POOLE IN THE 18th CENTURY
In the 18th century Poole was still dominated by the Newfoundland
trade. Ships went to fish off the coast there. Some of the first settlers in Newfoundland came from Poole. Furthermore manufactured
goods were exported from Poole to Newfoundland. As Poole lived by shipping it is not surprising there was an important shipbuilding
industry at Hamworthy. There was also a rope making business in Poole. (Since sailing ships required miles of rope).
During the 18th century Poole was a prosperous and growing town. (Although
as in all towns there were plenty of very poor people). A new town hall was built in 1761.
POOLE IN THE 19th CENTURY
At
the time of the first census, in 1801, Poole had a population of 9,276. By the standards of the time it was quite a large
town. Poole grew at phenomenal rate in the 19th century. The population reached 12,310 in 1881 and was approaching 20,000
by the end of the 19th century. Part of the reason for the growth was the creation of a new seaside resort at Bournemouth
which created a vast demand for the goods made in Poole.
As
Poole grew its amenities improved. A new Customs House was built in Poole in 1813. A Harbour Office was built in 1820. St
James Church was also built in 1820. In 1859 a private water company was founded to supply Poole with water. (The council
took over the company in 1906). However no sewers were dug till the end of the 19th century.
In 1834 a toll bridge was built linking Poole with Hamworthy. In the 19th century
the old Newfoundland trade came to an end. When the war with France ended in 1815 fishermen from Poole were suddenly faced
with competition from other nations. Furthermore some countries imposed import duties on dried fish to help their own fishermen.
The result was the death of the Newfoundland trade in Poole.
There
was also a coastal trade to and from Poole in the early 19th century but it went into rapid decline when a railway was built
to the Hamworthy side of the bridge. Businessmen could now transport goods to and from Poole by rail. Another railway was
built to the centre of Poole in 1872.
The first public
library in Poole opened in 1887. Poole Park opened in 1890. Parkstone Park opened the same year.
POOLE IN THE 20th CENTURY
In 1901 electric trams began running through the streets of Poole. But buses soon replaced them. The last tram ran
in 1935.
The first cinema in Poole opened in 1910. Civic
Offices were built in Poole in 1932.
At the beginning
of the 20th century the population of Poole was only 19,000. But it grew at a phenomenal rate. Today the population of Poole
is 141,000.
The old industries of shipbuilding, brick
making and brewing declined in Poole in the 20th century. However the pottery industry survived. Today there is a Pottery
Centre, which is a thriving tourist attraction. However the main industry in Poole is tourism.
The Dolphin Centre opened in 1969. (At first it was called the Arndale Centre). Also in
1969 Poole General Hospital opened. The Dolphin pool opened in 1974. Poole Lifeboat Museum also opened in 1974. An Arts Centre
opened in 1978. (It was later renamed the Lighthouse). Waterfront Museum opened in 1989. In 1997 Poole became a unitary authority.
