Submitted by: Susan Ashby

People have been occupying Bournemouth and its surrounding areas for centuries. It was a mere hamlet until early in the 19th century when Lewis Tregonwell, a retired army officer, arrived there in 1810. At that time, the only notable landmarks in the area were a bridge that led to Poole Bay and an inn which catered to weary travellers and a band of smugglers who operated in the vicinity. That inn is now the centre of Bournemouth, The Square.

Impressed with what he had discovered, Tregonwell built a home for his family in the area and purchased several acres of land. He planted several pine trees and constructed a sheltered walk leading to the beach. From these humble beginnings, the town of Bournemouth would soon arise.

It was not log until Bournemouth turned into a favoured holiday destination for the affluent. Once known as the Stourfield Chase hunting estate, the fields surrounding Bourne Stream were lined with shrubberies and walks in the 1840s to impress wealthy visitors.

During the 1870s, the Bournemouth Commissioners had leased all the fields in the area and converted it into what is now known as The Pleasure Gardens. Soon, a railway system was developed. The practice of vacationing near the seaside during the holidays quickly became a popular undertaking.

Two of the prominent figures credited with helping Bournemouth develop during this period were Sir Percy Shelley and Sir Merton Russell-Cotes.

Today, the Pleasure Gardens is one of Bournemouth’s premier landmarks, especially its Central Gardens, which houses the War Memorial, constructed in 1921. Two stone lions stand watch over the War Memorial, which was built around the same time as Saint Stephen’s Road bridge to give the town its unique identity. The memorial was designed by Albert Edward Shervey, the town’s deputy architect, and was inspired by the tomb of Pope Clement XIII.

Above the Central Gardens stood a large sanatorium which provided medical aid to patients with chest diseases. The sanatorium is now a complex of retirement homes known as Brompton Court.

Right beside the sanatorium was the Mont Dore Hotel, site of the current Town Hall. During the peak of its popularity, the magnificent hotel was famous around the world during the 1880s, especially for its luxurious setting. The hotel also owned one of England’s first telephones (its telephone number was ‘3’), a fact which spoke volumes about its prominence and the importance of its clientele. During World War I, the hotel also served as a hospital for wounded soldiers.

In the 19th century, a number of cafes, hotels, cinemas, theatres and concert halls were constructed in quick succession in the town centre.

Bournemouth’s population has also increased dramatically over the years. From a population of just 17,000 in 1880, the population rose to 60,000 by 1900 and to 150,000 by 1990. By 2006, the population had reached 163,000. With this surge in population coupled with the town’s continued progress and its increasing importance in the region, calls for the attainment of official city status have increased steadily beginning in the 1990s.

Aside from its booming town centre, Bournemouth was also renowned for its pier, which was first built in 1856 and featured nothing more than a short wooden jetty. In 1861, George Rennie designed a much longer wooden pier. In 1866, cast iron had taken the place of the wooden piles which had been severely damaged by Teredo worms. However, despite the use of cast iron, the pier was rendered unusable a year later when a gale swept away its landing stage. Following repairs, the pier was used for another decade until a storm caused part of the pier to collapse in 1876, making it unusable for steamboat traffic. The pier was soon demolished and a temporary structure took its place in 1877.

In 1880, a new pier was finally completed. Designed by Eugenius Birch, the new Bournemouth pier featured an open promenade. It was 838 feet long and was about 35 feet wide. A bandstand was added in 1885 and a series of concerts by military bands became a regular fixture at the pier, three times a day during summer and two times a day in winter. Covered shelters were also installed at the pier. A pair of extensions in 1894 and 1909 brought the pier’s total length to over 1,000 feet.

In 1940, as part of a comprehensive effort that targeted piers in the south and east, Bournemouth Pier was demolished to guard against possible invasion by the Germans. After massive repairs, it re-opened in 1946. Over the next three decades, the pier underwent major refurbishment to strengthen its substructure and address corrosion.

By 1985, Bournemouth became the UK’s first local authority to set up CCTV cameras in public places, beginning at the seafront. The town also has one of the UK’s leading libraries, the 9.5 million Bournemouth Library, constructed in 2003. The library is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award in the British Construction Industry Awards competition.

About the Author: For more free information about Bournemouth go to Bournemouth Dating or for dating in Bournemouth visit

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Submitted by: Karen Murdock

Lukas stood in his stall. It was his home at the racetrack since arriving from the breeder s farm when he was only fifteen months old. It was the stall he came back to after his hard morning work-outs to hang his head and rest before they came to run him again. It was the only place he felt peaceful now gone were the pastures of his first carefree year spent running free in the sunshine with his mother and friends. It was small and made of old dark wood and it sat in the middle of a huge L-shaped barn at the track complex. Lukas could look out his door and see rows of wood stalls with many other horses.

The other horses didn t like Lukas, and Lukas no longer tried to be friends with them. Shy and sensitive, he had accepted that he was different and tried to stay out of their way. Out on the track he was bullied and pushed a lot Get out of the way, Red! they d snort at him as they raced by him. Narrowly missing teeth and hooves, Lukas was always the slowest horse in every race. Running in circles for no reason did not interest him at all. He couldn t wait to be back in his stall safe and sound where he could dream of pastures again. His only friend was his groom, Pablo, who tried to protect him when he could, It s all right, Red; just do your best.

The trainer s only keeping the top three from tomorrow s race! Lukas overheard his neighbors warning each other through the stall walls. Maybe they ll get rid of Lukas once and for all! He heard from a distant stall and then laughing. Lukas, still tired from the morning run, shuddered and tried to rest knowing it would be hard to do well tomorrow. His left leg had started hurting weeks ago and now it was even worse he squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to think about the pain or what not being in the top finishers would mean.

To keep his mind off his sore leg, Lukas imagined being able to explore all the things he had glimpsed in the short walks to the racetrack and back. The world seemed so interesting and busy what could be going on out there? What would it be like to wander freely and enjoy the sunshine? He d heard that some animals got to have families who loved them and gave them a real home maybe this could happen to him as long as he tried his best.

Morning came too soon for Lukas. By now his leg was throbbing, and the other horses snickered at him knowing that he would soon be gone. The race, Lukas third and final try at the starting gate, amounted to another last place finish. After the race, the barn manager strode down the aisle yelling at the grooms to get the losers out of the barn because he was calling in the auction trucks, Get em out by nightfall I m not feeding them another day! There was scrambling everywhere as grooms, pony riders and fans rushed to secure a place for the fortunate few horses that would be spared.

Lukas gulped nervously whatever an auction was, it could only be worse than this. When Lukas had watched the auction trucks loaded in the past there was a dreadful sense of fear, and those horses never came back or were heard from again. Pablo had disappeared for a few hours, and when he returned it was with great relief that Lukas heard, Don t worry, Red, we got lucky and found you a home they ll be picking you up in the morning. The owners and jockeys had long since left the track grounds together, either to celebrate victories or console one another over losses. Trainers were already arranging the next shipments of hopefuls young horses fresh from outlying farms.

They re here, please don t go! horses wailed to each other. The auction haulers had arrived two dirty men got out of the truck and put on thick gloves. Lukas couldn t bear to watch as he heard his barn mates being loaded into the auction truck. Even though the other horses had been mean to him, he felt sorry for them as he heard them hit and shoved into the tight trailer while the remaining horses called out for them in worry and grief. Lukas neighbor was next I m only two years old take Lukas instead! he cried. Whack! A few tripped and fell, only to be hit while down, Get up! the haulers shouted at panicked horses who staggered up the ramp now slippery with sweat, blood and manure. Come back! the remaining horses pleaded while kicking and pawing. The doom in the eyes of the auction horses was unbearable to Lukas and the screaming and banging was deafening. Lukas shivered with terror and cringed with every squeal of pain. As he waited for the truck to fill, Lukas wondered where he was going tomorrow he had no idea what to expect. What will happen to me now? He d always tried to do what he was told and now here he was all by himself with no one to care about him. As he squeezed his eyes together to avoid watching the horror before him, he felt overwhelmed with fear and loneliness.

About the Author: Copyright 2011 Karen Murdock is a retired psychiatric nurse, who has been fixing problem horses for over 30 years. Owner of

PlayingWithLukas.com

. All of her services and proceeds go to benefit the horses.

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