Pokesdown

Records suggest that the area has had the names Pokesdown, Pokesdon, or Pokesdowne, since the 13th century, although evidence of human occupation in the area dates back to the Bronze Age.

Pokesdown was most probably named from the Old English words "dun", a hill or down, which may have been haunted by a "Puck", or goblin. There is also a very old English personal name "Poc" which might offer an alternate origin. In truth nobody knows for sure.

Pokesdown Yesterday

(reproduced with kind permission from "Pokesdown and Iford Yesterday" by J A Young)

The Tlthing of Iford and Pokesdown was one of the divisions of the Liberty of Westover, and it included the present day lford, Pokesdown and part of Boscombe. Both Pokesdown and Iford were originally centred on farms; Pokesdown eventually grew into a town of more than 4,000 inhabitants, whilst Iford remained for many years as a hamlet.

Until the second half of the 18th century Pokesdown Farm together with about half a dozen cottages formed the sole habitations. In about 1766 Mr. Edmund Bott bought the Stourfield Estate and built for hinself Stourfield House, situated on the brow of the hill overlooking the Stour VaIIey. This was about half a mile from the Pokesdown farmhouse.

During the middle years of the 19th century Pokesdovn began to grow, slowly at first, and later quite rapidly. By 1861 it had become a moderate sized village, with its parish church of St. James, and an Independent Chapel, each of which had its own day school. At that date Stourfield House and Estate were owned by Admiral William Popham.

In 1865 a post office was opened, and there was a village bakery and general stores, two public houses and at least one smithy.

The phenomenal expansion of Bournemouth from the 1860s influenced the growth of adjoining districts, including Springbourne, Pokesdown and Boscombe. From the middle of the 1870s Pokesdown itself was starting to grow rapidly, and various pieces of land were
developed by Land Societies. These Societies would purchase an area of land to divide it into building plots, many of which were in turn bought by members of the Society. In this way the Rosebery, Boscombe Park, Clarence Park, Priory View and other estates were
built up.

The Stourfield Estate was put on the market by the Popham family in 1893, and over 900 building plots were laid out between Southbourne Road and Cranleigh Road. Stourfield House itself was eventually considerably enlarged and became a Sanatorirum for the
treatnent of chest conplaints. later still, it became the Dcuglas House hospital for ex-service men.

Nearer the cliff top Stourwood Estate was also sold in 1893 by Captain Lamb; this included the whole area between Fisherman's Walk and Clifton Road. During the next fifteen or so years this estate was developed, centered on Grand Avenue.

Under the terms of the Local Government Act of 1894, Pokesdown became an Urban District, with it's own Council. This Council energetically carried out the making up of roads, the provision of street lighting, and provided a complete system of main drainage. These works were completed before Pokesdown was amalgamated with the County Borough of Bournemouth in November 1901.

The Portman Estate was opened up in the early 1920's and a whole new district was laid out, with Wentworth Avenue as it's main thoroughfare. Further development took place along Beechwood Avenue and the Overcliff Drive was developed.

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926 - 928 Christchurch Rd
Pokesdown
Bournemouth
BH7 6DL
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