poole is twinned with Cherbourg in France.
Poole has a large public park, located adjacent to Poole Harbour and the towns sports complex and swimming centre. The Park is one of only two Victorian Parks in the Borough of Poole and the only one containing buildings.[19] The park comprises 109.5 acres of which 60 acres are water. The Park has a lake, as well as a large fountain and two childrens play areas. Their is a monument to those members of the town lost during the First and Second World Wars. In 2006 the park was redeveloped at a cost of £2 million. The redevelopment included a new restaurant, indoor ice rink and cleaning of the lake.[20]
Poole Museum (formerly the Waterfront Museum) was recently renovated at a cost of £1 million. Following a refurbishment and extension extension funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the museum opened in July 2007. The extension, designed by architects Horden Cherry Lee, includes a balcony with views over the Old Town and Harbour.[21] The museum includes the Poole Logboat, as well as a detailed history of Poole from the Iron Age to the present day. The museum also has a floor devoted to the history of Poole Pottery and many of the companies significant works are on display. Entrance to the museum is free.[22]
The majority of local bus services in Poole are provided by Wilts and Dorset who are based at the town’s bus station. Other services are run by Transdev Yellow Buses and Roadliner. There are limited services provided by First. Coach services to London and other destinations are operated by National Express.
Poole has four railway stations on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Weymouth within the Borough. These are, from east to west, Branksome near the border with Bournemouth, Parkstone, Poole in the town centre and Hamworthy serving Hamworthy and Upton. Poole railway station has the most frequent service and is served by express and semi-fast services to and from London Waterloo and also a local stopping service between Wareham and Brockenhurst.
Poole is a cross channel port for passengers and freight with up to seven sailings a day in the peak summer season. Services to Cherbourg in France are operated by Brittany Ferries who provide a year round service. A seasonal service to the Channel Islands and St Malo, France, is run by Condor Ferries. From November 2007 Brittany Ferries will also operate a weekend freight service to Santander in Spain.
Poole has a school system mostly comprising of 4-8 first schools and 8-12 middle schools or 4-12 combined schools then 12-16/18 secondary schools. Two of the secondary schools are selective grammar schools (Poole for boys and Parkstone for girls) and one 13-18 Upper school with a few 4-8 first schools and 9-13 middle schools. The only 4-11 primary school is in Bearwood and the local secondary school is the 11-18 Oakmead Technology College in neighbouring Bournemouth. When Poole became a unitary authority in 1997 it regained control of its schools. There are also a special schools and independent schools such as Canford School within the borough boundaries. The campuses of The Bournemouth and Poole College are in Poole and the main campus of Bournemouth University is actually in Poole at Wallisdown.
Poole is planning on retaining the two tier system of 4-11 primary schools and 11-16/18 secondary schools which is as schools are in neighbouring Bournemouth. Most other areas of the country will keep the Corfe Hills three tier system which is the same in Wimbourne and Ferndown schools.
List of schools in Poole
★ Greg Lake of the band ELP.
★ Daniel Webb, footballer currently playing for A.F.C. Wimbledon.
★ David Cornwell aka John Le Carre, was born in Poole.
★ Poole Museum (re-opening June 2007)
★ Sandbanks
★ Brownsea Island
★ Tower Park
★ Poole Bay
★ Compton Acres Gardens
★ Poole Pottery
★ Poole Harbour
★ Bournemouth and Poole Tourist Information Site
★ Borough of Poole Council
★ Canford Heath community web
★ Information about Port of Poole
★ Map of poole
★ Welcome to Poole - community and business directories
★ Website about Hamworthy, including Hamworthy park
1. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
2. Poole and World War II, Poole Historical Trust, Derek Beamish, 1980
3. Special Boat Service
4. Poole and World War II, Poole Historical Trust, Derek Beamish, 1980
5. Twin bridge is given the go-ahead
6. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
7. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
8. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
9. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
10. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
11. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
12. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
13. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
14. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
15. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
16. Dorset: The Complete Guide, Jo Draper, 1996
17. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
18. Parkstone Yacht Club, 2007
19. Friends of Poole Park, 2007
20. £2m transformation of park begins, BBC News, 2007
21. Museum revamp gets £750,000 grant
22. Poole Museum
★ Pitt-Rivers, Michael, 1968. ''Dorset''. London: Faber & Faber
★ Poole Harbour Commission, The history of Poole Harbour (accessed 9 November 2004)
| Borough of Poole | |
|---|---|
 EnglandPoole.png | |
| Geography | |
| Status: | Unitary district, Borough |
| Region: | South West England |
| Ceremonial County: | Dorset |
| Historic County: | Dorset |
| Area: - Total | Ranked 285th 64.88 km² |
| Admin. HQ: | Poole |
| Grid reference: | |
| ONS code: | 00HP |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total () - Density | Ranked / km² |
| Ethnicity: | 98.2% White |
| Politics | |
 Arms of Poole Borough Council http://www.poole.gov.uk/ | |
| Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
| Executive: | |
| MPs: | Annette Brooke (LD) Robert Syms (C) |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post Code: | BH |
| Post Town: | POOLE |
| Dialling Code: | 01202 |
'Poole' is a large English coastal town, Borough, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset. The town has a population of 141,128 and is part of the South East Dorset conurbation. Poole is famed for its large natural harbour, claimed to be the second largest in the world (after Sydney Harbour.
The town has close links with the sea and maritime trade has a long history within the town, reaching its apex when the town was granted exclusive rights to fish off Newfoundland by Queen Victoria in the 19th century.[1] During the Second World War the town was one of the central departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasions.[2]
These maritime links continue as today the town is one of the principal centres of sailing and yachting in the United Kingdom. Poole is home to the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker. The Special Boat Service (SBS) also operate out of the harbour.[3]
During the summer months the town serves a large number of tourists who visit the waterfront, the town centre and the nearby Sandbanks beach and Brownsea Island. Other prominent employers in Poole include Barclays Bank, Hamworthy Engineering, Poole Packaging, Penske Cars, Ryvita, cosmetics company Lush, and the clothing company, Animal.
Geography
Poole is positioned on a popular stretch of coastline, with the resort of Bournemouth to the east, Studland and the Jurassic coast to the west.
Poole lies on the northern and eastern sides of Poole Harbour. The oldest part of the town (including the historic quarter of Poole, the Dolphin Shopping centre and Poole Park) lie to the south of the Holes Bay and the north of Poole Harbour. To the west of Poole is Upton. Within the northern boundaries of Poole are the settlements of Broadstone and Merley, with Wimborne lying just across the northern border. Also within the northern boundary is Canford Heath, a new settlement built on an internationally important heathland during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Thankfully, what is left of the heath is now protected, although still in private hands. At the eastern edge of Poole, the town abuts Bournemouth and the settlements of Talbot Village, Wallisdown, Kinson, Winton and Westbourne. The administrative boundary of Poole also includes the mainly residential areas of Parkstone, Newtown, Branksome and Hamworthy. The Poole areas of Wallisdown and Talbot Village house students who attend Bournemouth University (the administrative area and main campus of which is in fact located in Poole itself).
Sandbanks, a small sand peninsula across part of the harbour mouth (to the east of the main town centre), is so popular that it has the highest land value, per sq foot, in the world. There are exclusive homes both on Sandbanks and the area stretching east from the Harbour to The Avenue (the eastern boundary of Poole).
Harbour and Quay
The former Government Poole Custom House on the Quayside of the Harbour and ''Scaplens Court'', now the local history centre
:''Main article: Poole Harbour.''
Poole Harbour (said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney) has been a working port for many hundreds of years, though the port has declined as the shallow water cannot take any container ships. Today the port is amongst other things the home of Sunseeker, manufacturers of luxury yachts, and the departure point for ferries (Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries) to France and the Channel Islands.
The harbour is noted for its ecology: supporting saltmarsh, mudflats and an internationally important population of wintering waterfowl. The Harbour is home to Brownsea Island, a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and the birthplace of the Scouting movement and first ever Scout Camp. Why Brownsea? The Beginnings of Scouting, , Brian, Woolgar, Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee (re-issue 2007, Wimborne Minster: Minster Press), 2002,
During the Second World War the quayside and harbour was one of the central departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasions.[2] There is currently a plan to expand the port and enlarge the capacity and facilities so that larger ships, even cruise ships can dock in Poole. This is all part of the rejuvenation of the town, alongside many new developments and amenities including the new town bridge (over to Hamworthy), which will be built over the next few years.[5]
Poole is also a popular surname in England!
History
Early History
The Poole Logboat made from a single oak tree is over 2,000 years old. It is currently in the Poole Museum.
The Poole Harbour area has been inhabited for well over 2,500 years.[6] The local tribe were the Celtic Durotriges who lived in Dorset in the Iron Age, particularly around Wareham, five miles to the west. The earliest significant archaeological find in the harbour itself is the Poole Logboat, a 10 metre boat made from a single oak tree and dating to 295 BC. At the time the harbour was probably shallower and any settlement would now be under water.[1]
During the last few centuries before the Roman invasion the Celtic people were moving from the hilltop settlements, such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings on the chalk downs to the north, and onto the lower vales and heathland around the River Frome and Poole Harbour. It may be this marshy area which gave the local tribe of the area, the Durotriges, "water dwellers", their name.[6] The Durotriges probably engaged in cross-channel trading at Poole with the Veneti, a seafaring tribe from Brittany.[1][6]
In the Roman invasion of Britain in the 1st century, Poole was one of a number of harbouring sites along the south coast where the Romans landed.[6] The Romans founded Hamworthy, an area just west of the modern town centre, and continued to use the harbour during the occupation. The town's name derives from the Old English 'pol' which was given to people who lived near a small body of water such as a pool or pond. Variants include Pool, Pole, Poles, Poll, Polle, Polman, and Poolman.[1][6]
11th to 18th centuries
After the retreat of the Romans, trade in the area diminished, though several small settlements continued to thrive. During the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries the maritime and fishing trade of Poole continued to grow. As such, Poole was given its first charter in 1248 under William Longspee, Lord of the Manor, a knight and crusader.[6] Poole however remained a small fishing town until the time of the Norman Conquest.
In 1405 the French burnt Poole to the ground because local pirate Harry Paye was attacking their trading vessels.[1] Afterwards the town grew rapidly into an important port exporting wool and in 1433 was made Port of the Staple as it had become the biggest port in Dorset.[16] By then the town had trade links from the Baltic to Spain.
The town continued to grow in importance despite the effects of piracy and, in 1571, was made a county corporate. In the 16th, 17th and 18th century Poole became an important salt centre, with large salt warehouses dominating the waterfront The saltmasters mansion, ''Salterns House'' still exists in Sandbanks. In the 17th century transatlantic trade and travel developed and at the start of the 18th century the town was beating rival Bristol as the busiest port in England.[1]
19th and 20th centuries
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. Poole was granted exclusive rights to fish off Newfoundland by Queen Victoria, which improved the importance and wealth of the town. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of 10 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. Poole was also the site of technological innovation, when in 1897, the Haven Hotel in Poole was the site of some of Marconi's wireless experiments. Marconi was able to receive radio signals in Poole sent from Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, 20 miles away.
In the 19th century the beaches and landscape of south-west Hampshire and south east Dorset, as well as the Isle of Purbeck district of Dorset, began to attract large numbers of tourists and the villages to the east of Poole began to grow and merge until the holiday town of Bournemouth emerged. Growth accelerated and Poole and Bournemouth (along with Christchurch to the east) have become a large built-up area. Although the three towns are well known as popular holiday destinations, each has its own individual character.
Despite the growth in leisure activities, Poole retains a considerable part of its industrial heritage. The Town Centre retains many of the older buildings put up by the wealthy merchants, such as the 1761 market house and Sir Peter Thompson's 1746 town house designed by John Bastard (in Market Street). Other buildings such as the medieval Wool house, ''Scaplen's Court'' and the Tudor Ancient Guild of St George Tudor almshouse erected in 1586. However, the town suffered from bombing in World War II. In recent years some regeneration has taken place, with the demolition of Hamworthy (Poole) power station and the redevelopment of the old town gas gas-works.
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. The Borough's name was officially changed at this date to ''Borough and County of the Town of Poole'', which recalled its status as a county of itself prior to the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888.
Coat of Arms and St James
The Poole Coat of Arms, depicting the three scallop shells of Saint James of Compostela and the dolphin, the towns official symbol.
The first Coat of Arms was confirmed by Clarencieux, King at Arms, in approximately 1563. It originates to a seal of the late 1300s and therefore predates the setting up of the College of Heralds in 1484 and also the order of King Henry V in 1417, which disallowed the bearing of arms without authority from the Crown. The wavy bars (black and gold) represented water and the dolphin "the king of the sea", just as the lion represents "king of the beasts". The dolphin reminds was a sign of Pooles strong maritime heritage, as does the mermaid. The three scallop shells originate from St James in Spain, in the shrine of Saint James of Compostela, as Santiago de Compostela is believed to be the burial place of St James, apostle of Jesus Christ. St James is the Patron Saint of the Parish Church in Old Town of Poole.
The present Coat of Arms now has two mermaid supports. This addition was granted by the College of Arms in 1976. The supporters added to the Arms was a gift to the town by Lord Murton of Lindisfarne, the then Rt Hon Oscar Murton OBE TD JP MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, to commemorate his period of service as a Councillor and MP for Poole from 1964. The current town motto - "Ad Morem Villae De Poole" means "According to the Custom of the Town of Poole".
Economy
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Bournemouth and Poole at current basic prices published(pp.240-253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
| Year | Regional Gross Value Added'[1]' | Agriculture'[2]' | Industry'[3]' | Services'[4]' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | '2,740' | 4 | 665 | 2,071 |
| 2000 | '4,142' | 2 | 890 | 3,250 |
| 2003 | '4,705' | 2 | 898 | 3,804 |
# Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
# includes hunting and forestry
# includes energy and construction
# includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
The principal economy of Poole is the Service sector with a large number of employees working either for the service economy of local residents or for the tourist economy. However Poole is home to the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the cosmetics company Lush, Ryvita and the luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker, all of which are the largest employers in the town. Other prominent employers in Poole include Barclays Bank (who operate a regional HQ), Hamworthy Engineering, Poole Packaging, Penske Cars, Samsung and the clothing company, Animal. Poole is also the head quarters for Merlin Entertainments, the worlds second largest theme park operator after Disney.
Culture, recreation, and entertainment
The The Lighthouse Arts Centre, located in the town centre is a theatre and entertainment complex.
Poole Harbour is a popular location for watersports because it is sheltered and calm. The Sandbanks / shore road area is very popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with plenty of on road (charged) parking adjacent to the harbour. Poole Harbour is also one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with many yacht clubs including Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Yacht Club. Parkstone Yacht Club has recently been hosts of the OK World Championships, as well as being organisers of Youth Week and Poole Week, two of the largest dinghy regattas of their type in the country.[18]
Poole is home to its own motorcycle speedway team, the Poole Pirates. The Pirates opened in 1948 in the National League Division Three but rose to the top flight. The current team races in the British Elite league.
Poole's oldest football team is Poole Town F.C. who play in the Wessex League Premier Division. Poole Borough F.C. play in the Dorset Premier League. Poole's entertainment sites include Tower Park and the refurbished arts centre now known as ''The Lighthouse''. Poole also has a large collection of restaurants, cafes and historic pubs, many of which are located on the waterfront/Quay. Poole is twinned with Cherbourg in France.
Poole Park
Poole has a large public park, located adjacent to Poole Harbour and the towns sports complex and swimming centre. The Park is one of only two Victorian Parks in the Borough of Poole and the only one containing buildings.[19] The park comprises 109.5 acres of which 60 acres are water. The Park has a lake, as well as a large fountain and two childrens play areas. Their is a monument to those members of the town lost during the First and Second World Wars. In 2006 the park was redeveloped at a cost of £2 million. The redevelopment included a new restaurant, indoor ice rink and cleaning of the lake.[20]
Poole Museum
Poole Museum, opened after extensive renovation in July 2007 is home to many artefacts from the town's history.
Poole Museum (formerly the Waterfront Museum) was recently renovated at a cost of £1 million. Following a refurbishment and extension extension funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the museum opened in July 2007. The extension, designed by architects Horden Cherry Lee, includes a balcony with views over the Old Town and Harbour.[21] The museum includes the Poole Logboat, as well as a detailed history of Poole from the Iron Age to the present day. The museum also has a floor devoted to the history of Poole Pottery and many of the companies significant works are on display. Entrance to the museum is free.[22]
Transport
Bus and Coach
The majority of local bus services in Poole are provided by Wilts and Dorset who are based at the town’s bus station. Other services are run by Transdev Yellow Buses and Roadliner. There are limited services provided by First. Coach services to London and other destinations are operated by National Express.
Rail
Poole has four railway stations on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Weymouth within the Borough. These are, from east to west, Branksome near the border with Bournemouth, Parkstone, Poole in the town centre and Hamworthy serving Hamworthy and Upton. Poole railway station has the most frequent service and is served by express and semi-fast services to and from London Waterloo and also a local stopping service between Wareham and Brockenhurst.
Ferry
Poole is a cross channel port for passengers and freight with up to seven sailings a day in the peak summer season. Services to Cherbourg in France are operated by Brittany Ferries who provide a year round service. A seasonal service to the Channel Islands and St Malo, France, is run by Condor Ferries. From November 2007 Brittany Ferries will also operate a weekend freight service to Santander in Spain.
Schools
Poole has a school system mostly comprising of 4-8 first schools and 8-12 middle schools or 4-12 combined schools then 12-16/18 secondary schools. Two of the secondary schools are selective grammar schools (Poole for boys and Parkstone for girls) and one 13-18 Upper school with a few 4-8 first schools and 9-13 middle schools. The only 4-11 primary school is in Bearwood and the local secondary school is the 11-18 Oakmead Technology College in neighbouring Bournemouth. When Poole became a unitary authority in 1997 it regained control of its schools. There are also a special schools and independent schools such as Canford School within the borough boundaries. The campuses of The Bournemouth and Poole College are in Poole and the main campus of Bournemouth University is actually in Poole at Wallisdown.
Poole is planning on retaining the two tier system of 4-11 primary schools and 11-16/18 secondary schools which is as schools are in neighbouring Bournemouth. Most other areas of the country will keep the Corfe Hills three tier system which is the same in Wimbourne and Ferndown schools.
List of schools in Poole
Notable People
★ Greg Lake of the band ELP.
★ Daniel Webb, footballer currently playing for A.F.C. Wimbledon.
★ David Cornwell aka John Le Carre, was born in Poole.
Places of interest
★ Poole Museum (re-opening June 2007)
★ Sandbanks
★ Brownsea Island
★ Tower Park
★ Poole Bay
★ Compton Acres Gardens
★ Poole Pottery
★ Poole Harbour
Gallery
External links
★ Bournemouth and Poole Tourist Information Site
★ Borough of Poole Council
★ Canford Heath community web
★ Information about Port of Poole
★ Map of poole
★ Welcome to Poole - community and business directories
★ Website about Hamworthy, including Hamworthy park
References
1. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
2. Poole and World War II, Poole Historical Trust, Derek Beamish, 1980
3. Special Boat Service
4. Poole and World War II, Poole Historical Trust, Derek Beamish, 1980
5. Twin bridge is given the go-ahead
6. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
7. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
8. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
9. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
10. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
11. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
12. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
13. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
14. Poole Bay and Purbeck, 300BC to AD1660, C Cochrane, 1970
15. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
16. Dorset: The Complete Guide, Jo Draper, 1996
17. A History of Poole, Cecil Culluingford, 2003
18. Parkstone Yacht Club, 2007
19. Friends of Poole Park, 2007
20. £2m transformation of park begins, BBC News, 2007
21. Museum revamp gets £750,000 grant
22. Poole Museum
★ Pitt-Rivers, Michael, 1968. ''Dorset''. London: Faber & Faber
★ Poole Harbour Commission, The history of Poole Harbour (accessed 9 November 2004)
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