Editing Poole (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Poole}}
[[File:Poole Logboat.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Poole Logboat]], a 2,000-year-old [[dugout canoe]] discovered during dredging works in [[Poole Harbour]]]]

The area around modern Poole has been inhabited for at least the past 2,500&nbsp;years, with nearby [[Christchurch Harbour]] evidencing human activity dating back to the [[Neolithic]] period at [[Hengistbury Head]]. During the 3rd century BC, [[Celtic languages|Celtic-speaking people]] known as the [[Durotriges]]<!--does the source specifically state that it was the Durotriges in the 3rd century BC? It's uncertain when tribal identities emerged--> moved from hilltop settlements at [[Maiden Castle, Dorset|Maiden Castle]] and [[Badbury Rings]] to heathland around the [[River Frome, Dorset|River Frome]] and [[Poole Harbour]].<ref>Cullingford (p.183)</ref><!--the reliance of this source seems questionable; Maiden Castle for example was occupied until the Roman conquest--> The [[Roman Britain|Romans]] landed at Poole<!--this is disputed--> during their [[Roman conquest of Britain|conquest of Britain]] in the 1st century and took over an [[Iron Age]] settlement at [[Hamworthy]], an area just west of the modern town centre.<ref>Legg (p.9)</ref> This was used as a supply base for the fortress at Lake Farm, [[Ashington, Dorset|Ashington]] and a settlement at [[Badbury Rings|Vindocladia (Bradbury Rings)]].<ref>{{Cite book |author-link=Wessex Archaeology |url=https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/sites/default/files/72110_Lake%20Farm%2C%20Wimborne%2C%20Dorset.pdf |title=Lake Farm Wimborne, Dorset Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief Report |publisher=Wessex Archaeology |publication-date=October 2009 |pages=8}}</ref>

The town's name may have originated around the post-Roman or Anglo-Saxon periods, and seems to have originally applied to the harbour. It is derived from the late [[Common Brittonic|Brittonic]] or early [[Old English language|Old English]] words ''pol'' meaning a pool or creek.<ref name="Place names">{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/pages/Subjects_and_Titles__2B_05|last=Mills|first=A.D.|year=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0-19-852758-6}}</ref>

By the middle to late [[Anglo-Saxon]] period, Poole was included in the Kingdom of [[Wessex]]. The settlement was used as a base for fishing and the harbour a place for ships to anchor on their way to the River Frome and the important Anglo-Saxon town of [[Wareham, Dorset|Wareham]].<ref name="Welcome to Poole1">{{cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 1) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story1.htm | access-date = 20 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622121754/http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story1.htm | archive-date = 22 June 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Poole experienced two large-scale [[Viking]] invasions during this era: in 876, [[Guthrum]] sailed his fleet through the harbour to attack Wareham, and in 1015, [[Canute the Great|Canute]] began his conquest of England in Poole Harbour, using it as a base to raid and pillage Wessex.<ref>Sydenham (p.69–71)</ref><ref>Legg (p.13)</ref>

Following the [[Norman conquest of England]], Poole rapidly grew into a busy port as the importance of Wareham declined.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.wareham-tc.gov.uk/WTC_pages/wtc_history.htm#topofpage | title = History of Wareham | publisher = Wareham Town Council | access-date = 17 July 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110107095832/http://www.wareham-tc.gov.uk/WTC_pages/wtc_history.htm#topofpage | archive-date = 7 January 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The town was part of the [[Manorialism|manor]] of Canford but does not exist as an identifiable entry in the [[Domesday Book]].<ref>Legg (p.14)</ref> The earliest written mention of Poole occurred on a document from 1196 describing the newly built St James's Chapel in "La Pole".<ref>Legg (p.15)</ref> The [[Lord of the Manor]], Sir [[William II Longespée|William Longspée]], sold a [[charter]] of liberties to the [[burgess (title)|burgesses]] of Poole in 1248 to raise funds for his participation in the [[Seventh Crusade]].<ref name="Welcome to Poole1"/> Consequently, Poole gained a small measure of freedom from [[Feudalism|feudal rule]] and acquired the right to appoint a mayor and hold a court within the town. Poole's growing importance was recognised in 1433 when it was awarded [[staple port]] status by [[Henry VI of England|King Henry VI]], enabling the port to begin exporting wool and in turn granting a licence for the construction of a town wall.<ref>Sydenham (p.94)</ref> In 1568, Poole gained further autonomy when it was granted legal independence from Dorset and made a [[county corporate]] by the Great Charter of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]].<ref name="historyof">{{cite web | title = History of Poole | publisher = Borough of Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.boroughofpoole.com/go.php?structureID=U464057c6c52db&ref=S4649D38C61551 | access-date = 30 May 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100105050439/http://boroughofpoole.com/go.php?structureID=U464057c6c52db&ref=S4649D38C61551 | archive-date = 5 January 2010 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> During the [[English Civil War]], Poole's [[puritan]] stance and its merchants' opposition to the [[ship money]] tax introduced by [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] led to the town declaring for [[Roundhead|Parliament]].<ref>Legg (p.31)</ref> Poole escaped any large-scale attack and with the [[Cavalier|Royalists]] on the brink of defeat in 1646, the Parliamentary garrison from Poole laid siege to and captured the nearby Royalist stronghold at [[Corfe Castle]].<ref name="Welcome to Poole3">{{cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 3) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story3.htm | access-date = 20 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080615142545/http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story3.htm | archive-date = 15 June 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>Sydenham (p.127–128)</ref>

[[File:Beech Hurst, Poole.JPG|thumb|left|Beech Hurst in the town centre, a [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] mansion built in 1798 for a wealthy Newfoundland merchant]]

Poole established successful commerce with the [[British colonisation of the Americas#British colonies in North America|North American colonies]] in the 16th century, including the important fisheries of [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]].<ref name="historyof"/> Trade with Newfoundland grew steadily to meet the demand for fish from the Catholic countries of Europe. Poole's share of this trade varied but the most prosperous period started in the early 18th century and lasted until the early 19th century. The trade followed a three-cornered route; ships sailed to Newfoundland with salt and provisions, then carried dried and salted fish to Europe before returning to Poole with wine, olive oil, and salt.<ref name="beamish8">Beamish (p.8–11)</ref> By the early 18th century, Poole had more ships trading with North America than any other English port and vast wealth was brought to Poole's merchants.<ref name="phc history">{{cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.phc.co.uk/about_history.html | title = The Harbour's History | publisher = Poole Harbour Commissioners | access-date = 30 June 2008 | archive-date = 23 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190523224828/https://www.phc.co.uk/about_history.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> This prosperity supported much of the development which now characterises the Old Town where many of the [[medieval]] buildings were replaced with [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] mansions and [[Terraced house|terraced housing]].<ref name="beamish8"/><ref name="cockle">{{cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.pooletourism.com/go.php?structureID=pages&keywords=cockle&ref=I483ED26E32D39 | title = Poole Cockle Trail | publisher = Poole Tourism | access-date = 3 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715103454/http://www.pooletourism.com/go.php?structureID=pages&keywords=cockle&ref=I483ED26E32D39 | archive-date = 15 July 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and the conclusion of the [[War of 1812]] ended Britain's monopoly over the Newfoundland fisheries and other nations took over services provided by Poole's merchants at a lower cost. Poole's Newfoundland trade rapidly declined and within a decade most merchants had ceased trading.<ref>Sydenham (p.398–402)</ref><ref name="Welcome to Poole4">{{cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 4) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story4.htm | access-date = 23 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080512021810/http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story4.htm | archive-date = 12 May 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[File:Poole Quay - geograph.co.uk 636450.jpg|thumb|Poole Quay was the busy centre of the town's maritime trade.]]

The town grew rapidly during the [[Industrial Revolution]] as urbanisation took place and the town became an area of [[Mercantilism|mercantile]] prosperity and overcrowded poverty. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of ten workers were engaged in harbour activities, but as the century progressed, ships became too large for the shallow harbour and the port lost business to the deepwater ports at [[Liverpool]], [[Southampton]] and [[Plymouth]].<ref name="phc history"/> Poole's first railway station opened in [[Hamworthy railway station|Hamworthy]] in 1847 and later extended to the centre of Poole in 1872, effectively ending the port's busy coastal shipping trade.<ref name="Welcome to Poole4"/> The beaches and landscape of southern Dorset and south-west [[Hampshire]] began to attract tourists during the 19th century and the villages to the east of Poole began to grow and merge until the [[seaside resort]] of [[Bournemouth]] emerged. Although Poole did not become a resort, like many of its neighbours, it continued to prosper as the rapid expansion of Bournemouth created a large demand for goods manufactured in Poole.<ref name="dorset page">{{cite web | year = 200 | url = http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/Place/P100.htm | title = Poole, Dorset, England | publisher = The Dorset Page | access-date = 18 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130730045423/http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/place/P100.htm | archive-date = 30 July 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Poole was the third-largest embarkation point for [[D-Day]] landings of [[Operation Overlord]] and afterwards served as a base for supplies to the [[Allies of World War II|allied forces]] in Europe.<ref name="historyof"/> Eighty-one landing craft containing American troops from the [[29th Infantry Division (United States)|29th Infantry Division]] and the [[United States Army Rangers|US Army Rangers]] departed Poole Harbour for [[Omaha Beach]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Beamish | first = Derek | title = Poole and World War II | publisher =  Poole Historical Trust | year = 1980 | pages = 184–193 | isbn = 0-86251-004-X }}</ref> Poole was also an important centre for the development of [[Combined Operations Headquarters|Combined Operations]] and the base for a [[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]] rescue [[flotilla]] of 60 [[83-foot patrol boat|cutters]].<ref>{{cite web | year = 2005 | url = http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/ResFlot1_Normandy_Photo_Index.asp | title = Coast Guard Rescue Flotilla One at Normandy | publisher = [[United States Coast Guard]] | access-date = 26 April 2008}}</ref> Much of the town suffered from German bombing during the war - in which the Municipal Borough lost 75 civilian lives<ref>{{cite web|last=CWGC |title=Poole Municipal Borough {{!}} Civilian War Deaths |url=https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/4003985/poole-municipal-borough/ |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=CWGC |language=en}}</ref> -  and years of neglect in the post-war [[Economic history of the United Kingdom#1945–1951: Age of Austerity|economic decline]]. Major [[Urban renewal|redevelopment]] projects began in the 1950s and 1960s and large areas of [[slum]] properties were demolished and replaced with modern public housing and facilities. Many of Poole's historic buildings were demolished during this period, particularly in the Old Town area of Poole. Consequently, a {{convert|6|ha|acre|adj=on}} [[Conservation Area]] was created in the town centre in 1975 to preserve Poole's most notable buildings.<ref name="Welcome to Poole5">{{cite web | title = The Story of Poole (Page 5) | publisher = Welcome to Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story5.htm | access-date = 23 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080509062412/http://www.welcometopoole.co.uk/history/story5.htm | archive-date = 9 May 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = The Built Environment | publisher = Borough of Poole | year = 2008 | url = http://poolelocalplan.wisshost.net/text/text5.htm#PolicyBE_1 | access-date = 20 July 2008}}</ref> The [[1988 Poole explosion|Poole explosion of 1988]] caused 3,500 people to be evacuated out of the [[Poole Town Centre|town centre]] in the biggest peacetime evacuation the country had seen since the [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Parker |first1=Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OE9KIqGpp-UC&dq=BDH+fire+in+Poole%2C+1988&pg=PA31 |title=Hazard Management and Emergency Planning: Perspectives in Britain |last2=Handmer |first2=John |date=2013-06-17 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-25314-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GALLERY: The explosions that rocked Poole - 30 years since the BDH fire |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16318155.bdh-fire-poole-1988/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Bournemouth Echo |date=28 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>