Timeline: General History of Poole

Jan 18, 1200

A new port is flourishing in Poole

Poole has the second largest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney Harbour) and as such was an ideal place for early settlement due to good links with Europe via the sea generating trade oppurtunities.

Jan 18, 1289

Poole is given a charter

This charter granted a small measure of freedom from feudal rule by the Lord of the Manor and permitted the people of Poole to elect six burgesses to form a Borough Council.

Jan 18, 1348

Black Death reaches Poole

Jan 18, 1377

French burn part of Poole

Whilst the advantages of the natural harbour are clear to see, it also left Poole vulnerable to attack.

Jan 18, 1405

Army of Spaniards and Frenchmen attack Poole (not for the first or the last time!)

Jan 18, 1433

Poole is made a staple which allowed it to export wool

Jan 18, 1453

Market Town and Port of Poole allowed two annual fairs

Jan 19, 1524

A wooden platform is erected at Poole and cannons are mounted on it

Jan 19, 1545

Fort is built on Brownsea Island

Jan 19, 1568

Queen Elizabeth grants Poole a new charter

This new charter made Poole independent and gave the population control over their own affairs

Jan 19, 1574

A census indicates that Poole has a population of 1,373

Jan 19, 1643

During the Civil War Royalists attack Poole but are defeated

Poole supported the Parliament during the Civil War and in the summer of 1643 a 600 strong Parliamentarian army set out from Poole and six weeks later laid seige to the castle. However they were unsuccessful so chose to withdraw. However, Poole and Lyme Regis remained the only two towns in Dorset not controlled by the King.

Jan 19, 1645

Poole suffered an outbreak of plague

Jan 19, 1700

Ships start fishing off Newfoundland and Rope making industry commences

Ships from Poole started to fish in the fish-rich waters of Newfoundland. Right up until 1815 Poole enjoyed a period of unprecedented prosperity as a consequence. It is estimated that by 1802 there were 350 ships in the Poole Newfoundland fishing fleet. This generated huge income for local people and combined with the newly incepted rope industry saw Poole being to grow rapidly.

Jan 19, 1761

New Town Hall is built

By this time the advantages of the new industries are being witnessed and Poole is a prosperous and growing town, as evident today by the huge Georgian houses and public buildings.

Jan 19, 1801

Census shows Poole's population has grown to 9,276

Jan 19, 1813

A new Customs House is built in Poole

Jan 19, 1820

St James Church is built and fishing off of Newfoundlanf goes into steep decline

The final defeat of Napoleon in 1814 provoked rapid declining in Poole's once thriving fishing industry. Throughout the Napoleonic wars trade had flourished in Newfoundland as other European countries had relied on Poole for supplies of dried meat. However peace meant that the French and Americans could also now fish the waters, consequently taking over the services once provided by Poole, spelling the end of trade.

Jan 19, 1834

First Wooden Toll Bridge is built

Period: Jan 26, 1834 to Jan 26, 1885

First Wooden Toll Bridge is in use

Jan 19, 1859

Private water company is formed to supply Poole with piped water

Jan 19, 1885

Wooden Toll Bridge replaced with Iron Swing Bridge

The steep gradient of the wooden toll bridge caused problems for horse drawn carriages and so had to be replaced by the Iron Swing Bridge which was in operation right up until 1927 when the existing lifting bridge was built.

Period: Jan 26, 1885 to Jan 26, 1927