Branksome, Dorset

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Branksome is a suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. The area consists of mainly residential properties but also has a small commercial area. It borders Parkstone, another small Poole suburb, to the west and north, Branksome Park (a more affluent forested area) to the south and Westbourne (a suburb of Bournemouth, Poole's conurbation neighbour) to the East.

[edit] Residential Development

Until the late 19th century the area was mainly unbuilt Heath and wood lands. With the development and growth of nearby Bournemouth and later Poole the area became popular as a place to live, mainly because the area was relatively undeveloped but yet was within commuting distance between Poole and Bournemouth. With the development of the railways, Branksome continued to grow, served by the new Victorian line between Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth. (Branksome railway station) which still serves the area today helped encourage a massive growth in the early twentieth century. Most of the houses in Branksome today are from the Edwardian period and before the Second World War. The area became an official suburb of Poole in the 1960s and by the 1980s almost all open areas of Branksome were built upon. The area however still has some heathland towards the Wallisdown and Canford Heath areas, as well as a large and popular park known as the Branksome Recreation ground. Branksome merges with the area known as Branksome Park, an area of more expensive properties.

[edit] Commercial Development

The area has a small commercial and shopping area based around the old Poole clay and pottery works (until the mid twentieth century, served by its own railway line). The area has several large shops focusing on DIY, electronics and furniture such as Homebase, Comet, MFI, and a supermarket (Tesco), as well as smaller local shops which front Ashley Road and Westbourne Road. Branksome is home to 1 of 16 Bowlplex "bowling alley/ Total entertainment centres" in the UK.