History

Recent History

Poole's links with its past are still strong. In 1997, a merchant's house, which had been ruined then rebuilt, was opened in Trinity, Newfoundland from funds raised by the Trinity Trust.

Modern Poole has a growing reputation as a centre for water sports. There are loads of operators offering everything from windsurfing to kayaking to kitesurfing, mostly based around the Sandbanks area. For those a little more adventurous, try a 10-minute speedboat trip around the bay. Other adrenaline-fuelled activities include powerboating, jet-skiing and wakeboarding.

Modern Day History

Poole lost many of its historic buildings as a result of the severe bombing it endured during WWII. The no-frills town planning of Britain after the war meant that new characterless housing replaced lost buildings. Many damaged houses became derelict and some were inhabited by drifters or merely abandoned. In 1960, a special precinct was created for preservation despite pressure to flatten slum areas. Consequently, 6 ha (15 acres) of Poole's historic centre were saved, incorporating some of the city's most notable sites.

Pre 20th Century History

Poole's harbour area has been home to one person or another for two thousand years. The Celtic Durotriges were locals of the Iron Age and left all sorts of interesting things behind for modern man to dig up. The Poole Longboat, a narrow boat made from one oak tree, dates back to 295 BC.

Along with many other harbour sites, the Romans landed in Poole during their invasion and it soon became a fishing village. After the Normans invaded and conquered a thousand years later, Poole's port grew in importance through its export of wool. Then in 1405, Poole was burnt to a crisp after local pirate Harry Paye caused a little too much trouble attacking Spanish vessels. However, it quickly regained its place as a leader in trade and by the 18th century Poole was the busiest port in England.

The Industrial Revolution provided bucketloads of work for locals and the town grew rapidly. Unfortunately for Poole, progress meant bigger ships which soon became too big for the shallow harbour and business suffered immensely.

The 19th century saw Poole, along with neighbouring Bournemouth, develop as popular beachside destinations for tourists and holidaymakers.

For many people the bustling market towns, babbling brooks and thatch-roofed cottages of the region are inextricably bound up with one name - Thomas Hardy. The 19th-century novelist lived most of his life in Dorset and used it as the setting for some of his most famous tales.