Westbourne, Dorset
Encyclopedia
Westbourne is an affluent residential and shopping area of Bournemouth
, Dorset
. It is located in between Branksome
, Poole
and the centre of Bournemouth
, just off the main A338. Poole Road, mainly full of specialised shops and small cafes, runs though the centre Westbourne with Seamoor Road curving round bringing more shops and services. Many of the shops have residential property above them.
Simply Food replaced the Waitrose
store which has recently moved to the Upper Parkstone area of Poole
. There are several international language schools in Westbourne.
Until it was closed in 1965, Westbourne had a train station known as Bournemouth West Station Terminus
. The station was often very busy during the summer seasons, as it was a main disembarkation point for holidaymakers to Poole
and Bournemouth
. Westbourne also had an ornate cinema called "The Grand", that is now a bingo hall.
Westbourne is also home to the head office of the Liverpool Victoria Group which has two buildings, Frizzell House in the centre and Victoria House on the edge of County Gates
roundabout, a large local employer with around 1600 staff.
Many local traders are members of the Westbourne Traders Association (WTA). The group promotes the interests of the traders and aims to raise the profile of Westbourne to tourists and local residents. In May 2009, the WTA released a free map and business directory with distribution across the South coast. In 2011 a new campaign to promote Westbourne as a shopping and tourism destination was launched under the name 'Discover Westbourne'. A new website listing all shops and businesses in Westbourne was launched by the businesses at www.discoverwestbourne.co.uk.
In January 2010 a monthly community magazine was launched. With local news, information, events and special offers, the magazine targets people who live, work and visit Westbourne.
being the local name for a deep gorge caused by river erosion extending to the sea) is nearby and it was on a bridge across this chine (now gone) from which Winston Churchill
fell when he was a child, breaking both legs and damaging his kidneys. Robert Louis Stevenson
was Westbourne's most famous resident, who lived at 'Skerryvore' on the West Cliff between 1885 and 1887. While at this rather ordinary house he wrote Kidnapped
and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as well as part of Treasure Island
while he was recovering from an illness. It is here that John Singer Sergeant painted R.L.Stevenson pacing his drawing room with his wife sat by in 1885 and a novel of his life whilst residing in Westbourne (published in 1929 titled 'R.L.S and his Sine Qua Non') was written by Adelaide A. Boodle. There is small statue commemorating his work on the site of the house he lived in, which was destroyed in the Second World War. Florence Nightingale
had an interest in Westbourne when in 1867 she was a prime mover in the building of the Herbert Home Hospital.
and is the official head quarters of the WFA (Westbourne Friends Association). Restaurant choices include the Westbourne Tandoori, Taj Mahal (the "Taj"), Enzo's Italian, Pâtisserie Angélique, Indies, Sundays (Chinese), and Chez Fred (1991 winner, Seafish Industry Authority's "Best Fish and Chips Shop in Great Britain"). Westbourne has also seen the arrival of Soho, the modern bar/cafe/restaurant in 2002 and has also been joined by Starbucks, Greggs and Subway in 2008 and PizzaExpress in 2009. 2010 also saw the opening of a controversial new style Tesco Express, which resides within a former Methodist Church.
and Poole
and the beach is a 15 minute walk away.
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...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. It is located in between Branksome
Branksome, Dorset
Branksome is a suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. The area consists of mainly residential properties but also has a small commercial area. It borders Parkstone, another small Poole suburb, to the west and north, Branksome Park to the south and Westbourne to the east.Until the early part of the...
, Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and the centre of 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...
, just off the main A338. Poole Road, mainly full of specialised shops and small cafes, runs though the centre Westbourne with Seamoor Road curving round bringing more shops and services. Many of the shops have residential property above them.
Businesses and buildings
The area has become a fashionable and popular part of Bournemouth with a unique mix of clothing shops, cafés, restaurants and many other independent businesses. Westbourne has a reputation for being the fashion district of Bournemouth, which is supported by the many boutiques and home interior shops located in the main shopping area. The main high street of Westbourne includes a Victorian covered shopping arcade linking Poole Road and Seamoor Road. On March 13 2007 a large M&SMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
Simply Food replaced the Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
store which has recently moved to the Upper Parkstone area of Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
. There are several international language schools in Westbourne.
Until it was closed in 1965, Westbourne had a train station known as Bournemouth West Station Terminus
Bournemouth West railway station
Bournemouth West railway station was a railway station in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. It closed on 4 October 1965. The station was the southern terminus of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, as well as being the terminus for trains from London Waterloo and other local trains.-Closure:The...
. The station was often very busy during the summer seasons, as it was a main disembarkation point for holidaymakers to Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
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...
. Westbourne also had an ornate cinema called "The Grand", that is now a bingo hall.
Westbourne is also home to the head office of the Liverpool Victoria Group which has two buildings, Frizzell House in the centre and Victoria House on the edge of County Gates
County Gates
County Gates is the historic crossing point between the shire counties of Dorset and Hampshire. On April 1, 1974 when Bournemouth and Christchurch were incorporated into Dorset, it became the main crossing point between the Borough of Poole and the Borough of Bournemouth...
roundabout, a large local employer with around 1600 staff.
Many local traders are members of the Westbourne Traders Association (WTA). The group promotes the interests of the traders and aims to raise the profile of Westbourne to tourists and local residents. In May 2009, the WTA released a free map and business directory with distribution across the South coast. In 2011 a new campaign to promote Westbourne as a shopping and tourism destination was launched under the name 'Discover Westbourne'. A new website listing all shops and businesses in Westbourne was launched by the businesses at www.discoverwestbourne.co.uk.
In January 2010 a monthly community magazine was launched. With local news, information, events and special offers, the magazine targets people who live, work and visit Westbourne.
Notable residents
The subarea known as Alum Chine provides a pathway to the beach, and is crossed by a pedestrian suspension bridge. Branksome Dene chine (a chineChine
A chine is a steep-sided river valley where the river flows through coastal cliffs to the sea. Typically these are soft eroding cliffs such as sandstone or clays. The word chine originates from the Saxon "Cinan" meaning a gap or yawn....
being the local name for a deep gorge caused by river erosion extending to the sea) is nearby and it was on a bridge across this chine (now gone) from which Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
fell when he was a child, breaking both legs and damaging his kidneys. Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
was Westbourne's most famous resident, who lived at 'Skerryvore' on the West Cliff between 1885 and 1887. While at this rather ordinary house he wrote Kidnapped
Kidnapped (novel)
Kidnapped is a historical fiction adventure novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Written as a "boys' novel" and first published in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886, the novel has attracted the praise and admiration of writers as diverse as Henry James, Jorge Luis...
and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as well as part of Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
while he was recovering from an illness. It is here that John Singer Sergeant painted R.L.Stevenson pacing his drawing room with his wife sat by in 1885 and a novel of his life whilst residing in Westbourne (published in 1929 titled 'R.L.S and his Sine Qua Non') was written by Adelaide A. Boodle. There is small statue commemorating his work on the site of the house he lived in, which was destroyed in the Second World War. Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
had an interest in Westbourne when in 1867 she was a prime mover in the building of the Herbert Home Hospital.
Food and drink
There are many places to eat and drink in Westbourne, ranging from brand establishments such as Cafe Rouge to pubs such as the Porterhouse pub, which is owned by the local Ringwood BreweryRingwood Brewery
Ringwood Brewery is a small brewery situated on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, England near the Dorset border. It produces mainly cask ales and some bottled beers.The emblem for the brewery is a boar....
and is the official head quarters of the WFA (Westbourne Friends Association). Restaurant choices include the Westbourne Tandoori, Taj Mahal (the "Taj"), Enzo's Italian, Pâtisserie Angélique, Indies, Sundays (Chinese), and Chez Fred (1991 winner, Seafish Industry Authority's "Best Fish and Chips Shop in Great Britain"). Westbourne has also seen the arrival of Soho, the modern bar/cafe/restaurant in 2002 and has also been joined by Starbucks, Greggs and Subway in 2008 and PizzaExpress in 2009. 2010 also saw the opening of a controversial new style Tesco Express, which resides within a former Methodist Church.
Transport
Westbourne has good bus links to both BournemouthBournemouth
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...
and Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and the beach is a 15 minute walk away.
External links
- Discover Westbourne Online guide to shopping and businesses in Westbourne, Bournemouth.
- Westbournbe.info Online guide to Westbourne in Bournemouth. Local news, business directory, weather and what's on.