The Story of Poole (Page 1)

1. Early Poole man, the Iron Age logboat and the first potters

The story of Poole really began long before Old Harry existed, when the first Stone Age men moved into Dorset and Britain was still joined to Europe, long before the sea broke through the chalk cliffs and the land sank to form the English Channel.

The first inhabitants were nomadic people who lived in the woods and forests along the Stour Valley.

As they became established the early settlers moved down the rivers and began to explore the harbour channels travelling around in boats carved from huge logs.

Iron Age Men became involved in making pottery. This link has continued on through the centuries with pots, clay pipes, tiles and of course the world famous Poole pottery.

2. Roman, Saxon and Danish invasions

In AD43 the Roman Second Legion invaded. They stormed the Hill Forts of Maiden Castle, Hod Hill Badbury and many other encampments and within a short period controlled the area. A domination that was to continue for well over 400 years.

The Saxons finally displaced the Romano-British administration that had been left behind after the Legions had been withdrawn to support the defence of Rome and her provinces. Thus by 660AD the West Saxon Kingdom had become established.

Many places we recognise today bear names from their Saxon origins. Wareham, Sandford, Upton, Sterte and of course Pol - the pool, would have been used as a base for fishing and a place for ships to anchor on their way to Wareham, which was an important fortified stronghold of the West Saxon Kingdom.

Wareham was frequently the target of marauding Danes who burned the town on several occasions.

In 876 Alfred the Great trapped a Danish fleet at Arne and drove them out past Poole in a great sea battle. A raging storm finally wrecked 120 ships on the shore at Studland.

Over several centuries the fortunes of the Danes and Saxons ebbed and flowed until 1015 when King Canute prevailed and occupied Brownsea Island where he stored loot taken from plundered churches and monasteries in Wessex.

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