Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Ferndown in Five Minutes!

Ferndown in Five Minutes!
no comments

Ferndown in Brief

Ferndown is a town and civil parish in Dorset in the southwest of England. It lies immediately 6 miles (10 km) north of Bournemouth. Up until 1972, Ferndown parish was known as Hampreston, taking its name from one of the town’s neighbouring villages. At the 2011 national census, the population of the Ferndown was recorded as 16,633. That of the whole parish was 26,559, which made it the fifth largest town in Dorset.

A Fleeting History

Early Days

The Ferndown area was first settled during the Iron Age. The Dudsbury hillfort of the period lies close to the southern edge of West Parley, around 3 miles from Ferndown. A collection of small pottery artefacts were found around Ferndown in the 1940s. This suggests the village area may well have been inhabited as early as the 1st century AD.

The name Ferndown is thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘fiergen’, meaning wooded hill. It was the Anglo-Saxons who were thought to have built the first substantial building in the area. It was a church at the site of the current All Saints Church at West Parsley. The present-day 12th-century church was largely built from the recovered stone of the Saxon church.

The 19th Century

In 1802, a small order of Cistercian Trappist nuns founded Stapehill Abbey, which was located about a mile or so west of Ferndown. Further monastic buildings were added to the site in the 1840s. These including twin chapels, which were designed by renowned Victorian architect Charles Hansom.

Ferndown pretty much remained a small and fairly insignificant village down the centuries. The village was not firmly put on the map until the mid-19th century. In 1859, Scots businessman David Stewart started a plant nursery at Ferndown. It was part of a business he ran with his brother William, which originally operated only out of Dundee. The much milder Dorset climate meant that the company was able to greatly expand its product range. Within a short time, the company was trading widely throughout Britain, Europe, and the USA.

One of David’s four sons, Martin Stewart took the business into the 20th century. The company, D. Stewart & Son, continued to expand and diversify, venturing into major landscaping works, building golf courses, significant tree planting projects, etc. They also established numerous branch nurseries throughout the South of England. The company remained at its Ferndown site until the 1950s. The company then vacated Ferndown in favour of a new home at Broomhill some 4 miles away.

Ferndown in the Modern Era

Up until the end of WW2, Ferndown remained sparsely populated. However, in 1947, tourists began day-tripping to Ferndown for the first time with the opening of the town’s zoo. It soon became a major tourist attraction, especially for those holidaying in nearby Bournemouth. The zoo closed in 1954 when the local rural council decided not to renew planning permission.

In the 1950s and 1960s, like many areas in post-war Britain, Ferndown experienced large scale house building. Continued residential development has fuelled the parishes huge population growth. At the beginning of the 20th century, Ferndown’s parish population would have been around 2,000, but today it’s estimated at around 28,000.

In 1990, Stapehill Enterprises acquired Stapleton Abbey, converting it into a popular Victorian rural life museum and craft centre. The centre remained open until 2008. Following its closure, it was finally sold on in 2011 to a residential property developer. Planning permission for the restoration and redevelopment was granted in 2014, with the backing of English Heritage.

One of the big events in the Ferndown calendar is the Fete-on-the Field. The two-day event generally takes place around the third weekend in June. Expect all the usual stalls, attractions, shows, of a typical rural show. There’s also a 5 km and a 10 km charity fun-run.

The Ferndown Industrial Estate, the East Dorset Trade, and neighbouring Uddens Trading Estate is the home to the majority of the town’s business sector. At more than 61 hectares, it forms the largest industrial area in East Dorset. The area houses a diverse range of industries, that includes business services, manufacturing, retail, and more. Ferndown essentially being a new town, does not attract the same level of tourism as many of its neighbours.

Frndown is twinned with Segré in the Maine-et-Loire département of France.

Getting There!

London connects to Ferndown via the M3, M27, and A31. The town lies immediately adjacent to the A31 on the Ringwood to Winborne section. From the north, take the M4 and A34, linking with the A31 at Winchester. To the west, the A31 links to the A35, then onwards to East Dorset and Devon.

The nearest railway station to Ferndown is Branksome, around 7 miles (11 km) away. Branksome lies on the South West Main Line between Bournemouth and Parkstone, about 110 miles from London’s Waterloo.

Ferndown is also only 4 miles (6 km) from Bournemouth (BOH) International Airport at Hurn.

What an Uproar!

In 1982, was one-hit wonders Tight Fit, had a massive UK No. 1 hit with their version of the popular song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. However, that certainly wasn’t always the case in Ferndown. Between 1947 and 1954, Ferndown’s popular zoo was located right in the middle of town. The zoo had a celebrity lion named Ajax, but he wasn’t appreciated by all. His deafening nightly roar disturbed some parishioners so much that they petitioned the council to do something about it.

Things to do around Ferndown

Bird Lovers, Walkers & Swingers

Holt Heath National Nature Reserve, at 1000-acres,  is one of the largest areas of lowland heath that still remains in Dorset. It also incorporates two ancient woodlands, making it a haven for walkers and bird spotters. It’s located about 3 miles to the north of Ferndown.

The Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is sited just to the northeast of Ferndown. Activities and attractions in the park, include a Go Ape activity centre, miles and miles of cycling and walking trails, and a narrow-gauge steam train.

More Swingers

Ferndown Golf Club is home to an 18 hole course, which is recognised as one of Dorset’s premier golfing venues. If you’re a beginner, no worries, you can book a few lessons with one of the club’s professional players.

The Dudsbury Golf Club, Hotel & Spa, 2 miles south of Ferndown, sports a parkland course that is skirted by the River Stour. The course is set in more than 160 acres of the undulating Dorset countryside. The club obviously has more facilities on site than your average golf club.

Greenfingers?

A short stroll (1.5 miles) from Ferndown you’ll find the Trehane Nursery. It’s the site of the UK’s first blueberry plantation, which was established in 1957. The nursery sells a great range of blueberry plants. The nursery is open Mondays to Fridays, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.

The 4-acre Knoll Gardens and nursery centre is most renowned for its ornamental award-winning grasses, which have won numerous top prizes at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. The gardens are located at Hampreston, a couple of miles outside Ferndown. The gardens are open from 10 am – 5 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. There’s free parking and self-service refreshments at the site. However, there are other eateries and a pub, nearby.

Eating & Shopping

Ferndown’s shops, restaurants, and cafes are mostly centred around the Victoria Road and Ringwood Road areas. As well as a large selection of eateries, there’s also a large garden centre and hobby craft store.

Entertainment

The Barrington Centre on Penny’s Walk is Ferndown’s main leisure and community area. As well as hosting various clubs and associations, the centre has live concerts, comedy, and rock gigs as well as films and bingo in its 250 seater theatre. If you want to stretch your legs after indulging King George’s Recreation Ground and the Millennium Park are a short walk from the centre.

Where to Stay?

Ferndown and the surrounding area offer a good mix of rural-style accommodation. You’ll find excellent bed & breakfasts, family-orientated holiday parks, and luxury spa hotels, amongst the mix.  Towards the top end of the accommodation market, venues are likely to have an outdoor swimming pool and other leisure facilities.

Thinking of moving to Ferndown?

Are you thinking of moving to Ferndown anytime in the near future? Here’s a brief rundown of the current property prices in the town:

Properties in Ferndown have sold for an overall average price of £422,200 in the last year (July 2021). The majority of properties sold in Ferndown during the last year were detached properties, which sold for an average price of £492,400. Flats sold for an average of £227,400, while semi-detached properties fetched around £325,000. Overall, property prices in Ferndown were 12% up on the previous year.

Looking for a Staycation?

Are you thinking of holidaying in the UK anytime in the near future? If so, why not check out some of our other travel guides for some staycation ideas. I think you’ll be surprised at the variety of great things to do in the UK’s fairly green and mostly pleasant land.

 

Header Image Credit: Allen Paul Photography/Shutterstock.com

Skip to toolbar