Poole

Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset on the south coast of England. The town is 20 miles (32 km) east of Dorchester and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council. The town had a population of 138,288 according to the 2001 census, making it the second largest settlement in Dorset. Human settlement in the area dates back to before the Iron Age. The earliest recorded use of the town’s name was in the 13th century when the town became an important port, prospering with the introduction of the wool trade. In later centuries the town had important trade links with North America and at its peak in the 18th century it was one of the busiest ports in Britain. During the Second World War the town was one of the departing points for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasion. Today, the town is a centre of sailing and yachting, and a popular tourist resort, attracting visitors with its history, museums, arts centre, harbour and its Blue Flag awarded beaches. Poole is home to the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker. The Royal Marines also have a base in the harbour. Poole's main railway station is a short walk from the town centre, cross channel ferries regularly depart from Poole Harbour and the nearest airport is 10 miles away. The main road through the town is the A35, linking Poole to the A3049 and the port. Despite their names, Poole is home to Bournemouth University, The Arts Institute at Bournemouth and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Poole has a successful speedway team, the Poole Pirates, who race at Poole Stadium.