Poole (recorded in the Domesday Book as Pole) is a sea port and town in Dorset, England. It is famed for its pottery. A major medieval port, Poole is set on Britain's largest natural harbour. The old town suffered badly after the Second World War, with many old houses being demolished, however a few remain, particularly around the Church of St James, a new and rather austere building of 1820 with characteristic galleries inside. The guildhall, built in 1761 is handsome, but the quay is the most interesting area of the town, and has been the centre of Poole's prosperity from the Middle Ages. The port has moved just over the channel to Hamworthy, but pleasure craft still use the quay, and larger ships pass by. The Waterfront Museum has fine new displays on maritime history, and Scaplen's Court (a house of about 1500) has domestic displays. Most of the shores around Poole are muddy, and it never developed into a seaside resort. Inland was formerly heathland, it is now mostly built up. Poole Harbour is vast, with a tiny entrance to the sea which seems too small for the large ships passing through. The Poole side is heavily built up; the Purbeck side still wild and natural. Research Poole
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Gazetteer
Research Poole