Parkstone/ˈpɑːrkstən/is an area ofPoole,in theBournemouth, Christchurch and Pooledistrict, in the ceremonial county ofDorset,England. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone – "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance – is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone – "The Village" – which includes areas adjacent toPoole Harbour.
| Parkstone | |
|---|---|
 Commercial Road, Lower Parkstone | |
  Parkstone Location withinDorset | |
| Population | 10,779 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SZ0391 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | POOLE |
| Postcode district | BH12/BH14 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Because of the proximity to the shoreline, and the more residential nature of Lower Parkstone, it is the more sought-after district,[citation needed]and originally[when?]includedLilliputand theSandbankspeninsula (now part ofCanford Cliffs) within its official bounds.[clarification needed]Lower Parkstone is centred onAshley Cross,the original location ofParkstone Grammar School,near to the parish church of St. Peter.[2]
Upper Parkstone includes large areas of smaller artisan housing, the shopping district along Ashley Road and the parish church of St. John's, Heatherlands.[3]There are larger properties, however, and views from this higher part of the suburb acrossPoole Harbourto thePurbeck Hills.Many photographs taken over the years from the Seaview viewpoint (overlooking much of Poole centre and Harbour) exist as postcards, and can be used to chart the changes to the area.[4]
Parkstone is just south ofAlder Hills,and east of the Parkstone Bay area of Poole Harbour.
History
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2024) |
The "Upper Parkstone Estate" was a significant area of land vested in the local authority by the Great Canford Award of 1831, but it was slow to develop into the bustling neighbourhood of today. In January 1885 a plot of land amounting to 6acres2 rods and 35 poles (approximately 2.5hectares) was set aside as a public open space in plans presented to the council as a result of an invitation to a number of local architects for proposals laying out the estate. But what is now known as "Alexandra Park"is essentiallyEdwardianin concept, having evolved over a period of some 30 years (1885–1915). The name dates from June 1906, the presumption being that it is named afterQueen Alexandra,consort of the reigningEdward VII.
Much of Upper Parkstone was developed during the Victorian era and is typical for a development of that period, most of the main shops being situated along a main road (Ashley Road) together with a few pubs and churches, and most houses being in adjacent roads. A lot of roads are named after important people or events of their time, such as Albert Road, Victoria Road and Jubilee Road.
Despite the residential reputation, Parkstone was the site of several industrial undertakings, the largest beingGeorge JenningsSouth Western Pottery, a manufacturer ofsalt-glazedrainage and sanitary pipes, which had its own steam locomotive and private branch line fromParkstone railway station.Much of this area was agricultural until the 1920s and 1930s.
Parkstone was formerly atythingandchapelryin the parish ofCanford Magna,[5]in 1866 Parkstone became a separatecivil parish,on 9 November 1905 the parish was abolished and merged with Poole.[6]In 1901 the parish had a population of 6,550.[7]It is now in theunparished areaof Poole.
The area expanded into other areas such as Rossmore and later Alderney, which are sometimes considered to be part of Parkstone. Although most houses in the district are owner-occupied, council houses were also built in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. The Trinidad and Bourne Estates are typical examples of post-war housing estates although there are very few council flats in Parkstone as much of the area retains its suburban character.
As of 2012, Ashley Road continues to be principally made up of commercial premises. Though some small blocks of flats have been built along this thoroughfare over the last 20 years, surrounding areas such as Rossmore have changed little during that time. A few older cottage-style dwellings can still be found as reminders of when the area was agricultural, including several pairs of 'Lady Wimborne' houses: yellow-brick cottages with steep gables built by the Canford Estate, whose lands stretched fromLonghamtoLilliput.
Transport
editAshley Road is the main road betweenBournemouthand Poole and benefits from much through business,[citation needed]and is the site ofWaitroseandMorrisonssupermarkets.[8]Commercial Road is the main thoroughfare through Ashley Cross, providing another through route and bus routes from Poole to Bournemouth.
Parkstone railway stationis in Lower Parkstone, near Parkstone Park. It is on theSouth West Main LinebetweenWeymouthandLondon Waterloo.Until 1966 it was also served by theSomerset and Dorset Joint RailwaytoBath.
Education
editParkstone has a large number of schools for all ages. The North Road and Constitution Hill campuses of TheBournemouth and Poole Collegealso have Parkstone addresses.
In Lower Parkstone the schools are Courthill Infant School and Lilliput Infant School feeding into Baden Powell and St Peter's Junior School.
In Upper Parkstone the schools are:
- Sylvan Infant School which feeds into Branksome Heath Junior School.
- Bishop Aldhelm's Primary School, Manorside Primary School, Talbot Primary School and Branksome Heath Junior School which all feed intoSt Aldhelm's Academy.
- St Joseph's Primary School, a Roman Catholic school
- Winchelsea Special School, next to Manorside in Alderney.
There is also a private school in the area,Bournemouth Collegiate School
Religious buildings
editAreas of Parkstone
editThe following estates and districts are often categorised as part of Parkstone, in local trade directories, for instance:[citation needed]
References
editNotes
edit- ^"Poole ward 2011".Retrieved7 April2015.
- ^part of The Parish of Parkstone St.Peter and St.Osmund, with Branksea St.Mary[dead link]
- ^now daughter church of the parish Church of the Good Shepherd[dead link]
- ^Viewpoint Residents Association, includes photographs of the areaArchived2007-09-27 at theWayback Machine
- ^"History of Parkstone, in Poole and Dorset".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved19 April2024.
- ^"Relationships and changes Parkstone CP/ExP through time".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved19 April2024.
- ^"Population statistics Parkstone CP/ExP through time".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved19 April2024.
- ^"Waitrose move met with wails",Bournemouth Daily Echo,19 July 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
Bibliography
edit- Hawkes, Andrew (1979).Memories of Old Poole: Parkstone.Andrew Hawkes.ISBN0-9506404-3-3.
External links
edit
Media related toParkstoneat Wikimedia Commons