Dorset Town Criers

Edwin Stokes. Poole Town Crier, Early 1900s. This photograph originally appeared in the Daily Echo on September 19th 2005 having been sent in by his granddaughter Mrs M. Murray.

Members will note from their annual calendar that the talk scheduled for Tuesday 16th September is on the subject of Dorset Town Criers. This will be given by our own Poole Town Crier, David Squire, who is also a member of the Society.

During the evening it is hoped to have a display of Poole memorabilia which members of the Society may possess. It is not intended to be a buying and selling evening, but rather an opportunity for all to see the range of historical artefacts that are associated with the Town and County Borough of Poole.

All members are invited to bring along any items for display. This may include pottery, banknotes, coins, trader’s tokens, photographs, stamps etc. With your help we look forward to having an interesting display of items.

Front page photo

Paddle Steamer “Emperor of India” leaving Poole Harbour circa 1930s.

A Night at Scaplen's Court

When it comes to choosing a venue for an overnight stay, Scaplen’s Court does not readily spring to mind, so I think I can claim to be one of the few who, in recent times, has actually had this experience.

It came about in November 2001, when a medieval re-enactment group arrived to spend a few days at the historic old building to demonstrate, during the day, various crafts and describe life in those far off times to visitors which included several school parties.

I was then working at the museum and, as it was necessary to have a member of staff present at all times, including overnight, a roster was drawn up to allocate the duties.

My turn came on the night of Friday,23rd. My wife, who was on the museum educational staff, joined me and, after a meal, we enjoyed a very pleasant and interesting evening in the company of the medieval team who remained in character practically throughout.

It was quite late when we eventually dispersed and started making our way to our sleeping quarters in various parts of the building - solar room, school room, etc.

My wife and I made up our modern inflatable beds on the floor in the scullery and settled down for a not particularly restful night. It was quite chilly and the bright moonlight streaming in the windows from across the courtyard made it difficult to get to sleep. Despite the atmospheric surroundings, however, nothing untoward occurred - no moving shadows or unaccountable sounds to disturb our fitful slumber, although my wife wasn’t too happy about having to venture outside to go to the ladies’ room in the early hours.

I quite often worked late at Scaplen’s Court, when there were evening functions, and checking through the building and locking up after the guests had left was, I must admit, quite eerie at times, aspecially late at night when everything was so quiet and still, but, only on one occasion did I experience anything strange. It happened a year or so after the medieval week when, after an evening event, at about 11 o’clock, I had, as usual, checked through the rooms, turned off all the lights and was about to set the off all the lights and was about to set the alarm when I heard what sounded like footsteps, someone walking across the hall above! That was the only time I can recall the hairs on the back of my neck literally standing on end, and I made a report to that effect in the museum diary the next morning.

Derek Chapman

Short Articles

Scaplen’s Court Open Day

This was held successfully on Saturday 24th May and was attended by a stalwart number of members and a large number of the general public. During the short ceremony in the morning, the Mayor of Poole, Cllr. Joyce Lavender, was given Honorary membership of the Society for the year of her office.

Hopefully this event helped to publicise the Society and maybe resulted in the recruitment of new members.

Friends of Upton Country Park

Preparations are well under way for the award of a new Green Flag for 2008.

The existing litter bins are being replaced with much larger Double recycling Units.

The chandelier in the entrance hall has successfully completed its four yearly load test and thorough cleaning.

The proposed development of the Walled Garden is on hold pending the outcome of a Heritage Lottery Bid, the result of which will not be known before June 2008.

Wessex Newfoundland Society

Tickets, priced £18.50 per person, now are available for the Annual Dinner to be held at the Lodge of Amity on Saturday 21st June at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. There will be a raffle for which prizes are requested. All members of the Society of Poole men are group members and so are most welcome to attend this event.

Cheques payable to “Wessex Newfoundland Society” should be sent to either Dr. Alan Perry at Beech Cottage, Roman Heights, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3HQ, or Brian Galpin at 72 Tatnam Road, Poole BH15 2DS.

Poole Maritime Trust

A coach trip has been planned to visit the “Great Britain” berthed in Bristol on Friday 13th June. The cost is £30.00 and Maritime Trust Members are asked to be at Whitecliffe Car park by 8.00am.

Annual Dinner

It is now confirmed that this year’s Annual Dinner will be held at Poole Yacht Club on Saturday 1st November. Full details will appear in the August Newsletter, but meanwhile members are advised that the Yacht Club is equipped with a Stannah Lift for those members who may require its use.

New Members

We pleased to welcome new members Colin Lambert, Douglas Wheeler, Chris Farrier and Professor John Newton to the Society and trust that they will enjoy their membership.

Disclaimer

The Society wishes to apologise to its members for the unauthorised distribution of political flyers at the H.P. Smith Memorial Lecture. This was done without the knowledge of the Executive Committee. It is the intention that the Society continues to be a non-political organisation.

Poole ‘Bus Station

No doubt members will have read in the local newspapers of the Society’s efforts to try and get the Poole ‘bus station to be much cleaner and attractive to visitors. It is, after all, often the first impression any visitors have of the town. After discussions with the ‘bus company , the landlords and the Council, some work has begun. There is now regular steam cleaning taking place early on Sunday mornings which is beginning to smarten things up.

No real long time solution can be achieved until the re-development of this part of the town, but in the meantime, the society feels that the present state of the bus’ station is unacceptable.

Parade

Members will note from the Diary that this year’s Civic Parade and Service will be held at St.James’ Church` on Sunday 8th June. Those parading are asked to assemble at the Blue Boar at 10.00am.

Roses for St. George’s Day

As is customary, the Society President, together with the Secretary presented the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Jeff Allen and his wife with red roses in the Mayor’s Parlour, to celebrate St. George’s Day.

Mayor’s Charities

The new Mayor of Poole, Cllr Joyce Lavender, is holding a Reception and Buffet aboard the “S.V. Tenacious” at Poole Quay on Saturday 14th June at 7.00pm. Tickets, priced £25.00, are available from the Mayor and Sheriff’s Office, telephone 01202 633200. All proceeds are in aid of the Mayor of Poole's Charities.

Council and Harbour Commissioners Join Forces to Improve Bridge Approach

Work began on Monday 19 May to improve the road alignment from both directions onto Poole Bridge in a joint project between Borough of Poole and Poole Harbour Commissioners.

The work will improve forward visibility for drivers of large vehicles, helping to overcome congestion problems, which occur when two vehicles are unable to pass each other on the bridge. There will be little impact on drivers and the bridge will still be in full use with no additional congestion expected.

The improvements include; moving kerbs back, reducing the size of traffic islands and general improvements to the access to and from the port, particularly for lorry drivers. Port symbols will be painted on the road surface to lead ferry users to the port and additional signage will be implemented as part of the project.

Grain Silo

Following the photograph in the April Newsletter of the demolition of the grain silo on the Quay, Society member Gordon Clapp has sent the following.

The grain silo and drying plant on Poole Quay, which, after its use, was left to become an eyesore, was originally built for Christopher Hill Ltd. In 1958/59. During its day, this building stood impressive amongst the warehouses and iron foundry along the Quay. Home grown grain together with grain shipped to the Quay from abroad was stored in this silo, where, if necessary, it was dried before use.

The building, as required by Christopher Hill, was drawn up by their head draughtsman Charlie Ives, assisted by Brian Hardy and myself. It was built by the firm of Peter Lind & Co. and was one of the first monolithic buildings to be built in Poole. It was constructed by a continuous pour of concrete. Before any building or driving of the piles began, the whole section of the old town wall at the rear was carefully photographed so any stones dislodges could be later replaced in exactly their correct position.
Christopher Hill Ltd. was one of the largest animal and poultry food manufacturing companies in the south of England, and having bought out, or amalgamated with, all other like firms in Poole, had warehouses, stores and mills all along the Quay and West Quay Road. The main offices were in the brick building on the Quay and the drawing office, fitter’s and electrician's shops were in the West Quay Road store opposite Norton Lane. There was also a garage and store in Nile Row, opposite the position of the old railway station. This store was also known as Norton’s Store.

Before milling and using any grain, water content had to be at the right level. Testing for this was carried out, firstly in the laboratories in the West Quay Road premises and then in the new laboratory constructed in the middle of Strand Street and Castle Street (Fish Street) in the late 1950s.

Damp grain was always a problem and difficult to store in a concrete walled silo, as the grain had a tendency to stick to the walls, and required much effort to release it. This was
usually achieved by men using long handled shovels.

As well as in Poole, Christopher Hill had stores and depots in Alton, Hampshire, and Faringdon and Hungerford in Berkshire together with an experimental farm at Donhead in Wiltshire, where food produced by the firm was tested to confirm satisfactory results.

During the late 1950s, Christopher Hill also introduced bulk animal feed to farmers. A blower bulk feed lorry was designed on a MK 15 chassis for the delivery and metal storage hoppers were designed for storage in the farms. This allowed the farmer to have feed delivered in bulk without the need for numerous sacks.

During this period the orange coloured Christopher Hill lorries could be seen all over the lower part of Poole and West Quay Road and the Quay were busy working areas. All just a memory now.

Gordon Clapp

Flying Boats in Poole Harbour

In 1934, the government announcement that all mail for the British Empire would be without surcharge, enabling a half ounce letter to be flown for no more than the familiar one and a half pence postage stamp, seen on internal mail. This caused Imperial Airways to order twenty eight radically new flying boats from Short Brothers of Rochester for a record sum of one and three quarter million pounds. They expected to carry mail, freight and 24 passengers in comfort for some 700 miles about the British Empire.

The amalgamation of Imperial Airways and British Airlines and the need to move from Southampton, an obvious target for Luftwaffe bombers, resulted in Poole Harbour becoming the birthplace of the new British Overseas Airways Corporation. Operations commenced on January 1st 1940. Poole Harbour Yacht Club premises were requisitioned to provide the marine terminal to service the water runways laid across the harbour. Airways House opened in Poole High Street (today’s Waterfront Museum) . Poole Pottery premises provided passenger reception and customs, while the quayside supported cargo and marine departments, with young local men and women in their twenties manning the passenger launches. The Harbour Heights Hotel provided the overnight accommodation for passengers taking the early morning flights, who were then taken to the blue carpeted waiting lounge at Salterns Hotel.

Royal Naval Air Station Sandbanks opened for seaplane training in June utilising the boatshed of Sandbanks Yacht Company and with officers billeted within the Royal Motor Yacht Club.

Two years later Sunderland flying boats of No 461 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force started operations from RAF Hamworthy, with Lake estate bungalows requisitioned as offices and workshops and three W.A.A.F. hostels in Lower Parkstone. In April 1943 the Sunderlands redeployed to Pembroke Dock and were replaced by No 210 Squadron RAF with American built long range Catalinas. Throughout the War the unarmed BOAC flying boats kept open the “Horseshoe Route through Africa to India, but post war land planes were flying faster and did not require costly launches to clear runways and deliver passengers.

The last scheduled flight of a surviving Empire Class ended in December 1947. On 31st March 1948 B.O.A.C. moved its operations from Poole Harbour to Hythe in Hampshire. All commercial U.K. flying boat services ended in 1958.

In 1970 the converted former Sunderland “Southern Cross” made a nostalgic visit to Poole and many were reminded of eight wonderful years when B.O.A.C. maintained an unblemished passenger safety record flying from the Harbour. Thanks to Squadron Leader Alan Jones MBE and his staff, this lovely flying boat is maintained for public inspection within the Solent Sky Aviation Museum (http://www.spitfireonline.co.uk/) at Southampton, but neither Poole Quay, where young sea women brightened the proceedings, Salterns Marina, the centre for flying boat operations, nor the harbour Heights Hotel where all B.O.A.C. crews assembled, have any form of acknowledgement to those days.

Poole Flying Boat Celebration

As has been reported above, during the 1940s, Poole Harbour became the hub of both military and civil flying boat operations, seaplane training and air sea rescue in central southern England. Sadly, unlike the long vanished R.A.F. stations of the New Forest there is, as yet, no permanent reminder or memorial to the men, women and machines that saw action from our local waters. However, this omission is set to be redressed by the newly formed P.F.B.C. (Poole Flying Boat Celebration).

The PFBC is a group of local residents and supporters who are planning a Harbour Trail of stone plinths/monuments placed at points around Poole Harbourside, where many of the historical flying boat elements, covering the period from 1940 to 1948, can be identified. The PFBC is a registered charity (no. 1123274) and further information can be found at www.pooleflyingboats.com

If you have recollections of this era to share or would like in some way to help this project the PFBC can be contacted through the ‘Contacts’ page of the above website.

Further reading can be found in “Wings Over Dorset” by Leslie Dawson.