The history of the town and county of Poole; collected and arranged from ancient records and other authentic documents, and deduced from the earliest period to the present time:

Preface

TOPOGRAPHY is, at the best, an unpromising and unthankful branch of literature. Neither in the pecuniary return which is customarily its lot, nor in the reputation awarded to its student, does it offer any inducement to undertake that labour and expend that time which it rigidly requires. Some other, perhaps better, motive must, therefore, be called into operation, — something like a love of the labour for its own sake, — something of a feeling of association and identification between the topographer and his subject, — something akin to what was felt by the poet, in his oft repeated but beautiful

lines,

Such motives and feelings do prevail. He who explores

the recorded annals of past ages, or ascends into the mists

of traditionary legend, finds, in his researches, reward

for the past and encouragement to proceed. War ton

well delineated his own conviction and that of many

others, when he asserted that

" Not rough nor barren are the winding ways Of hoar Antiquity, hut strewn with flowers."

11. PREFACE.

Such have been the motives prompting to the present publication. Feeling desirous to see established, in a more permanent and collected form than had before existed, the scattered memorials of the by-gone days of my native town ;— feeling also that every endeavour to elucidate the local notices of any district was something cast into the treasury of Topography — the useful handmaid of History, — and a fragment offered towards the completion of an eminently desirable series of local histories ranging over the kingdom ; — / have edited the volume now presented. It is the condensed product of collections made in the leisure hours of several years; and, should it appear that too long time has elapsed since the publication was first spoken of, let it be remembered that the hours devoted to it have been snatched from other avocations, and have been much encroached on by the privations of sickness.

It is true that Poole cannot boast much of high antiquity : it offers no memorials of the days when the Druid altars frowned upon the isle, and presents but scanty associations with the more refined era of Roman rule; but its annals, are, nevertheless, not altogether destitute of interest. The commercial and political importance which the town has attained for many years past, justifies some attention to its more ancient state. Gradually increasing in wealth, respectability, and population ; the seat of much internal trade and of extended foreign commerce, it surely became desirable to trace its gradual progress in prosperity. The wattled hut of the Saxon, the rude home of the Anglo-Norman fisher, have made room for the stable residences of wealthy merchants, and for the tall warehouses laden with the riches of their commerce ; the

PREFACE.

once swampy marsh, whose silence was only broken by the cry of the bittern and the heron as they flapped their heavy wing, affrighted by the plashing oar of the solitary fisherman, has become solidified by the mingled operations of nature and art, and now sends forth the confused buz of commercial industry ; whilst the adjacent waters, erst broken but rarely by the frail vessels of their frequenters, have since borne on their surface the enrichi?ig product of many a varied clime. It is a matter of some interest to trace the prog?*essive development of the effects thus produced by civilization an d the concurrence of favouring circumstances. And it is thought that the municipal memorials of Poole present matter of especial moment, in clearly indicating the course and progress of many of the important changes which, either by sudden violence or by gradual adaptation to the circumstances of society, were effected in the municipal institutions of the kingdom.

It is not presumed that this volume approaches to that form which should be presented by a complete work of the kind; but it is believed that those who feel any interest in the town of Poole, or in topography as a study, will here find much never before published, many facts now first brought to light.

The classification adopted will, I hope, render the work one of easy reference.

In presenting this book to the public, I have no apology to make, for I know not that any page contains a word likely to be offensive to any man. But to those kind friends by whose advice and assistance I have been furthered in the progress of the work, I have the gratification of desiring them to accept my sincere acknowledgments. My tha?iks are especially due to Dr. Salter, for the

IV. PREFACE.

valuable paper on the Botany of the district with which the volume is enriched.

It only remains to add that the difficulties of research have been much lessened by frequent reference to the pages of Hutchins, the venerable pioneer of Dorsetshire topography ; and that for the family history of the Long" espees, I am greatly indebted to the genealogical erudition of Mr. J. G, Nichols, developed in that pleasing and important volume, " Lacock Abbey J9

J. S.

Dorchester, October, 1838.

CONTENTS,

Localities of Poole, 1

THE MANOR.

Descent of the Manor of Canford and Poole, with historical and

biographical memoranda of its possessors 4

Edward de Sarisberie, his ancestors and successors 5

The Countess Ela, 8

William Longespee, I., Earl of Salisbury 9

William Longespee, II 15

William Longespee, III 24

Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln 25

Thomas Plantagenet, earl of Lancaster 28

Hugh de Spencer 31

John, earl of Warren and Surrey ib.

The Montacutes . , 32

William Montacute, earl of Salisbury 35

William, the second earl of this line 38

John, the third earl 41

Thomas, the fourth earl 43

Kichard, the fifth earl 46

John, duke of Bedford ib.

Cardinal Beaufort 47

John, duke of Somerset ib.

Edmund, earl of Morton 49

Henry, his son. ib.

George, duke of Clarence ib.

Edward Plantagenet, his son 50

Margaret, countess of Richmond 51

Henry Fitzroy, duke of Richmond and Surrey 52

Henry, marquis of Exeter,. ib.

Edward, duke of Somerset 53

Gertrude, marchioness of Exeter ib.

James, lord Mountjoy 55

John and Charles Brown -— 56

The earls of Huntingdon , ib.

The Webb family 57

Present possession of the Manor 58

Effect of the Charter of the 10th Eliz., in regard to the Manor 60

Litigated rights of common 61

The Inclosure Act, and its operation 65

The ancient and modern Manor houses ,-c 67

Extent of the Manor , 69

VI. CONTENTS.

GENERAL HISTORY.

The Antiquity of Poole, with notices of the British, Roman, and

Saxon periods 70

Discovery of Roman coins 72

Poole visited by the Danes 73

Extract from Domesday Book 76

Rise of Poole under the Norman kings 77

Recognized as a Port by Henry III 78

Charter of William Longespee granted ib.

Its date ascertained e 79

Writs issued to Poole for the supply of shipping, t. Henry III.,

Edw. I., Edw. II., Edw. III., with copies of several 80

Representatives summoned to the maritime councils of Edw. III. . 85

Plague of the fourteenth century 88

Notice of the career of Henry Paye, a native of Poole 90

Invasion of Poole by Spanish and French privateers in 1405 ...... 91

Prosperity of Poole under Henry VI. and Richard III 94

Attempted artifice to entrap the duke of Richmond 95

Act of 34 Henry VIII., granting a mill and a conduit at Tatnam. . 97 Beacon of Worbarrow anciently served by the inhabitants of

Precautions against invasion, 1558 99

Temporary declension of the prosperity of Poole ib.

Trade in beer 100

Population in 1573 103

Precautions against piracy and restrictions upon shipping 104

Disputes between the authorities of Poole, and the vice-admiral of

Dorset, with loss of life thereon 105

Measures to prevent the conveyance of youth abroad for education

in Popish seminaries 109

Note descriptive of the intent of such seminaries ib.

James I. demands loans, and subsequently a contribution, under pretence of protecting commerce, indicating the coming

contest between the crown and the parliament 112

The Ship Money question 114

Preparations for civil war 116

Poole takes part with the parliament from the first ib.

Is engaged in the negociation with sir A. Ashley , 117

The marquis of Hertford expelled 118

Seizure of suspected royalists , 119

Siege of Corfe-Castle . . . 120

Preparations for defence against the threatened attack of prince

Maurice ib.

Plot to betray the town to the royalists 121

General measures of defence, and miscellaneous proceedings of the

garrison 124

Action with sir Lewis Dives 127

Siege of Corfe-Castle ib.

Account of expenditure and receipt by the treasurer of the town . . 129

Poole discountenanced at the Restoration 131

Charles II. afterwards visits Poole 132

Fabricated pathetic story regarding " Cutler's Gallows," 134

Tradesmen's and Town Tokens 135

Poole favours Monmouth's rebellion, and rejoices at the revolution

Measure of defence against a threatened invasion by France 138

Heroic bravery of captains Jolliff and Thompson , . . . 139

CONTENTS. Vll,

general history, continued.

Extent of smuggling in the eighteenth century ; r and horrible murders,

in consequence of the seizure of smuggled goods at Poole . . 140 Patriotic conduct of the inhabitants during the war of the French

Revolution 144

Bravery of William Welstood 145

Rejoicings at the Peace of 1814 146

Poole made a free port 147

MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

Origin and growth of municipal establishments 149

Condition of the borough of Poole at the time of Longespee's charter 153

Copy of Longespee's charter, with translation 154

Observations thereon ...» 157

Abstract of the charter of William de Montacute ib.

Charter of confirmation of Thomas de Montacute 160

Abstract of the charter of 11 Henry VI 161

Disproval of' Spelman's doctrine regarding the essentials of a

borough 162

Abstracts of the charters of 31 Henry VI., 1 Edward IV., and

3 Henry VIII 163

Licence to purchase wood in the royal forests, 12 Henry VIII. 164

Charter of exempt admiralty jurisdiction, 18 Henry V III ib.

Quo-warranto, 3 & 4 Philip and Mary 165

Charter of 1 Elizabeth ib.

Miscellaneous municipal fragments ib.

Visitation of Clarencieux, king at arms, and exemplification of the

armorial bearings of the borough 167

Review of the progress of municipal government, from the charter of Longespee to the 10 Elizabeth, tracing the origin of the system of exclusion and self-election up to the ancient

jury of the court leet 169

Innovation by the enfranchisement of non residents and other

persons not possessing the scot and lot qualification 176

Abstract of the charter 10 Elizabeth \ 179

List of corporate counties, (note) , 181

Poole still subject to the lord lieutenant of Dorsetshire, (note) 181-

Letter from Dr. Walter Haddon, to sir William Cecil .... 185

Effect of the charter on the machinery of municipal government. 186

Examples of admissions to burgesship 190

Practice of sending non-residents to Parliament . . 193

The vesting of municipal authority in a Select, exclusive, and self-elected body, encouraged by circumstances affecting the

whole kingdom -. ib„

Interpolations in the records, and erasures of the word "commonalty" 195

Impropriety of regarding the word "commonalty," as designating the scot and lot householders; they being the ancient

" burgesses" of the charters „ ib.

Restricted privileges of the non-resident burgesses 196

Operation of the Corporation act of Charles II., and removal of

officers consequent thereon 197

Abstract of the charter 19 Charles II 199

Charters suspended by quo-warranto, 35 Charles II 203

The submission of the "mayor, bailiff's, burgesses, and commonalty"

and proceedings thereon ..,,...,,,,.,, ,,..,.,. ib,

VIII. CONTENTS.

municipal history, continued.

Issue of a new commission of the peace, and interference of the

manorial lord during the suspension of the charters .... 208

Object of the forced surrender of charters 209

Abstract of a charter of 4 James II., (Sept ) offered to the town

but rejected; with reasons for the rejection ib.

Abstract of the charter of restitution 4 James II. (Dec.) 211

Steadiness of municipal government down to 5 & 6 William IV. 214

Report of the commissioners of inquiry, 1833 215

Changes effected in the constitution of the borough, by the Act 5 & 6

Win. IV., c. 76. (Municipal Reform Act) 227

List of mayors from the earliest recorded date, 1422 235

List of recorders, Avith biographical notices 240

Parliamentary Annals :— Sketch of the rise and gradual developement of the great national

council ; and separation of the two houses 244

Poole first sent representatives t. Edward III 250

Intermission of representation from 42 Edw. III., to 31 Henry VI.,

and the cause thereof ib.

Motives for the resumption of repi-esentation, 31 Henry VI 251

Interference of the crown and great families in returns to the House

of Commons, with instances of such interference at Poole 253

Extending power of the Commons 255

Decision in favour of the right of the non-resident burgesses of

Poole, to the elective franchise 256

Disputes between the select governing body and the scot and lot

bm*gesses touching the elective franchise 259

Double return, 1688, and observations thereon ib.

Qualification settled by the Act 2 Wm. IV., c. 45. (Parliamentary

Reform Act) 273

Extension of the borough for Parliamentary purposes ib.

List of representatives, with biographical notices 274

Franchise for the county of Dorset 290

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The Church of Poole, traced up to its dependance on the parish

church of Canford 291

Grant to the priory of Bradenstoke 292

On the surrender of the priory, the rectory of Poole came into the

possession of the crown, 1539 293

Recital of the various leases ". 294

Conveyance to Hiley and others, and disputes thereon 295

Extract from the Inquisitiones Nonarum 298

Taxatio of Pope Nicholas ib.

Valor of Henry VIII 299

Returns to the Commission of 1650 ib.

■ Returns to the Commission of 1S35 300

Revenues of the rectory ib.

List of perpetual curates, with biographical notices 302

The old church described 310

Inventories of plate, ornaments, &c ib.

The present clmrch described 315

Monumental inscriptions 317

Hours of divine service 324

Additional church-yard and separate burying ground consecrated ib.

CONTENTS. IX.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, COlltillUOd.

The Fraternity of Saint George.

Sketch of the origin of fraternities . . 325

That of St George was a religions establishment 326

Probable time of its foundation 327

Notices of its endowments ib.

Objects of the fraternity 331

The guild chapel 332

Suppression of the fraternity 333

Subsequent descent of its possessions ib.

The Church of St. Paul 337

Dissenting congregations.

Origin and progress of Dissent in Poole , 338

The old meeting house in Hill street 3 10

The Independent meeting house 3 13

The Baptist meeting house , < 3 16

The Wesleyan Methodist meeting house 347

The Friends' meeting house , 3 18

Roman Catholic chapel 350

Swedenborgians and Primitive Methodists ib.

MARITIME HISTORY.

Poole, a place of commercial resort in the twelfth century 351

Inquisitio ad quod damnum, 1341 352

Maritime jurisdiction recognized by certificate of the mayor and

barons of Winchelsea, 1364 * 353

Power of the cinque ports examined 354

Letters patent of ] 1 Henry VI 355

Number of vessels in 1574 and 1591 ; names of vessels and owners 356

Commissions for the suppression of piracy 359

Town dues and disputes thereon 360

Abstract of the Quay Act, 20 Geo. II 361

Admiralty jurisdiction.

Poole had an exempt admiralty jurisdiction antecedent to the date

of the Winchelsea certificate - 365

Earliest extant records of the admiralty court (1550) speak of the

court as having long existed 366

Translation of the confirmatory charter of the vice admiral,

18 Henry VIII ib.

The Book of the Admiralty court 368

Duties of the jurors ib.

Jurisdiction of the court 370

Boundaries of the Admiralty jurisdiction 371

Perambulations 372

Extinction of the exempt jurisdiction * 375

The Harbour.

Description of the harbour, with its islands, &c „ 376

Its extent : statistical memoranda ... 377

The shoal at the entrance considered 379

Desirableness of preserving the full extent of backwater 380

Striking and valuable peculiarity in the double tide of the harbour 382

Situation and conveniences of the port 383

Brownsea Island and Castle.

Description of Brownsea island ; its etymology, &c 383 r. CONTENTS.

maritime history, continued.

Descent of the possession 385

The ancient copperas and alum works, and curious letter connected

therewith 386

The ancient fort or block-house, erected t. Henry VIII. 387

Garrisoned by the town . < ib.

Inventory of ordnance ib.

Report on the state of the castle, 1552 388

Provision of ordnance, t. Elizabeth #••• 389

Disputes between the town and sir Christopher Hatton, the grantee

of the castle 390

Delivery of ordnance ib.

The castle mentioned in sir John Norris's report, 1588 391

Garrisoned for the parliament in the civil wars ib.

Disputes between the town and the owner of the island, concerning

the right to the castle 392

The Port, Trade, and Customs.

Early commerce 395

Sketch of the rise, progress, and present state of the Newfoundland

trade of the port 396

General foreign trade 401

Coasting trade, especially in clay ib.

Chief imports and exports ib.

Commercial statistics ib.

The Custom house 403

The fisheries ib.

Manufacture of nets, cordage, and sail cloth 405

THE CHARITIES.

The charities chiefly vested in the old corporation 406

Taken from their control, and vested in temporary trustees, by the

Municipal Corporations Act ib.

The Free School 407

Charities of Harbin and Bennett 409

Trenchard's Charity 412

Sunday School ib.

The old Almshouses 415

Rogers's Almshouses 4l6

Garland's Almshouses 419

Jolliffe's Charity 422

Benjamin Lester's Endowment . 423

Sir John Lester's Endowment ib.

Fawconer's Charity 424

Shetland's Charity 425

Society for the Relief of the Sick and Aged 426

District Visiting Society ib.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The Guildhall 427

The Gaol 428

The Police Office 430

The Gas Works ib.

The Library 431

The Town House 432

The Town Cellars ; 433

Tallages, (note) ib.

The Markets 434

CONTENTS. XI.

public buildings, continued.

The Workhouse 435

Ancient mode of collecting for the relief of the poor 436

The tenth part of grain shipped ib.

The "Poor Man's box" ib.

Keport of the Commissioner of inquiry 438

Formation of the Poole Union 440

Parochial statistics 441

REMARKABLE TERSONS.

Biographical Sketches of

The rev. John Lewis, M.A 443

The rev. Nicholas Gibbon, D.D 445

Sir Peter Thompson, knt 447

Robert Rogers 448

Captains Jolliff and Thompson ib.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

Present state of Poole 449

Population 450

Parochial register of St. James 451

Parochial registers, (note) ib.

Local Taxation 452

Facilities of communication 453

Educational establishments 454

Savings bank 455

Masonic hall ib.

Striking instances of masonic sympathy, (note) ib.

THE NEW DISTRICT.

Parkstone ...; 460

Longfleet 462

Appendix : the Botany of Poole and the neighbourhood 465

JUST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

The Right Hon. the Earl of SHAFTESBURY.

The Right Hon. the Lord STRAFFORD.

The Right Hon. the Lord DE MAULEY : 3 copies.

The Right Hon. the Lord PORTMAN.

The Hon. the Lord ASHLEY, MP.

Sir CHARLES CHAD, Bart,: 3 copies.

The Rev. Sir JAMES HAN HAM, Bart.

Adey, Mr. W., Poole \

Adey, Mr. John, Poole

Adey, Mr. S., Longfleet )

Aitkin, T. J. Esq., M.D., Poole

Aldridge, H. M., Esq., Poole

Arnold, T. Esq., Poole

Ash, Mr. Jas., Taunton

Baker, Mr. J., Christchurch Baker, Mr. R., Poole Bankes,W. J, Esq., Kingston Lacy Barnes, Mr. W., Dorchester Barnes, Mrs. R., Poole Barter, T., Esq., Poole Barter, Mr. J., Poole, 2 copies Bartlett, Thomas, Esq., Wareham Bayly, R. Esq., Trinity, Newfoundland Bell, T. Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c,

London Billows, Mr. G., Poole Blanchard, Mr. J., Poole Bloomfield, Mr. J. B., Poole Bond, W., Esq., Temple, London Bowles, C, Esq., Shaftesbury Brown, Mr. T., Poole Buckley, Mr., Poole Burch, J. Esq., London Burt, Mr. T., London

Bunn, J. B. Esq., Poole

Calcraft, J. H., Esq. M.P. Remp-

stone Hall Castleman, W., Esq., Wimborne Carter, Mr., Poole Churcher, J., Esq., Gosport Churchill, J., Esq., Poole, 6 copieSs Clark, J. S., Esq., London Clark, R. Esq., Farnham Collins, J., Esq., Heatherland

Cottage, Parkstone Crabb, Mr., Poole Cranston, Mr. J., Ringwood Cross, T. E., Esq., Swanage

Dinsdale, Mr. G. L., Warminster Doughty, E. T., Esq., Upton

House Doughty, the Hon. Mrs., Upton

House, 2 cppies Dowding, Mr. J., London Dugdale, Mr. E., Poole Durant, Rev. T., Poole

Filliter, G., Esq., Wareham Flicker, Mr. PI., Poole Furnell, Mr. W., Poole

Goss, Mr. Jos., Poole

XIV

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Goodforde, John, Esq., Chilton ]

Cantclo, Somerset Grove, Mr. R. A., Lymington

Hairby, Jas., Esq., M.D., Spilsby,

Lincolnshire Hall, Mr. C, Ansty Hancock, T. G., Esq., Poole Hamilton and Adams, Messrs.,

London Hannaford, Mr., Christchurch Harris, Mr. H., Poole Herbert, Mr. H., Wimborne Hiley, W., Esq., Christchurch Holland, Mr. G., Poole Hooper, Mr. J., Poole

Jeffery, Miss, "Wilton, Somerset Jolliffe, W., Esq., Poole Jolliffe, Rev. P. W., A.M., Sterte Joyce, Mr. J., Poole

Kelson, W., Esq., Trinity, Newfoundland Kemp, Jas., Esq., Poole Kemp, A. Esq., Poole Kendel, Mr. G., Poole King, Mr. Jos., Poole Knight, Mr. H., Poole

Lander, D. O., Esq., Poole Ledgard, G. W., Esq., Poole Ledgard, G., Esq., Poole Ledgard, R., Esq., Poole Lester, B. L., Esq., Stone Cottage Lyte, Capt., Christchurch

Maclean, R., Esq., Weymouth Manston, Mr. J., Poole Martin, Mr. S., Poole Miller, Mr. J. S., Poole

Naish, Mr. T., Poole Neave, Mr. Josiah, Gillingham

. Overell, W., Esq., Christchurch

Parr, Rev. J. C, A.M., Parkstone Parr, R. H., Esq., Poole Parr, J. E., Esq., Temple, London Parr, R. W., Esq., Parkstone Pedlar, Lieut. Col. P.W., Longfleel; Penney, Mr. R., Hamworthy Penney, Mr. G., Poole

Pennie, J. F. Esq. Rogvald Cottage- Pickard, Rev. G., Bloxworth Pittman, Mr. C.,. Poole Pitt, W.M., Esq., Kingston House Plomer, Mr., Huish

Robinson, Mrs., Poole Rowntree, Rev. M., Poole Rutter, Mr. J., Shaftesbury

Salter, T., Esq., Poole Savage, Mr. J., Dorchester Seager, Jas., Esq., Poole Seager, Mark, Esq., Palermo Short, M„\ Joseph,? Poole Shipp, Mr., Blandford Silby, Mr. J. F. Poole .Simonds, Mr. G., Dorchester Skelton, Mr. G., Trinity, New-

foundland Slade, R., Esq., Poole, 2 copies Slade, R. Esq., Parkstone Slade, T., Esq., Poole Steele, I., Esq., Poole Sturmey, Mr. Jas., Poole Sturt, H. C. Esq., M.P., Critchell.

House Sydenham, Mr. T., Yeovil Sydenham, Mr. Jas., Poole

Thompson, W., Esq., Lytchett Thorp, J., Esq., London Tregonwell, S . B.Esq , Edmonde-

sham Tulloch, Mr. J., Parkstone Turpin, Mr. J., Poole

Walker, W., Esq., Gosport

Wanhill, Mr. T., Poole

Warne, Mr. C, Milborne Saint:

Andrew Washbourne, H., Esq., London Waterman, Mr. W., Poole Welch, M. K., Esq., Poole Were, R., Esq., Poole West, J. W. Esq., Poole Weston, R., Esq., Poole Williamson, Mr. J., Poole Whyte, Mr., Poole

Zilhvood, Rev. I, O., Compton:

Rectory, Hants Zilhvood, Mrs., Compton, Hants Zillwood, Mr. W. F., Fianiptan.

THE HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN AND COUNTY

OF

ON a beautiful inlet of the sea, near the south-eastern extremity of the county of Dorset, stands the busy port of Poole. Locally situated in the manor of Canford and in the county of Dorset, it has, nevertheless, long* enjoyed exempt and exclusive privileges. Its geographical position is in longitude 1 deg*. 58 min. west of Greenwich, and in latitude 50 deg*. 43 min. north. It is 108 miles distant from London by the road traversed by the mail, 10 from Ware-ham, 14 from Blandford, 6 from Wimborne, 12 from Ringwood, and 10 from Christchurch.

The town, which is neatly built and remarkably clean, is placed on a peninsula jutting into the harbour and joined to the mainland by a narrow and short isthmus. It occupies a considerable tract of ground, being nearly one mile long and three quarters of a mile broad. The principal streets run parallel, from N. E. to S. W., and the minor streets and intersecting lanes are very numerous. The houses, which are generally commodious and respectable,

B have been built with more regard to convenience and comfort than to regularity and exterior splendour. Many of the public edifices are worth attention.

It is the most considerable town in the county; and since the middle of the sixteenth century, when the influx of inhabitants and several grants from favouring- monarchs combined to encourage its trade and general prosperity, it has acquired much maritime importance. The principal foreign trade is with the colonies in Newfoundland and British North America ; but mercantile transactions with other foreign parts are now engaged in ; and it has an extensive coasting* trade, being the port of supply to a considerable tract of inland country.

The neighbourhood of Poole has been greatly improved since the commencement of the present century ; and the effects of a spirit of enterprise, expanded by the opportunities presented by enclosure acts and building leases, are pleasingly evident in the cultivation and planting of a large portion of the dreary and barren tract of waste land, which, in bygone days, presented so forbidding an approach to the town ; and in the rapid erection of long-extended lines of suburban buildings on spots where, but a few years since, the lowly heath-flower bloomed in undisturbed solitude.

Poole Harbour, more especially when the tide is in, presents much scenic beauty : and the traveller, approaching the town from almost any direction, cannot fail to be struck with its picturesque situation. The water, nearly surrounding the town, spreading a surface of indistinct extent, broken by islands and projecting headlands ; — the shores, of a diversified character, here rising abruptly, there retiring into a low flat, and in many parts richly wooded ; — the bustling port, in the foreground, with its gallant array of masts and flags ;— the background, formed by the bold and well-defined outline of the lofty Purbeck hills, giving relief to the sombre ruins of Corfe Castle in their front;— the island and castle of Brownsea, forming" a pleasing* termination to one side of the view, whilst the other is bounded by the undulations of the distant heathy hills ; — combine to produce scenery of a very distinctive and agreeable kind. And, as the communication between the harbour and the sea is hidden by the overlapping of Brownsea island and the opposite sandbanks, the appearance is that of a large inland lake.

One of the more prominent natural advantages derived by Poole from its protected situation, is that the climate is of a very mild and equable temperature, the variations of the thermometer being less than in most other places, — a circumstance that renders the town generally healthy, and a desirable residence for those whose physical constitution may require avoidance of the more extreme alternations of temperature.

€ije alitor.

From beyond the time of our earliest records, Poole has been a member of the manor of Canford, and its territorial history is therefore identical with the descent of that important and extensive manor. Few estates have passed through the hands of so many possessors as that now under notice; and its connection with so many of the highest families of the kingdom, and its association with names and events that are prominent in our national annals, invest it with a more than ordinary interest. In tracing the various transfers to which the manor has been subject, the earliest authentic record to which reference can be made is that great statistical document known as Domesday book. By this we are informed that Ulwen held this manor, then called ' Cheneford,' in the time of Edward the Confessor.

[Family of Sarisberie. — (Rosmar.)] — This record then states, that at the time of the survey it was held of the King by Edward de Sarisberie ; that it consisted of eighteen carucates, and that this manor and that of Chinestantone (now Kinson) were worth when he received them £50, but at the time of the survey £70.

THE MANOR.

This Edward de Sarisberie was the second son of Walter le Eurus&% earl of Rosmar, in Normandy, who was amongst the powerful chieftains that accompanied the duke of Nonnandy into England, and to whom, in consideration of the valour which he displayed in the battle of Hastings, the Conqueror gave the lordships of Salisbury and Ambresbury. This earl, before his coming into England, had issue Girold, afterwards earl of Rosmar, called ' Mantelec ;' who was the father of William de Rosmar, called * Le Gros ;' who was the father of William de Rosmar, named * Meschin,' and he of another William de Rosmar, wbo died without issue. After his settlement in England, earl Walter had a son, the above Edward de Sarisberie-f-, who appears at the time of the general survey to have possessed two lordships in Dorsetshire, three in Somersetshire, one in Surrey, two in Hampshire, one in Middlesex, two in Hertfordshire, two in Buckinghamshire, and thirty-eight in Wiltshire, out of which county, being then sheriff thereof, he received in rent, as belonging to his office, a hundred and thirty hogs, thirty-two bacons, two bushels and sixteen gallons of wheat, as much of barley, five bushels and eight gallons of oats, thirty-two gallons of honey or sixteen shillings, four hundred and eighty hens, a thousand and six hundred eggs, a hundred cheeses, fifty-two lambs, one hundred and forty fleeces of wool, having likewise a hundred and sixty-two acres of

* Surnames were anciently given from particular circumstances connected with the individual. Sometimes they were derived from the place of his hirth, as Edward ' de Sarisberie,' and, as some have it, Walter 'deEvreux:' whilst, in most instances, they had reference to some personal peculiarity ; thus, as others derive it, Walter 'le Eurus,' (heureux,) or fortunate ; Girold 'le Mantelec,' from his peculiar mantelet, or cloak ; William ' le Meschin,' the avaricious ; William ' le Gros ;' Humfridus ' cum barba;' Ilanulph 'Gernons,' from his moustaches; &c.

+ The early genealogy of this family is involved in much obscurity. Considerable dispute has arisen on the question whether this was a branch of the great Norman Counts of Evreux. Dugdale, however, and the Lacock Book, do not ascribe to them an j- such origin; and an investigation into the various writers on the subject, leave the matter in great uncertainty. We have adhered to the statement of the Lacock Book. Edward of Salisbury must have been vqtj young at the time of his succession to the estates by the death of his father ; if, indeed, the statement be true that he was born after the arrival of his father in England with the Conqueror.