Bournemouth

Sister cities

• Georgsmarienhütte
• Lucerne
• Koekelberg
• Netanya
• Târgu Mureș

History

There were some prehistoric settlements in the area, notably along the River Stour, including Longham where a skull thought to be 5,500 years old was found in 1932. Bronze Age burials near Moordown, and the discovery of Iron Age pottery on the East Cliff in 1969, suggest there may have been settlements there during that period. Hengistbury Head, added to the borough in 1932, was the site of a much older Palaeolithic encampment. In the 12th century, the region around the mouth of the River Bourne was part of the Hundred of Holdenhurst. The hundred later became the Liberty of Westover when it was extended to include the settlements of North Ashley, Muscliff, Muccleshell, Throop, Iford, Pokesdown, Tuckton and Wick, and incorporated into the Manor of Christchurch. Although the Dorset and Hampshire region surrounding it had been the site of human settlement for thousands of years, Westover was largely a remote and barren heathland before 1800. In 1574, the Earl of Southampton said that the area was "Devoid of all habitation". As late as 1795, the Duke of Rutland recorded that "... on this barren and uncultivated heath there was not a human to direct us". During the latter half of the 16th century James Blount, 6th Baron Mountjoy, began mining for alum in the area, and at one time part of the heath was used for hunting, although by the late 18th century little evidence of either event remained. No-one lived at the mouth of the Bourne river and the only regular visitors to the area before the 19th century were a few fishermen, turf cutters and gangs of smugglers. Prior to the Christchurch Inclosures Act 1802 (42 Geo. 3. c. 43 ), more than 70% of the Westover area was common land. The act, together with the Inclosure Commissioners' Award of 1805, transferred into the…

Geography

Bournemouth is about southwest of London. The town borders the neighbouring towns of Poole and Christchurch to the west and east respectively. Poole Bay lies to the south. The River Stour forms a natural boundary to the north and east, terminating at Christchurch Harbour. The River Bourne rises in Poole and flows through the middle of Bournemouth town centre, into the English Channel. The towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch form the South East Dorset conurbation with a combined population of over 400,000. Bournemouth is both a retail and commercial centre. Areas within Bournemouth include: Boscombe, Kinson, Southbourne, Springbourne, Throop, Westbourne, Winton and Pokesdown. The area's geology has little variety, comprising almost entirely of Eocene clays which, prior to urbanisation, supported a heathland environment. Patches of the original heath still remain, notably Turbary Common, a site, much of which is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This heathland habitat is home to all six species of native reptile, the Dartford warbler and some important flora such as sundew and bog asphodel. Small populations of Exmoor pony and Shetland cattle help to maintain the area. Bournemouth is directly north of Old Harry Rocks which mark the easternmost end of the Jurassic Coast, of coastline designated a World Heritage Site in 2001. Bournemouth's coastline stretches from Sandbanks to Christchurch Harbour and is mainly sandy beaches backed by gravel and sandy clay cliffs. These cliffs are cut by a number of chines, which provide natural access to the shore. At the easternmost point lies Hengistbury Head, a narrow peninsula that forms the southern shore of Christchurch Harbour. It is a local nature reserve and the site of a Bronze Age settlement. Like…

Most-observed species

• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  16,625
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  14,666
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,621
• Black-headed Gull

  Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  13,267
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,222
• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  13,209
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,264
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,943

Most recent

• M 3.4 — 2019-12-05
  1 km ESE of Taunton, United Kingdom
• M 3 — 2019-05-19
  7 km ESE of Swanage, United Kingdom
• M 2.9 — 2015-01-27
  1 km ENE of Winchester, United Kingdom
• M 2.5 — 2006-08-14
  1 km E of North Petherton, United Kingdom
• M 2.6 — 2006-01-12
  2 km SE of Kingsclere, United Kingdom
• M 3.7 — 2004-01-29
  2 km E of North Petherton, United Kingdom