Bournemouth Englands South Coast Riviera
The strength of Bournemouth as a resort has always been the beauty of its sea-front and gardens. The gardens date back to at least the eighteenth century, when the Lord of the Manor enclosed a few acres of land as a hunting ground and built a lodge - Decoy House - where Debenhams now stands in the Square.
History sometimes results from what doesn't happen, rather than what does; this is the case with the 'discovery' of Bournemouth's sea-front. Young Grosvenor Tregonwell did not survive infancy. His distraught parents, Lewis and Henrietta, holidayed locally to relieve their grief. Henrietta fell in love with the serene Bourne Chine and Lewis built her a house here.
Bournemouth was then a place of solitude. The Queen Mother's ancestor, Mary Eleanor Bowes, then the richest heiress in England, lived at Pokesdown in the 1790s to escape the clutches of her second husband. This set the tone for Bournemouth, which turned into a select retreat, where the wealthiest people in society came to escape from the world. As the pines, planted by land-owners unsure of quite what to do with their estates, grew, Bournemouth became a pine city by the sea.
The labouring classes were housed in distant artisans' quarters at Winton and Springbourne. Shops were banned in early Bournemouth; tradesmen were expected to call from Poole or Christchurch. When the first citizens finally relented and allowed the railway to approach, it was permitted to do so only in a deep cutting so that it would remain largely unseen. However such lofty isolation was not destined to last. The early villa builders had not provided sufficient infrastructure, roads were poor, and the sewers inefficient. The saviour of the town was Christopher Crabbe Creeke - Surveyor of Nuisances for the Bournemouth Commissioners! He laid out gracefully curving roads around the chines, lined with grand villas, and improved the drains.
Enterprising developers like Henry Joy replaced many of the original dreamy villas with terraces of shops and apartments. Retailers like Beale brought all manner of fancy goods into the town and the railways allowed the lower orders to enjoy a cheap day at the seaside.
By 1890, Bournemouth was recognised by Queen Victoria, who granted it the status of a Borough, complete with its own Mayor. The citizens of the town were able to take firmer control of their own destiny. An Undercliff Drive was laid out along the beach (Kaiser William was one of the first people to drive along it), a Pavilion was built and Bournemouth's parks were laid out with drives and golf courses. A municipal orchestra was established at the Winter Gardens. Hospitals, schools, libraries and houses were provided by the local efforts of the people of Bournemouth.
Bournemouth expanded at an astonishing rate, swallowing up Westbourne, Boscombe Spa and Southbourne-on-Sea, which had once been competing resorts. The outlying artisans' areas were quickly included within its expanding boundaries. During the 1920s and '30s many of the town's middle-class suburbs were established at Talbot Woods, Ensbury Park and Richmond Park. Bournemouth provided for itself a succession of transport systems, trams, trolley buses and diesel buses. By the middle of the twentieth century it was one of the major towns of England and it came as something of a shock when local government re-organisation in 1974 removed many of its powers and responsibilities to Dorset County Council. The situation was largely reversed in 1997 when Bournemouth became a unitary authority.
In the course of its expansion Bournemouth took in ancient settlements at Kinson, Ensbury, Muscliff, Muccleshell, Holdenhurst and Wick, as well as the Iron Age port at Hengistbury Head. The town now faces the challenge of preserving the best of its built heritage, nurturing its natural resources which remain the key element in attracting visitors, and providing the facilities needed to provide memorable holidays for visitors and a desirable environment for the residents.
Bournemouth Tourist Information
Internationally renowned for being one of Europe's most fashionable resorts, Bournemouth attracts millions of visitors of all ages and nationalities each year. Seven miles of golden sand, vibrant nightlife, first-class attractions, beautiful gardens and summer festivals promise something for everyone.
Seven miles of golden sand and sheltered waters make Bournemouth a firm favourite for beach and activity holidays. Perfect not only for families with its pioneering beach safety KidZone scheme and dog-free areas, Bournemouth's daily average of 7.7 hours of summer sunshine also attracts serious sun-worshippers of all ages and nationalities. You will enjoy the award winning parks at Bournemouth; why not spend a lazy summer afternoon listening to the band playing in the Pine Walk bandstand, or take a stroll to the sub-tropical and Italianate gardens.
By day, the town is a shopper's paradise, a combination of high-street favourites and exclusive boutiques. The fashionable new-look Square, with its mosaics and stylish camera Obscura centrepiece, gives an atmosphere of continental chic. As the sun sets over the Victorian architecture, the nightlife in the vibrant and cosmopolitan town centre starts to hot up. Bournemouth caters for all tastes from West End blockbusters, hilarious comedians, classical concerts and plays to some of the hottest night-clubs in the country. Night owls will certainly be spoilt for choice.
Bournemouth's summer Festival For Families offers six weeks of free first-class entertainment for all ages. For children, a Kids Free Entertain-tent and beach GameZones offer a packed daily programme of activities. Adults will enjoy the Musicmakers Festival which welcomes music groups from all over the world, Flowers by candlelight where the Lower gardens are transformed into a twinkling fairyland, and the spectacular Friday Night Fireworks. Why not also visit the new indoor Wacky Warehouse play area, or discover the wonders of the world's oceans at the Oceanarium.
Bournemouth's beautiful beach and excellent leisure facilities make it a popular choice for sports enthusiasts and international sporting events. The seafront plays host to a number of high profile events each year, including the UKOBA Powerboating Grand Prix, Beach volleyball Grand Prix and, for motoring enthusiasts, the first leg of the Mintex National Rally Championship. The Liverpool Victoria UK Snooker championship and Allis-Merlo Pro-Am Celebrity Golf tournament have also become regulars to Bournemouth. Bournemouth's location makes it ideal for recreational sport as diverse as fishing, pony-trekking, cycling and water-sports.
Bournemouth's central location on the south coast makes it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding cultural heritage and stunning countryside that complement its own coastal beauty. To the west, the spectacular craggy rock formations of the Purbecks are the perfect setting for some breathtaking coastal walks. Inland, picturesque Dorset villages nestle amid a rich literary heritage, inspiration for many of Thomas Hardy's classics. Impressive historical ruins and stately homes stand proud in rolling countryside, whilst to the east the ancient New Forest remains a symbol of traditional England.
Bournemouth conjoined with Poole on its western boundary & Christchurch to the eastern boundary. For rented accommodation the Bournemouth area is serviced by our Southbourne office.
Southbourne has property to rent between Bournemouth Town Centre to Christchurch including Meyrick Park, Dene Park, Charminster, Winton, Boscombe, Moordown, Pokesdown, Iford, Tuckton, Littledown, Southbourne.
Westbourne and the Westcliff areas are serviced by Tailor Made Poole Letting office.