Christchurch, Dorset

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Borough of Christchurch
Within Dorset (above) and the United Kingdom (right).
Geography
Status:	Non-metropolitan district, Borough
Region:	South West England
Ceremonial county:	Dorset
Historic county:	Hampshire
Area: - Total	Ranked 300th 50.38 km²
Admin. HQ:	Christchurch
ONS code:	19UC
Post Office and Telephone
Post Code:	BH
Post Town:	CHRISTCHURCH
Dialling Code:	01202/01425
Demographics
Population: - Total (2006 est.) - Density	Ranked 345th 45,000 893 / km²
Ethnicity:	98.9% White
Politics
Christchurch Borough Council http://www.christchurch.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Alternative - Sec.31
Control:	Conservative
MP:	Christopher Chope

Christchurch is a borough and town in Dorset on the English Channel coast, adjoining Bournemouth in the west, with the New Forest to the east.

The town is served by Christchurch railway station.

1 Geography and administration
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Present day
5 External links

[edit] Geography and administration

Although within the historic county boundaries of Hampshire, at the time of the 1974 local government re-organisation it was considered desirable that the whole of what is now called the South East Dorset conurbation, which includes Bournemouth and Poole, should be part of the same county. The current local government district, which has borough status, was formed by the merger of the old borough of Christchurch with part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District. Since then it has been part of the non-metropolitan county of Dorset. It includes large unurbanised areas, including Bournemouth International Airport, and the parishes of Burton and Hurn.

Christchurch Priory and Keep

[edit] History

The town was originally a Saxon settlement called Twyneham (which gives the town's central school its name), from "betweon eam", which meant (the settlement) between two rivers.

During Saxon times the harbour was one of the most important in England as it was easily reached from the continent and boats could enter the harbour and travel up the river Avon all the way to Salisbury. The sheltered harbour and easy access to neighbouring towns also made the area popular with smugglers, culminating in the "Battle of Mudeford" in 1784 between Customs & Excise and the smugglers. A famous smuggler called thomas tripp was involved in this battle, there is a public house named after him. There was a Saxon mint (coin) in "Twynam" until just before the Norman Conquest.

[edit] Demographics

The borough has a population of 44,869 (according to 2001 figures), of whom a significant proportion are comfortably off senior citizens (33.1% of the population are of retirement age). Indeed, the area of Highcliffe on the borough's eastern boundary possesses the highest percentage of elderly residents in the entire United Kingdom (70%).

[edit] Present day

The Avon and the Stour both enter the sea in Christchurch Harbour. This medium-sized priory and market town is generally regarded as a conservative, slow-paced and popular tourist and retirement destination "where time is pleasant" (according to the town's official description). The older part of the town, dominated by the Priory Church (the longest parish church in England), dates from Saxon times and still retains its Saxon street layout. It is an interesting mixture of picturesque walks, quaint houses, restaurants, public houses and specialist shops, some of which date back to smuggling times.

In Christchurch there are several reserved buildings including the thatched 14th century Old Court House and the Georgian Red House.

Christchurch Priory

The town centre is dominated by Christchurch Priory and the High Street with its squares and parades containing shopping facilities. Christchurch forms part of the south east Dorset conurbation along with Bournemouth, Poole and adjacent areas of East Dorset.

The harbour is a large protected salt marsh protected by a sand bar at the entrance. The harbour is only accessible to shallow draught boats due to the sand bars at the entrance. The entrance, known as the Run, has Mudeford Quay on one side and the sand bar on the other. Considerable tides flow here, up to 6 knots during spring tides. The harbour is a protected wildlife refuge and is home to large populations of swans, waders and other bird life. On the south side the harbour is enclosed by Hengistbury head which was the site of the earliest settlement here dating back to the Neolithic. The landward end of the headland still has the bank and ditch built about 2000BC to protect the settlement.

Stanpit Marsh Local Nature Reserve is situated just below the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Stour. During the 18th century it was notorious for smugglers landing tobacco and rum in the narrow channels of Christchurch Harbour. It comprises areas of saltmarsh, freshwater marsh with reed beds and areas of scrub. It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1964 and in 1986 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is approximately 65 ha in area and is managed by Christchurch Borough Council.

Nearby is Highcliffe Castle, a Grade I listed building. The castle was designed by William Donthorne for Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay, and built between 1831 and 1835. It stands on the site of High Cliff, a Georgian mansion that had belonged to Charles Stuart's grandfather John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute.

The Member of Parliament for the Christchurch constituency is Christopher Chope, who holds a considerable vote majority of 15,559 and a percentage vote of 54.7% following the 2005 general election, making Christchurch one of the safest Conservative constituencies in the country.

Fashion photographer Jo Jukes and her father, head of the town's community responders, live in Christchurch.

Christchurch is twinned with:

[edit] External links

v • d • e Dorset

Districts:	East Dorset • North Dorset • Purbeck • West Dorset • Weymouth and Portland

Unitary authorities:	Bournemouth • Poole

Main Settlements:	Bournemouth • Christchurch • Dorchester • Poole • Weymouth

Market Towns:	Blandford Forum • Bridport • Gillingham • Lyme Regis • Shaftesbury • Sherborne • Sturminster Newton • Wareham • Wimborne Minster

Rivers:	Allen • Asker • Avon • Bourne • Cerne • Frome • Hooke • Moors • Piddle • Stour • Sydling Water • Tarrant • Wey

Topics:	Beaches • Flag • Geology • History • Lord Lieutenants • Parishes • Places • People • Transport