Christchurch Online - Town Centre

Focus

Who's Online

Town Centre

Old Townhall aka Mayors Parlour

Located in the centre of the High Street can be found the town hall, a grade 2 listed building. The original town hall was situated at the corner of Castle Street and High Street, built in 1745 where originally were sited houses and the shambles (slaughter houses). It was then moved to it's present location in 1859. A little after this time some of the arches were filled in to create more office space. 1902 saw the addition of the balcony and parapet and an extension at the rear for the art and technical school. A proposal to demolish this building was raised and actually passed in 1960 but fortunately a dozen prominent people appealed to the government and was saved. In more recent times the rear of the building has been cleared to create the Saxon Square shopping precinct, the arches have been opened up again and the town's affairs are now at the Civic centre in Bridge Street on the banks of the River Avon.

From the end of Church Street under the shadow of the Priory in to the High Street and then into Bargates are a continuous array of shops, banks, building societies, the tourist info centre, the library and the Regent Centre, built in the 1930's as a cinema but in the 1970's as cinema goers declined it also diversified to theatre and exhibitions. It still shows films and theatrical events today.

At the junction of the High Street and Castle Street can be found the George Inn dating from 1652 originally a coaching stop. Further down Castle Street towards the town bridge on the left side is Lloyds bank, estate agents, restaurants, a specialist bookshop etc, then the Kings Arms Hotel. On the right side can be found a boutique, gift shops, bakery and The New Forest Perfumery, the latter situated in a building known as the "Old Court House" parts of which date back to the 12th century. This thatched building was where the Mayor and town officials were sworn in each year. On the left side an the access path, featuring the replica "Stocks", Castle Keep, the grounds of the Priory, the Garden of Rest, Millstream and finally the Quay.

On the left side of Church Street most of the buildings are still as they were at the turn of the century and beyond, shops and recently, theme bars. They include gift shops, flower shops and recently the pubs have been changed to theme bars, but still keeping there historic frontage. At the end of the road can be found the Church Hatch an early 18th century house which was saved from conversion to shops and housing within it's grounds.

Looking down the right side many buildings have been lost, replaced by modern offices with shops below fronted by brick arches. The Dolphin Inn was demolished to create a tram depot at turn of 1900, but with the arrival of diesel buses the site was developed into an office complex, home to a Housing Association and Dept of Employment. The turntable which was used to turn trolley buses around and has a preservation order on it is now used as a car park and delivery access. In fact in one of the interactive images you can just make out a trolley bus between the buildings.

Castle Street runs from the High Street to the Town Bridge, also known as Quartleys Bridge,( named after Dr.Quartley, town mayor, and believed to be involved in smuggling) A medieval structure that has been widened and strengthened since it's building. From here the road continues as Bridge Street over another old bridge known as Waterloo Bridge, (built by William Hiscock in 1857, past the civic offices and town gas storage tank to Purewell. The Kings Arms Hotel can be found in Castle Street next to the Millstream. At it's rear is Ducking Stool Lane, named after the medieval practice of dipping "Nags" into the river. The hotel was built in 1802 and known as Humby's on the 17th century site of the same name. In 1857 it was sold to Nicholas Newlyn and became Newlyn's Family Hotel. It has had a number of extensions including the creation of a ballroom around an ancient wooden structure in 1936. It was temporarily closed in 1985 due to subsidence and the whole frontage was rebuilt. It is a popular place for weddings and conferences. From the junction of Castle street, High Street and Church Street looking south east can be seen the Tower of the Priory.

Standing outside the front of the hotel you will be able to cast your eyes over the Constables House (See History) ruins and the Bowling Green. In the background will be the magnificent Priory and to the right the Castle ruins.

Walking away from the town centre and Castle Street, over the Town Bridge you will enter Bridge Street. This road with most of its' 19th century buildings intact links the two bridges, Town Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.

Red House Museum dating back to 1764 in Quay Road off Church Street which was originally the towns workhouse for the poor and financially ruined. When it became overcrowded the inmates were installed in to the new institution in Fairmile Road in 1881, the Christchurch Union. This site expanded on a large scale with the incorporation of Bournemouth in to the Union. The institution was at it's peak around 1935, but after the war and the formation of the National Health Service in 1948 it became Christchurch Hospital. The hospital still is in operation but now without an A&E department and much of the extensive grounds has succumb to redevelopment. See History/Welfare

Returning to the High Street whose length is populated with numerous well known brands names and all the usual Banking and Building Societies. The Regent Centre is situated centrally on one side of the street, now a multi-purpose venue holding exhibitions, stage plays and also it's original concept, a cinema. Next door can be found the Library, originally built as a grand home for the Druid family, but given to the community. The library has high speed internet facilities, children's reading and crèche area and is also the home of the Christchurch Historians. Some of the frontages have changed only slightly since the 19th century. Another shopping area called Saxon Square built in the 1970's is situated behind the old town Hall with a multi-storey car park attached. Saxon Square is a partially covered shopping centre with many of the major "High Street" Stores within. i.e.: Argos, Somerfield, W.H.Smith, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Clinton Cards, Robert Dyas but to name just a few. The space shown in the picture holds part of the Market which is held in the High Street every Monday. Saxon Square also hosts regular French / Continental markets too.