Mudeford

Mudeford
Mudeford
Mudeford shown within Dorset
Population 4,977 (2011. Mudeford and Friars Cliffe Ward)[1]
OS grid reference SZ178914
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CHRISTCHURCH
Postcode district BH23
Dialling code 01202 or 01425
Police Dorset
Fire Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK Parliament

Mudeford (/ˈmʌdɪfərd/ MUD-i-fərd) is a former small fishing village that is now a suburb of the borough of Christchurch, Dorset, England, lying at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour. The River Mude (which starts from Poors Common in Bransgore, Hampshire[2]) and Bure Brook (which starts from Nea Meadows in Highcliffe, Dorset) flow into the harbour there. In recent times, the boundaries of Mudeford have expanded and include modern housing. Approximately 4000 people now live in the area, giving a population density of roughly 24 persons per hectare.

Mudeford includes two woodland areas (known as Mudeford Woods and Peregrine Woods), a recreation ground on the north side of Stanpit (used to play cricket since the 19th century, probably as far back as the 1860s)[3] and All Saints Church (built in 1869 as a gift by Mortimer Ricardo, who lived at Bure Homage House).[4]

The village is home to both Mudeford Infants School and Mudeford Junior School.

Mudeford Quay

Mudeford Quay was constructed in the late 1940s. Prior to this, The Haven, as it was then known was surrounded by sloping beaches. The Run then was much wider than it is now and the area was subject to terrible erosion. So much so that Christchurch Council purchased the whole area in 1945. Five years later the area had been raised and reinforced with steel piles and concrete.[5][6] Today the Quay, which consists of The Haven Inn public house, a number of ex-fishermans' cottages and a large car park, is still used by local fishing boats as well as being a base for many water sports. A RNLI inshore lifeboat station is located on the Quay.

Mudeford Ferry April 2008

The Mudeford ferry operates between the Quay and Mudeford Sandbank on Hengistbury Head.[7] The ferry was until the 1960s operated by rowing boats with payment being at the discretion of the passenger. Mudeford Quay is at the entrance to the Harbour known as "The Run". George III is recorded as having visited Mudeford in 1801 and using a bathing machine.[8]

Haven House

The Dutch Cottages, formerly the Haven House, on Mudeford Quay

The oldest of the buildings on Mudeford Quay is Dutch Cottages, formerly the Haven House Inn. It was erected c.1693, seemingly without the permission of the landowner, Mary Luttrell (later the wife of Sir Jacob Bancks), Lady of the Manor of Somerford, as an alehouse to accommodate engineers employed on an ultimately unsuccessful scheme to improve the entrance to Christchurch Harbour.[9] During the 18th and 19th centuries the area was much involved with smuggling and in 1784 the Inn played a central role in the Battle of Mudeford, a violent conflict between a gang of smugglers and naval Revenue officers.[10] Early in the 19th century the Inn was taken over and run for 18 years by Thomas Humby, who was also the proprietor of the prestigious King’s Arms Hotel in Christchurch.[11][12] This period saw the growth of Mudeford as a fashionable seaside resort for the well-to-do and Humby refurbished and enlarged the Haven House as a sea-bathing lodging-house.[13] After the foundation of the Coastguard service in 1822 the Haven House was leased by the Government to house a Chief Officer, Boatmen, and their families.[14][15] In 1861 the Admiralty ordered the construction of a new purpose-built Coastguard Station, which was erected on the north side of Christchurch Harbour at Stanpit.[16] By this time Mudeford's popularity as a resort had waned and the Haven House subsequently became fishermen’s cottages and has remained as private dwellings. The building is now Grade II listed.[17]

The present Haven House Inn public house is thought to have been constructed nearby in around 1830,[18] though there are intimations that Thomas Humby may have built a new tavern separate to the lodging house c.1812.[19]

Sandhills

Sandhills

Sandhills was the holiday home of the Right Hon George Rose, Member of Parliament and close friend and advisor to the prime minister William Pitt, who had it built on the beach at Mudeford c.1785. Rose's other great friend, King George III stayed there on a number of occasions, helping to promote Christchurch as a tourist destination.[20] Sandhills was also home to George Rose's two sons: Sir George Henry Rose, politician and diplomat, and William Rose, poet.[21] Field Marshal Hugh Rose, 1st Baron Strathnairn, GCB, GCSI, son of George Henry Rose also spent time living at the family home.[22] Sandhills is now a holiday park owned by Park Holidays UK with static caravans in the grounds but the house still remains although it has been converted to flats. In the 1940s and 1950s Sandhills was used as a school annexed to Somerford Infants School and Mudeford School.

Gundimore

Gundimore

Gundimore is a house near Avon Beach built in 1796 for the poet William Rose. Visitors to the house included fellow poets Coleridge and Southey. Sir Walter Scott stayed there while writing his epic poem Marmion. The building is of the most unusual design, said to have been built in the shape of a Turkish tent, complete with gilt Arabic inscriptions to remind the original owner of his travels in the east. It consisted of a centre section and 2 wings. The centre section has 5 windows with a large curved centre bay with a shallow pitched, conical roof. At the south west corner of this bay is a round, 2-storey turret, shaped like a squat house with the upper storey almost completely glazed. The north eastern wing is now Scott's Cottage. Rose is believed to have designed at least part of the house himself.[23]

The Anchorage

Originally named Elmhurst, this house was built c.1870 by the politician Viscount Bury, only son of the 6th Earl of Albemarle. In the late 1860s Viscount Bury had bought Elm Tree Cottage, which stood on the northern edge of the Sandhills estate, with the intention of erecting a seaside holiday home on the site. The new building was designed by Colonel Sir Robert William Edis, an architect favoured by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and known for designing many large hotels and clubs in London. He also designed the nearby Boscombe Spa Hotel.[24] In 1868, Viscount Bury was on the beach near his new home when he observed a fishing boat in difficulties. With the assistance of a Coastguardsman, he rowed out to the stricken boat and was able to save one of the three fishermen.[25]

In 1889 Elmhurst was bought at auction by George Hamilton Fletcher (1860-1930), who renamed it The Anchorage.[26][24] He was an ardent yachtsman who became a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes with his boat Joyeuse.[27] By his marriage to Ada Herapath, Fletcher was a brother-in-law to the artist and long-term illustrator for Punch magazine Linley Sambourne, whose diaries record that he stayed at The Anchorage on several occasions.[28] Fletcher sold The Anchorage in 1919.[24]

After two more private owners, the building was acquired in 1929 by the Teachers Provident Society for use as a retirement and convalescent home for teachers. This was officially opened on 19th April 1930 by the Minister of Health, the Right Hon Arthur Greenwood.[29] At the start of World War II it provided offices for the Society's staff who were transferred from London. Later in the war it was requisitioned by the Government for use as a military billet. After the war it returned it its former use as a convalescent home.[24] It is still owned by the Teachers' Housing Association.[30] The building is Grade II Listed. DoE Ref 3/234 Grid Reference: SZ1863592089.[31]

Bure Homage House

On the outskirts of the original Mudeford village, close to the course of Bure Brook, was an imposing mansion called Bure Homage House with a large associated estate which included Friars Cliff. It was built at the start of the 19th century, replacing Bure Farmhouse, by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay. In 1837, it was sold to Sophie Dawes, a renowned smuggler who became a French Baroness.[32] During World War II, it was used as an officers mess by the 405th Fighter Group who operated at RAF Christchurch. After the war it was used for a while by the Signals Research and Development Establishment.[33] It was demolished in 1957. It was situated in the area which is now called Bure Homage Gardens, and accessed via the lodge which is still to be seen opposite the Waterford Hotel. It was associated with the nearby Highcliffe Castle which was built later between 1831 and 1835. The land is now occupied by residential housing.[32]

Other historic buildings still in existence

  • Mudeford House (later Avonmouth Hotel and Christchurch Harbour Hotel)[34] Grade 2 Listed. DoE Ref 3/39 Grid Reference: SZ1807892118
  • Waterford Lodge (later Waterford Lodge Hotel)[35]
  • Sandford Hotel (later The Moorings). The hotel doubled up as the Mudeford post office in Victorian times.[24] Sandford Hotel opened in 1835.[36] Grade 2* Listed. DoE Reference: 3/40. Grid Reference: SZ1828692064.
  • An early Victorian pillar box is still in use close to The Moorings. It dates back to 1856.[37] Grade 2 Listed. DoE Ref 3/226 Grid Reference: SZ1830892068.
  • The Nelson Tavern

Lifeboats

The first Christchurch lifeboat was in service by early 1804.[38] It was Number 17 of the 31 'Original' lifeboats designed and built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, making Mudeford one of the earliest places on the coast of Great Britain to operate a purpose-built rescue boat.[39] The boat was presented by the Right Hon George Rose, the Member of Parliament for Christchurch, who owned the nearby Sandhills villa. In 1802 Greathead wrote that George Rose had enquired about the provision of a lifeboat for Christchurch.[40] Later that year Rose sat on a House of Commons Select Committee that granted Greathead a remuneration payment of £1,200 for his selfless life-saving work.[41] Part of the payment for the Christchurch boat was met from a fund established by Lloyd’s marine insurers to assist coastal communities to buy a lifeboat, though the bulk of the cost and subsequent running expenses still had to be raised locally.[42] The boat’s crew of ten oarsmen and a steersman was provided by local volunteers, and a signal gun was to be provided at the Haven House to help direct it towards a wreck.[43] It is not known how long this boat was in service and there are no known records of any rescues.

In 1868 a lifeboat was presented to the inhabitants of Mudeford by Donald Nicoll, Member of Parliament for Frome, as a token of regard for his friend Viscount Bury, who resided at Elmhurst (now The Anchorage).[44] The provision of the boat was organised by the Royal Humane Society. It is believed that the 16 foot boat had been built at Cowes, Isle of Wight, by the noted shipbuilding firm of John Samuel White and was of an innovative design that had been patented by White and Southampton-based engineer and inventor Andrew Lamb. The lifeboat was conveyed to Christchurch by railway and its onward journey to Mudeford was organised by local hotelier Nicholas Newlyn, all free of charge.[45] It was proposed that the lifeboat be named 'Lord Bury' because Viscount Bury and Coastguard Boatman Charles Pride had recently risked their own lives in the unsuitable Coastguard boat in a bid to rescue three Mudeford fishermen.[46] Although they had been able to save only one of the men, Viscount Bury and Pride received a letter of commendation from Queen Victoria through Thomas Biddulph,[47] and the RNLI and Royal Humane Society subsequently awarded them both with a silver medal for their gallantry.[48][49]

The first modern RNLI lifeboat, an inflatable D class boat, was stationed on Mudeford Quay in 1963.[50] The present Lifeboat Station was opened in 2003.

Christchurch Airfield

Christchurch Airfield, which had an important role in World War II as RAF Christchurch, was bordered by Mudeford Lane, Stroud Lane and Bure Lane. By the sixties it was mostly wilderness. At that time it was separated from an SRDE site on the North by a high wire fence. Since then the wilderness has been largely replaced with residential housing and a school.

Notable residents

Stanpit

Stanpit village is a historic area along the southern boundary of current day Mudeford. The Stanpit road connects from the end of the original Mudeford road through to Purewell Cross. Along part of the south west side of Stanpit road is Stanpit Marsh.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as 'Stanpeta' meaning 2 estates with meadows.[52]

Somerford

Somerford is a historical district of Christchurch that borders with Mudeford and is intersected by the Somerford Road (B3059). Somerford was named after a ford over the River Mude which was only passable in summertime – its approximate site is that of the current day Somerford Roundabout.[53]

Mudeford Spit

Historically part of Christchurch, Mudeford Spit was sold to Bournemouth Borough Council in 1935.[54] It is the larger of the two features, the other being the Haven, that almost encloses Christchurch Harbour, leaving the water within to exit through a narrow channel known as The Run. Formed by sand and shingle brought around Hengistbury Head by longshore drift and pushed towards the shore by waves from the east, the spit is the most mobile of Dorset's geographical features. Prior to the construction of the long groyne at Hengistbury Head in 1938, it tended to grow steadily in a north-easterly direction and on occasion stretched as far as Steamer Point and Highcliffe Castle; most notably in 1880.[55] It has been breached a number of times naturally; 1883, 1911, 1924, 1935 and once deliberately in the 17th century when an attempt was made to construct another entrance to the harbour.[56] After the last breaching in 1935, the end of the spit broke off and drifted towards the beach at Friars Cliff where it formed a lagoon.[55] The groyne built in 1938 to protect Hengistbury Head from erosion had an adverse effect on the spit as it prevented movement of material around it. The spit began to erode due to wave action from the east and many attempts have been made since to stabilise the situation. Small seawalls were constructed on the spit in the 1960s and a large number of rubble groynes were put down during the 1980s.[55]

The Beach huts, located on Mudeford Spit, can be reached on foot or land train from the Hengistbury Head side of the harbour, or by the Ferry from Mudeford Quay.[57] Also on the spit is the "Black House", a local landmark. Although it features in a number of local smuggling legends, it was only built in 1848 for the manager of the Hengistbury Head Mining Company, and therefore these tales are unlikely to be true.[58]

References

  1. ↑ "Christchurch Ward population 2011". Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Christchurch; British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "History Mudeford Cricket Club". Mudefordcricketclub.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Church Times Issue 7520 page 15" (PDF). 27 April 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  5. ↑ Newman, Sue (2009). Christchurch Through Time. Cirencester Road, Chalford, Stroud, Glos.: Amberley Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-84868-358-7.
  6. ↑ Hodges, Michael A. (2003). Christchurch: The Golden Years. Dorset Books. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-871164-38-1.
  7. ↑ "Mudeford Ferry". Mudefordferry.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Frith, Maxine (25 March 2005). "The tide turns against beach huts as charges erode seaside property prices". The Independent. London.
  9. ↑ Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 13, 1699-1702. Great Britain House of Commons. 1803. p. 157.
  10. ↑ "Smuggling in Hampshire and Dorset". Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Haven House Inn". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 27 March 1820. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "Haven House Inn". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 20 November 1820. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "Haven House Inn". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 19 August 1811. p. 1.
  14. ↑ "On Thursday at Christchurch...". Hampshire Advertiser. 23 October 1826. p. 2.
  15. ↑ "Index to Christchurch Tithe Book 1844, Plot No 4404" (c.1844). Christchurch History Society Archives. Christchurch, Dorset: Christchurch History Society.
  16. ↑ "Coastguard Contract". Hampshire Advertiser. 31 August 1861. p. 1.
  17. ↑ Historic England. "Dutch Cottages Haven Cottages".
  18. ↑ "Mudeford Quay Management Plan" (PDF). Christchurch Borough Council. 2014. p. 7. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Haven House Inn". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 11 May 1812. p. 1.
  20. ↑ "Our Forgotten Regency Resort". www.south-coast-central.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  21. 1 2 Powell, Mike (1995). Christchurch Harbour. Briar Park Business Centre, Stour Rd, Christchurch: Natula Publications. p. 52. ISBN 1-897887-07-8.
  22. ↑ Powell, Mike (1995). Christchurch Harbour. Briar Park Business Centre, Stour Rd, Christchurch: Natula Publications. pp. 46 & 47. ISBN 1-897887-07-8.
  23. ↑ "Exploring the Bournemouth Coastal Path". Leigh Hatts. 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Samuel, Olive J (2003). The Anchorage Seaside Retreat. Christchurch: Smada (Natula) Publications.
  25. ↑ Young, Lambton (1872). Acts of gallantry: being a detailed account of each deed of bravery in saving life from drowning in all parts of the world for which the gold and silver Medals and Clasps of the Royal Humane Society have been awarded from 1830 to 1871. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle. p. 299. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  26. ↑ "A safe Anchorage". Bournemouth Echo. 26 March 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  27. ↑ Wiltshire Council (2011). "George Hamilton Fletcher, Esq., J.P." Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  28. ↑ The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. "The Sambourne Diaries". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "Mudeford Convalescent Home". Western Gazette. 25 April 1930. p. 3.
  30. ↑ Teachers' Housing Association. "The Anchorage, Christchurch". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  31. ↑ Historic England. "The Anchorage". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  32. 1 2 "Xchsite". Users.freenetname.co.uk. 4 June 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  33. ↑ "The 405FG at Christchurch". Daveg4otu.tripod.com. 6 June 1944. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  34. ↑ "The Avonmouth Hotel". Christchurch Harbour Hotel. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  35. ↑ "Waterford Lodge Hotel". Bw-waterfordlodge.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  36. ↑ "Christchurch History Society". historychristchurch.org.
  37. ↑ "How Dorset's helped shape the pillar box". Bournemouth Echo.
  38. ↑ "Mr Rose has presented a life-boat...". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 23 January 1804. p. 4.
  39. ↑ Osler, Adrian G (1990). Mr Greathead’s Lifeboats. Newcastle upon Tyne: Tyne and Wear Museums Service. pp. 88–89.
  40. ↑ The Navy Chronicle Vol.9. London: Mr Gold, No.103 Shoe Lane, Fleet Street. 1803. p. 286.
  41. ↑ Hinderwell, Thomas (1832). The history and antiquities of Scarborough: with a brief memoir of the author. Scarborough: J. Bye. p. xii.
  42. ↑ Martin, Frederick (1876). The history of Lloyd's and of marine insurance in Great Britain. London: Macmillan and Co. p. 216.
  43. ↑ The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure. J. Hinton. 1804. p. 193.
  44. ↑ "Mudeford Boat Accident". Illustrated Berwick Journal. 30 October 1868. p. 5.
  45. ↑ Local History Books and Articles: Notes on the History of Mudeford. Christchurch: Local Studies Resource Room (Public Files), Red House Museum.
  46. ↑ Young, Lambton (1872). Acts of gallantry: being a detailed account of each deed of bravery in saving life from drowning in all parts of the world for which the gold and silver Medals and Clasps of the Royal Humane Society have been awarded from 1830 to 1871. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle. p. 299.
  47. ↑ "The Deputation to Viscount Bury and Charles Pride. Letter of Congratulation from the Queen". Illustrated Berwick Journal. 23 October 1868. p. 5.
  48. ↑ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry - The Complete Record of Royal National Lifeboat Institution Gallantry Medals and how they were won 1824-1996. London: Spink & Son Ltd. p. 146.
  49. ↑ "The Royal Humane Society". The Times (26334). London. 14 January 1869. col A, p. 11.
  50. ↑ "Mudeford Lifeboat Station History". Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  51. ↑ Powell, Mike (1995). Christchurch Harbour. Briar Park Business Centre, Stour Rd, Christchurch: Natula Publications. pp. 46 & 47. ISBN 1-897887-07-8.
  52. ↑ "Stanpit Marsh". Hengistbury-head.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  53. ↑ "Christchurch Historic Urban Character Area 18 Somerford Housing Estates & Former Airfield".
  54. ↑ Stannard, Michael (1999). The Makers of Christchurch: A Thousand Year story. Natula Publications. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-897887-22-6.
  55. 1 2 3 Chaffey, John (2004). The Dorset Landscape, Its Scenery and Geology. Halsgrove House, Tiverton.: Dorset Books. p. 79. ISBN 1-871164-43-5.
  56. ↑ Stannard, Michael (1999). The Makers of Christchurch: A Thousand Year story. Natula Publications. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-1-897887-22-6.
  57. ↑ "Mudeford Sandbank News – Archived Articles". Msbnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  58. ↑ Newman, Sue (1998). Images of England: Christchurch. The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Glos.: Tempus Publishing Limited. p. 97. ISBN 0-7524-1050-4.

Further reading

  • Morley G (1983) Smuggling in Hampshire and Dorset 1700–1850. Newbury. Countryside Books.
  • Samuel OJ (1985) Bure Farm in the Homage of Bure, Mudeford. Christchurch Local History Society
  • Thomas E & Jacobs A The History of All Saints Church, Mudeford. Christchurch Local History Society.
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