Southbourne, Dorset
Encyclopedia
Southbourne is a suburb of Bournemouth
. It is the most easterly part of the borough, between Boscombe
and Christchurch, Dorset
. The area was previously known as Stourfield.
Strictly Southbourne refers to the area near to the coast; areas further inland are West Southbourne, Tuckton and Wick
.
mansion built to the east of Pokesdown
village, commanding views of Christchurch Harbour
and he named it Stourfield House. One of the most celebrated inhabitants of Stourfield House was Mary Eleanor Bowes
, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Stourfield House later became a care home, looking after servicemen who had been injured in the Great War. Today only the front steps survive, leading to a block of flats in Douglas Mews, and marked by a Blue Plaque
.
Southbourne also had a short-lived pier . It was constructed in 1888 at a cost of £4,000 and was 300 feet long. There were regular boat-trips between the pier at Southbourne and the pier at Bournemouth. Unfortunately the pier, promenade and nearby sea wall built by Dr.Compton (to rival the resort at Bournemouth) were heavily damaged by storms in December 1900 and January 1901. A buyer for the pier was unable to be found and it was eventually demolished in 1909 due to concerns about public safety.
Further along towards Hengistbury Head
is Southbourne Crossroads. At this crossroads are a public house
,(now closed) used car dealership,(now a bed shop) a surf shop, a café
,(now closed) hairdressers and news agent.
For activity in the local area Seafield Gardens, which has held the prestigious Green Flag Award
since 2001, offers bowls
, tennis
and features a watertower. One tourist feature of Southbourne is the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway
, a funicular railway
between the clifftop coastal road and the promenade and beach. This provides very easy access to Southbourne's Blue Flag beach
, from which it is possible to reach the beaches at Boscombe
and Bournemouth
.
Southbourne is still a busy area for tourists keen to escape the busier areas of Bournemouth town centre, although the number of guest houses in the area has declined in recent years.
The easternmost part of the area is called Hengistbury Head
.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. It is the most easterly part of the borough, between Boscombe
Boscombe
Boscombe is a suburb of Bournemouth. Located to the east of Bournemouth town centre and west of Southbourne, It developed rapidly from a small village as a seaside resort alongside Bournemouth after the first Boscombe pier was built in 1888...
and Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
. The area was previously known as Stourfield.
Strictly Southbourne refers to the area near to the coast; areas further inland are West Southbourne, Tuckton and Wick
Wick, Bournemouth
Wick is a village on the southern bank of the River Stour just before it enters Christchurch Harbour. Although only half a mile away from Christchurch Priory, the village is in the borough of Bournemouth, the town centre of which is 4.5 miles away....
.
History
In 1766, Edmund Bott had a GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
mansion built to the east of Pokesdown
Pokesdown
Pokesdown is a small area of Bournemouth, a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Dorset. It lies just east of the suburb of Boscombe and west of Southbourne.-History:Evidence of human occupation in the area dates back to the Bronze Age...
village, commanding views of Christchurch Harbour
Christchurch Harbour
Christchurch Harbour is a natural harbour in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England named after the nearby town of Christchurch.Two Rivers the Avon and the Stour flow into the Harbour at its northwest corner. The harbour is generally shallow and due to the tidal harmonics in the...
and he named it Stourfield House. One of the most celebrated inhabitants of Stourfield House was Mary Eleanor Bowes
Mary Eleanor Bowes
Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne , known as "The Unhappy Countess", was the daughter and heiress of George Bowes...
, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Stourfield House later became a care home, looking after servicemen who had been injured in the Great War. Today only the front steps survive, leading to a block of flats in Douglas Mews, and marked by a Blue Plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
.
Southbourne also had a short-lived pier . It was constructed in 1888 at a cost of £4,000 and was 300 feet long. There were regular boat-trips between the pier at Southbourne and the pier at Bournemouth. Unfortunately the pier, promenade and nearby sea wall built by Dr.Compton (to rival the resort at Bournemouth) were heavily damaged by storms in December 1900 and January 1901. A buyer for the pier was unable to be found and it was eventually demolished in 1909 due to concerns about public safety.
Today
The main area of Southbourne is Southbourne Grove, a long shopping street that has some unique and individual shops rather than high street chain shops. Shops include a butcher, a bakery, numerous cafés, hairdressers, convenience stores, homewares, gift shops, the post office, and many estate agents.Further along towards Hengistbury Head
Hengistbury Head
Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Milford on Sea in the English county of Dorset.At the end is a spit which creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour.-Location:...
is Southbourne Crossroads. At this crossroads are a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
,(now closed) used car dealership,(now a bed shop) a surf shop, a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
,(now closed) hairdressers and news agent.
For activity in the local area Seafield Gardens, which has held the prestigious Green Flag Award
Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
since 2001, offers bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and features a watertower. One tourist feature of Southbourne is the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway
Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway
The Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway, or Southbourne Cliff Railway, is a funicular railway located in Southbourne, a seaside suburb of the English seaside resort of Bournemouth...
, a funicular railway
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
between the clifftop coastal road and the promenade and beach. This provides very easy access to Southbourne's Blue Flag beach
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
, from which it is possible to reach the beaches at Boscombe
Boscombe
Boscombe is a suburb of Bournemouth. Located to the east of Bournemouth town centre and west of Southbourne, It developed rapidly from a small village as a seaside resort alongside Bournemouth after the first Boscombe pier was built in 1888...
and Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
.
Southbourne is still a busy area for tourists keen to escape the busier areas of Bournemouth town centre, although the number of guest houses in the area has declined in recent years.
The easternmost part of the area is called Hengistbury Head
Hengistbury Head
Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Milford on Sea in the English county of Dorset.At the end is a spit which creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour.-Location:...
.