Broadstone, Dorset

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Broadstone
Broadstone


The Broadway
Broadstone, Dorset (Dorset)
Broadstone, Dorset

Broadstone shown within Dorset
Population 10,256[1]
OS grid reference SZ006953
 - London 109 miles (175 km)
Unitary authority Poole UA
Shire county Dorset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BROADSTONE
Postcode district BH18
Dialling code 01202
Police Dorset
Fire Dorset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Mid Dorset & North Poole
Website: http://www.broadstone.net/
List of places: UK • England • Dorset

Coordinates: 50°45′28″N 1°59′32″W / 50.75773, -1.99215

Broadstone is a town and suburb of Poole in the Poole district of Dorset, England; situated 3 miles north of Poole. It is located 3 miles from Hamworthy railway station and 7 miles from Bournemouth International Airport. The town has a population of 10,256 according to the 2001 Census.

Since 1840 it has grown from a small farm to be home to 10,000 people. Centered around the main road (the B3074), The Broadway is busy hub of shops, hairdressers, churches, schools and housing. It is notable in the area for its large recreation fields and heathland park, as well as the annual Christmas parade and lights.

The 24 acre Broadstone Heath possesses some of the original heathland which covered the Poole basin.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1840 "Broadstone Farm" was built, and a railway line bypassed it in 1847. Its first church was built in 1853, which later became the Scout hall. The first station, built in 1872, was named "New Poole Junction" and, after several name revisions, became "Broadstone" in 1890. Broadstone First School originated as a "dame" school, founded in 1871. At the turn of the century, lavender oil started being produced. This ceased in 1935 when the factory burnt down, but much lavender can still be found in the area. Rapid expansion has since occurred, with the development of the Pine Springs housing estate and the setting up of many schools to cope with the increase in population.

[edit] The name Broadstone

Legend has it that a number of "broad stones" were laid across a local stream to enable people to cross over without wetting their feet. This stream flows in the valley between Clarendon Road and Springdale Road, and the stones were located close to the Brookdale Farm. The Stepping Stones pub was named in honour of this, and displays a large stone outside its beer garden. Rumoured to be the original, it was stolen decades ago and has since been replaced by a replica.

[edit] Famous residents

Wallace's unusual grave in Broadstone Cemetery, Broadstone, Dorset, which was restored by the A. R. Wallace Memorial Fund in 2000. It features a 7 foot tall fossil tree trunk from Portland mounted on a block of Purbeck limestone.
Wallace's unusual grave in Broadstone Cemetery, Broadstone, Dorset, which was restored by the A. R. Wallace Memorial Fund in 2000. It features a 7 foot tall fossil tree trunk from Portland mounted on a block of Purbeck limestone.

The Victorian biologist, naturalist and philosopher Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently proposed the same evolutionary theory as Charles Darwin, lived in Broadstone during the last few years of his life. He built his own house, named Old Orchard, near what is now Wallace Road. His remains are buried in Broadstone Cemetery, next to those of his wife, Annie.

Annette Brooke, a Liberal Democrat MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole from 2001, currently resides in Broadstone.

Bryan Telfer, RN, a commodore in the Royal Navy and veteran of the Falklands War: buried in Broadstone Cemetery.

[edit] Education and schools

Broadstone contains a large first and middle school on Dunyeats Road. Broadstone Middle School was internationally reported as trying to ban skirts in 2003.[2] The ban is no longer in force.[3] Corfe Hills School is also located in Broadstone and is one of the largest secondary schools in Dorset. Its catchment area serves Broadstone, Poole, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne as well as other areas.

[edit] Clubs and associations

Broadstone is the centre of many clubs, societies and organisations for the South East Dorset area including the Lytchett archery club, the Broadstone Golf Club, Broadstone Horticultural society, Broadstone Tennis Society, Dorset Caledonian Society, Broadstone Youth Centre and the Broadstone Cricket Club. Other local offices include the British Legion, the Rotary club, and the Wessex Bowling Club.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Census, 2001
  2. ^ Skirt Ban: UK School Forcing “Unisex” Dress Code on Students. LifeSiteNews (2005-06-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  3. ^ Governors' school dress code: Skirts. Prospectus. Broadstone Middle School (Spring 2006). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.