A TIMELINE OF POOLE
By Tim Lambert
c. 1200 A new port is flourishing at Poole
1239 Poole is given a charter (a document granting the people certain rights)
1348 The Black Death reaches Poole
1377 The French burn part of Poole
1405 An army of Frenchmen and Spaniards attack Poole
1433 Poole is made a staple which is allowed to export wool
1453 The market town and port of Poole is allowed 2 annual fairs. Poole has a population of no more than 1,500
1524 A wooden platform is erected at Poole and cannons are mounted on it
1545 A fort is built on Brownsea Island
1568 Queen Elizabeth grants Poole a new charter
1574 A census shows Poole has a population of 1,373
1643 During the Civil War the Royalists attack Poole but they are defeated
1645 Plague strikes Poole
1700 Ships from Poole fish off Newfoundland. There is also a rope making industry in Poole.
1761 A new Town Hall is built. Poole is a prosperous and growing town.
1801 Poole has a population of 9,276
1813 The A new Customs House is built in Poole
1820 St James Church is built. The fishing trade off Newfoundland goes into steep decline.
1859 A private water company is formed to supply Poole with piped water
1887 The first public library opens in Poole
1890 Poole Park opens
1901 Electric trams begin running in Poole
1910 The first cinema opens in Poole
1932 Civic Offices are built in Poole
1935 The last trams run in Poole
1969 The Dolphin Centre opens. Poole General Hospital opens.
1974 The Dolphin Pool opens
1978 An Arts Centre opens (later renamed the Lighthouse)
1989 Waterfront Museum opens