Southbourne, Dorset
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Southbourne | |
  Southbourne shown within Dorset |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Bournemouth |
| Ceremonial county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BOURNEMOUTH |
| Postcode district | BH6 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Bournemouth East |
| List of places: UK • England • Dorset | |
Southbourne is a suburb of Bournemouth. It is the most easterly part of the borough, between Boscombe and Christchurch, Dorset. The area was previously known as Stourfield.
Strictly Southbourne refers to the area near to the coast; areas further inland are West Southbourne, Tuckton and Wick.
In 1766, Edmund Bott had a Georgian mansion built to the east of Pokesdown village, commanding fine views of Christchurch Harbour and he named it Stourfield House. One of the most celebrated inhabitants of Stourfield House was Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Stourfield House later became a care home, looking after servicemen who had been injured in the Great War. Today only the front steps survive, leading to a block of flats in Douglas Mews, and marked by a Blue Plaque.
The focal point of the community is Southbourne Crossroads. At this crossroads are a public house, used car dealership www.southbournecliffmotors.co.uk, a surf shop www.bournemouthsurfing.com, a café, hardressers and newsagent. For activity in the local area Seafield Gardens offers bowls, tennis and a features a watertower. One tourist feature of Southbourne is the Cliff railway between the clifftop coastal road and the promenade and beach. This provides very easy access to Southbourne's Blue Flag beach, from which it is possible to reach the beaches at Boscombe and Bournemouth.
The easternmost part of the coast is called Hengistbury Head.
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