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Bournemouth

The development of Bournemouth

The development of Bournemouth seems almost amazing when you compare the population there today to that of two hundred years ago!! Until the early 1800's the  Bournemouth area was heathland, with a maze of pathways and streams and the only known inhabitants were cows and maybe a few gypsies. This was then known as Pool(e) Heath. The only mention of any life form in Bournemouth before then was the Decoy Pond house. Records show that this was used for smuggling in 1762 and was probably the first recorded dwelling! Decoy Pond was where the track crossed the Bourne stream and was used a duck decoy (now the lower pleasure gardens) and the cottage stood beside the plank used for crossing, which later became the bridge.

In 1802 the heathland was converted from common to private ownership, following the Christchurch Enclosures Act. There were seven main beneficiaries from this Act and Sir George Tapps-Gervis was one of these. He was awarded 240 acres of land and he purchased a further 205 acres. He owned the Tapps Inn, a wayside tavern on the Turnpike coach road between Southampton and Poole. It was thought this inn was built in the early 1800's. By 1805 Poole Heath was divided with fences among the land owners, and although roads had been marked out there were no plans for development.  

In 1810 Lewis Tregonwell of Cranbourne bought some land near the sea from Tapps-Gervis and had the first houses built. He had been guarding the shores here with the Dorset Rangers Coastal division during the Napolionic war fifteen years before. The story goes that his wife, who was poorly, fell in love with the heath and wanted a house here. He built a large house for himself and smaller dwellings for his household staff.  Ten years later he bought more land in the area and built up more villas, leasing them out as holiday homes.  It was around this time that it had been discovered that sea air was healthy for convalescing, and Bournemouth became renowned for its healing air and palm trees! 

Tregonwell leased his home, known as The Mansion, to the Marchioness of Exeter, and it then became known as Exeter house. Many of the roads in Bournemouth are named after this era.  Exeter House has been heavily extended over the years and new wings have been added. This is now the the Royal Exeter Hotel.

In 1836 George Tapps' son, also called George, began developing a row of villas on the Eastern side of the Bourne stream. The Royal Bath Hotel was one of these, built by a local builder, David Tuck, and opened on Queen Victoria's Coronation day 28th June 1838.  Also opened on the same day was the Belle Vue Boarding House, for the less affluent visitors!  Within three years there were a further sixteen villas -  now Westover Road.

By 1840 Bournemouth could boast of a few residents and actually became known as a village! By 1850 the first shops were being built as well as a few Inns, and soon Bournemouth had its first police force and local government! 

In 1851 the population of Bournemouth had reached 695! By 1861 the population of Bournemouth had almost tripled!  In 1864 the town gained gas street lighting and in 1866, piped water supply. A volunteer fire brigade was formed in 1870. By this time Commercial Road had a number of shops, workshops and cottages. Hotels and roads were also being built up in the Exeter Park Estate. Some of these hotels are still in use today. 

With the arrival of the railway to Bournemouth, holidays and days out at the seaside became more and more popular. People also came to stay at Bournemouth for  convalescence.  The first pier (or jetty) was built in 1855. This was made of wood, six feet wide, a hundred feet long and on wheels!!  It was soon damaged by the sea. A second wooden pier was built in 1860, but this also suffered damage from the rough seas. In 1878 this was replaced by one made of iron! Although closed off during the war, the pier was reopened in 1950.  Ten years later a theatre was opened and following reconstruction work, a new theatre and leisure centre was opened in 1981.  This pier still stands today.

In 1875 it was planned to give Bournemouth a concert hall  like the Crystal Palace in London. Two years later the Winter Gardens were drained and the 'Glass house' was built here. Musicians were brought in to play during the summer season. This became so popular that the Munciple Orchestra became known nationally for their concerts. But eventually the gardens and 'Glass house' became shabby and stood empty until 1935 when it was demolished. In its place an indoor bowling green was built, but this did not prove successful and after the war it once again became a concert hall, and home to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. 

Just after the turn of the century, bathing machines became popular.  Ladies and gentlemen's were built separately on the east side of the pier. In 1907 an Undercliff was constructed at East Cliff. An electric cliff lift was built here in 1908, and also one at West Cliff. 

  In the late twenties some of the old villas were demolished to make way for the towns new entertainment centre.  The Pavillion, (on the site of the original belle Vue Boarding House)  the Regent, the  Westover and the Palace Court Theatre now adorned Westover Road.

In July 1940 the pier and beaches were closed, following the first war attack on Bournemouth.  The beaches were covered with barbed wire and anti-aircraft guns were set up along the cliffs. On the 16th November 1940, parachute mines were dropped on  Bournemouth causing 53 deaths and damage to over 2000 buildings. On the 23rd May the next year, twenty five enemy planes attacked Bournemouth. The Metropole Hotel and the Central Hotel were both destroyed, killing 77 guests. Shops and stores suffered damage as well, and it is reported that by the end of the war, over 3000 buildings and properties had been damaged. 

During the forties, over a thousand new houses were built around Bournemouth. The following years developers began to plan the rebuilding of Commercial Road.  Demolition started in 1959 and new shops were built up throughout the sixties. Some of the original houses on Commercial Road were bought by breweries and converted into pubs. During the sixties multi-story flats appeared on West Cliff Road. In 1974 the county boundaries were redirected, putting Bournemouth in the county of Dorset.  

In 1981, many of the original houses were demolished!  In Exeter Road the hotels,  Westminster Hall, Meyrick Cliffs, Solent Cliffs, Regent Palace, Beechcliffe Hall and the Empress Hotel made way for the BIC and a multi story car park!  Some of the original hotels have now been converted into exclusive flats and apartment blocks.

In the last ten years Bournemouth has acquired a Rock Cafe, an aquarium and an Imax Cinema on Pier Approach. Festivals are held in the Gardens on summer evenings and now there is a hot air balloon, The Bournemouth Eye, where you can admire the views! Friday night is firework night during the summer season, sponsored by the local radio stations. 

The beaches sometimes get so crowded and the traffic queues so horrendous, that Bournemouth has been known to close off the roads into town and be declared as 'full up'!!

The population of Bournemouth today has reached around 165,000!!!

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