Bournemouth is the largest town in Dorset, a beautiful area of the country and top of the list for those that like a good stay-at-home holiday. Nestled between Poole and Christchurch, this comparatively new town makes up for in character what it lacks in history. Plus it has a stunning pier which is enough to justify a visit!
Image: ian woolcock/Shutterstock.com
Here at Five Minutes Spare we have many local guides taking tours of many towns; it is always the beach towns we find most fun. With holiday attractions scattered throughout town, this place has some of the most expensive buildings in the south of England. Let’s take a closer look to find out how this seaside sanctuary measures up with our other English treasures…
The Origin Story
Bournemouth, unlike a thousand, thousand, other English towns, has its very own origin story. Much like Wolverine, the birth of Bournemouth can be pinpointed to a specific time, date, and household. In terms of English towns this isn’t just flipping remarkable – it’s unheard of! Anyway, let’s get on with it…
Bournemouth was in the hundred of Holdenhurst, back before it technically existed. The area was repeatedly noted throughout historical records – but always in passing comment as to how beautiful it was, and yet how barren. Even in the 12th century when it is first mentioned as ‘Bourne’ it was described as an empty heathland. Basically, it belonged to someone, there was just nothing in it.
In 1932 Bronze Age burial sites were uncovered in the surrounding areas of the town. So at some point people lived there long enough to give it a name. We were curious about the misty past of Bournemouth so we checked for entries in the Domesday Survey of 1086. There are 338 entries under Dorset but nothing for Bournemouth. We can only assume that people lived there, died, and nobody else moved in until the 18th century.
But what happened in the 18th century? We hear you… This is when the town was ‘officially’ established. According to the fountain of information that is Local Histories, Bournemouth was officially begun in 1810. A man who went by the name of Tregonwell took his wife to the beaches in the area. We presume this is because sea bathing had just become popular. Much like in the TV show ‘Sandition’, around the Victorian era and just before, the city dwellers believed that salt water had beneficial effects on the body. At that point the land belonged to the Tapps-Gervis family.
Anyway… This dude and his wife went there to spend time on the beaches, and she fell in love with it. She asked her husband to build her a house there and he, the poor fool, did as he was told. 8 and a half acres later he had built his country dwelling (he must have been rich, most people back then struggled to afford one house, never mind two) and his misses was happy with the results.
He didn’t just build his own home, either. Apparently, he built cottages to contain his staff, too. In those times a good householder would make provisions for everyone that worked for him. The houses weren’t lonely for long. He soon bought more of Bournemouth… why? To build a pub, of course.
It took another 17 years for people to pick up that baton and move into the area. The house became known as Exeter House and was later sold to the Marchioness of Exeter. By the end of the century, however, Queen Vic was on the throne. The streets filled up with holiday homes. The rich flocked to the seaside…Bournemouth became incredibly popular among the ruling classes.
In 1838 the Bath Hotel was opened. The son of the Tapps-Gervis who originally owned the land went on to build a seaside resort in the town. Villas were added in 1840 and a small post office was run from the pub. By 1840 the resort was a small village, ready and waiting for all those summer visitors.
Fun Facts About Bournemouth!
We interrupt this historical review to bring you some fun (or at least interesting) facts about Bournemouth. That’s right! We dug up the best facts about Bournemouth to give it the Five Minutes Spare flare. Some of the best things we know about Bournemouth include:
- Bournemouth sits on the Jurassic Coast – a great place for fossil hunting! Keep an eye out for ammonites on those beaches!
- It is thought that the beaches were used as secret meeting areas for smuggling back before Lewis Tregonwell founded the town. Unfortunately, since it was a secret, we couldn’t find any cold, hard facts of this. We did find a nice news report in the Bournemouth Echo. They cite the area between Middle and Alum Chine as being the perfect secluded area for clandestine meetings… awesome. If you have a metal detector this might be a good place to have a look…
- Bournemouth was featured in Dr Granville’s very famous, pre-Victorian-era book about the Spa Towns of England. After this the population began to soar. It is definitely an oddity to find a town propelled by tourism, rather than industry, in England.
- One of the suspects in the Jack the Ripper case was a cricketer for Bournemouth[i]. Oo err.
- The Jurassic Coast is actually a UNESCO world heritage sight because of how beautiful, interesting, and idyllic it is. We recommend everyone visit this area of the country for at least one holiday.
So you see; Bournemouth is actually really interesting. Even if the history of the place doesn’t stretch back to Neolithic times, the town is still an exciting place. Best of all, it is filled with tourists every summer, which sees local businesses thrive. As a holiday destination it has always been successful… but that doesn’t mean that the Industrial Revolution didn’t touch the town.
The 1840’s Onwards
The ten years between 1850 and 1860 saw the population of the town nearly double. In 1851 it was around 600, by 1865 it was over the 1,700 mark. It just goes to show how big an influence the Queen’s habits had on the country in those times.
1856 saw the first Act passed to give rights to the town. It needed street cleaners, pavements and gas lamps. It also received its own police force, which is nice. By ’64 gas street lighting was everywhere, and fresh water was being piped to homes. A pier was built in 1880 around the same time as a mayor was appointed to make sure the seaside resort ran smoothly.
1870 brought the railway line, which brought both people and business. There was fresh demand for seaside access as the trains brought even the poorest families to the coast. If you think about it; the train lines and the canals opened up the whole country for rich and poor alike. Before they arrived, there was no way for a poor person to get out of the city – never mind for a single day. It was unheard of. Horse and carriage would take you but nobody except the very rich would have had access to wagons or cars.
The introduction of the trainline would have pushed Bournemouth from village to large town almost overnight. So much so that the 1,700 population of the 1860’s turned to 37,000 by the 1890’s. Like every other industrial town it grew exponentially over the course of the Industrial Revolution… but we will get to that. It’s time to look at some famous faces from Bournemouth… we are pretty sure you will know a few.
Famous People from Bournemouth
So who are these famous people from Bournemouth? Are there any? As usual, we found out on your behalf and, as usual, you are likely to be pleasantly surprised. Our Five Minutes Spare favourite famous faces from Bournemouth include:
- Charles Grey – one of the famous James Bond Villains was played by this Bournemouth Born actor. He played Blofield in Diamonds are Forever.
- Professional Golfer Gary Emerson is Bournemouth born… we sonder if he learned to play in the local Meyrick Park Golf Course?
- Millie Bobby Brown… you won’t believe it, but the girl who plays 11 in ‘Stranger Things’ comes from Bournemouth!
- Ben Hardy (who plays Peter Beale in EastEnders) comes from Bournemouth.
- The comedian Jim Sweeney is from Bournemouth, proving that they even have the funny gene[ii].
Is there anything the people of Bournemouth can’t turn their hand to? Answers on a postcard featuring sunny Bournemouth Beach please! Incidentally, somewhere along the course of exploring Bournemouth we learned that they get 7.7 hours of sunshine a day. That’s pretty good for a country where some places don’t even get a single hour…
Bournemouth in the Industrial Age
In a really weird twist, the Prince of Wales came to Bournemouth in 1877 and ordered the building of a house. This house wasn’t for himself, but was for the profoundly beautiful actress and performer: Lillie Langtry. She was to the 19th century what Beyoncé was to the 00’s. Everyone gossiped about her relationships – particularly with the Prince, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and later with Prince Louis of Battenberg. She lived in Bournemouth for a while, in a custom-built home… what an inspiration.
Hotels, the winter gardens and even pleasure gardens were opened here over the next few years. As well as making seaside towns fashionable, the Victorians also loved to produce a good park. They would draft in expensive architects to build lovely gardens. They finally worked out that being outdoors was good for you. After hundreds of years of nobles hiding indoors from the sunlight, we can only admire their bravery.
Bournemouth Gets a Theatre
A theatre was added in 1882 – probably overseen by Lillie at some point – followed by St. Clément’s Church which was erected in 1873 and St Catharine’s joined it ten years later. By this point, the town had grown so big that it completed absorbed both Boscombe and Springbourne. A few years later Westbourne joined the party. These village names are still retained in streets and sectors of the town to this day.
A children’s home for orphans emerged in the 1890’s and was shortly followed by the total domination of the town of Pokesdown. Several cemeteries were added in the end of the 19th century, presumably in response to Cholera outbreaks that riddled the whole country. Since Bournemouth was a new town it would have escaped the Bubonic plague outbreaks of the 14th and 17th centuries. Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of the town in the 19th century would not have been pain free.
Before the turn of the century there would have been sewerage pipes laid down at the insistence of local government. It was the roll out of sewer lines across the UK that ended the smallpox/typhoid/cholera epidemics. You get the idea. Still, it would take until the 1920’s before council housing was added. Trams and electric lighting arrived in the beginning of the 20th century… just before the World War called all the young men away from home.
Bournemouth During the Wars
In 2015, Bournemouth held a reverent celebration of the centenary of the First World War. The people took to the streets to commemorate the men who so bravely gave up their lives to go and fight.
The town itself escaped the majority of the bombings by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War. Unfortunately, the seafront was extensively damaged by defensive efforts. Bournemouth was quickly nominated as a good place to send the displaced children who needed to be evacuated from the bigger cities. There is a sweet account of one local who remembers playing in the frozen fields and having snowball fights when they couldn’t get to school.
They recall that the local children were nice to them, but that they called them ‘Vakies’ because they were outsiders and the children were used to ‘Vakies’ coming and invading their town every summer. There is nothing so innocent as the mind of a child. The government and council sites have some really interesting information on both of the World Wars in Bournemouth here, if you are curious.
Bournemouth Attractions
Now that we know what the history of the town is, who all the famous faces from Bournemouth are, and what the fun facts could be; let’s talk attractions. Exactly what is it about this vacation spot that keeps people returning here, year after year? Let’s go under the Five Minutes Spare microscope to find out.
Galleries and Museums
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery is a must-see Bournemouth sight for art lovers. This gallery is situated inside a stunning Art-Nouveau style villa. On the outside it is gorgeous, on the inside the art is there to dazzle you. As well as a museum-come-art-gallery, you have the Bournemouth Aviation Museum in town. This one is renowned for keeping the kids happy for an afternoon.
A final, but exhilarating, choice in museums is the Bournemouth Natural Science Society. The BNSS have been welcoming explorers since 1921, in their own words. It tells you all about land, history, and biological discoveries to a certain extent. Educational as well as fun.
Historic sights and Landmarks
We recommend that you take a trip to the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre to make sure you see a show. The crew are a lovely bunch, or so we are led to believe. One of the best known landmarks around town is the Bournemouth Big Wheel… you shouldn’t even need directions for that one, but it’s on the sea front.
St Peter’s Church is still standing from a few hundred years ago. The Science Zone is a final offering for historic sights. OK, so it’s not a manor house – but it’s still fun!
Nature and Outdoors
The biggest attraction in Bournemouth is the Beach, everyone knows it and there’s no denying it. Second to that is the Hengistbury Beach outside of town, which is a little quieter. If you can’t pronounce that one, don’t worry. Just go to Alum Chine Beach, instead. No? What about Southbourne? We’ll stop there. There’s a good guide to them all, here.
The Lower Gardens are situated only a few minutes away from the main retail centre in town. They are the self-same gardens established by the Victorians when they were throwing parks around like spare change. Go and visit when you get sick of beaches, they’re stunning. Alternatively, stroll along one of the many, many piers in the area. They ae filled with pretty cafes, nice walks, and picturesque sea views without the sand getting everywhere. If you are looking for Instagram worthy holiday pictures, this is where you will find them.
Sports, Parks, and Recreation
The Oceanarium is one of the best things to do in Bournemouth with kids. It’s an aquarium filled with animals you can feed and learn about. They have penguins, turtles, crocodiles – and loads more creatures. You even get to join in with the feedings if you are there at the right time of day. You can spot Nemo too… they keep Clownfish!
AFC Bournemouth, the local football club, is currently in the Premier league. These guys are famous throughout the UK as a top-notch-team. You can visit their stadium if you are in town and either catch a game or enjoy a guided tour… the choice is yours!
Thirdly, if you are looking at visiting Bournemouth for a music festival, gig, or other event, there is a high chance it will be held in the Bournemouth International Centre. It’s always worth checking out while you are in town, at any rate.
Other Notable Attractions
There are so many attractions in sunny seaside Bournemouth that we couldn’t fit them all in! The southern coast is filled with sights. So if you are in town longer than the obligatory 5 minutes, try to check out some of these other attractions:
- Find the best shopping in town at the Sovereign Centre for a big budget, or the Castlepoint Shopping Park for a smaller one.
- The Boscombe Chine Gardens present another option for garden wandering, do enjoy yourself and take an anti-histamine if you need one.
- Take a tour of the Poole hill Brewery… adults only for this one!
Where to Eat, Drink, and Party in Bournemouth?
Bournemouth has a range of options, all related to what you want to eat. For a good, healthy family meal check out the Twelve Eatery. The food is really colourful and fresh. The Westbourne Grill House is brilliant for steak and the Coconut Tree is some lovely fine dining in a Sri Lankan style setting.
For cocktails mixed with great food, Koh Thai Tapas is awesome. Chaplin’s and the Cellar Bar reputedly have a great venue with a good pint. If you want a good late night and room to dance, Sixty Million Postcards is a sound place to start. Be safe out there and feel free to party the night away.
How to Get There?
Now you know everything there is to know about beautiful Bournemouth – except how you are going to get there. Don’t worry. We got you…
By Road
Take the M3 out of London and follow it south west out of London. Alternatively, driving south east of Bristol will get you there.
By Rail
Bournemouth Station can be reached from both Bristol and London.
By Air
Bournemouth has its own Airport, probably because it is a holiday destination in its own right.
By Sea
Bournemouth is a port town and you can get there if you have a boat.
Got Five Minutes?
If you had fun reading through this little entry, you can find a full range of travel tips and tricks over at Five Minutes Spare. We have local guides from just about every town in the UK – or at least from somewhere nearby. We can take you through all the best bits and save you a whole bunch of time on your next trip. Go see for yourself. Before you know it you will have joined the forum and will be arguing about an attraction in a country you have never been to.
What’s not to love?
[i] https://usethatleave.com/10-interesting-facts-about-bournemouth-you-probably-didnt-know/
[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:People_from_Bournemouth
