The only vehicle on the island was a bull-nose Morris lorry. This was always parked at the highest point of the island. It had no starter motor and starting it on the handle was the last resort. It would, however, always start if we bump-started it down the hill, hence the parking point choice. It is fair to say that all this came something of a cultural shock to a boy from south London; I found myself on a steep learning curve.
The maintenance of pleasure boats was an entirely new job to me, and there were ten boats of various sizes on the island. These ranged from a beautiful thirty-five-foot varnished launch, a twenty-foot work boat, down through several sailing dinghies and a speedboat.
I also found myself involved with the more agricultural side of island work; there were three wide fire breaks cut across the island and it was necessary to keep them clear of undergrowth. We also had to fell trees for kindling and carry out maintenance on all the buildings. Pam too had to learn new skills; she was often expected to devise menus and cook for house parties. The first of these would arrive at Easter, and the four of us would be kept busy ensuring that all the boats were ready, and that the running of the big house went smoothly.
Once Easter had passed, there would be further visits throughout the summer. Lady Illiffe would leave in September and we would be left on our own to look after the island until the following Easter. Within the space of a single year the transition from city folk to island folk was complete. Pam and I had made the old stone cottage our home; an old wire-fenced tennis court had been converted into an allotment, we had a dozen chickens and a black dog.
The kitchen windowsill in the cottage had a row of demijohns brewing wine and beer and, on frosty winter mornings, Tony and I would fish for dabs and plaice with long lines. Ted in uniform along with Tony Bailey, the number one boatman, on Furzey Island. In the islands were sparsely populated. On Brownsea there was only one couple; they had looked after Mrs Bonham-Christie, the owner. She had died in and the National Trust took that island under its auspices.
Guy Sydenham, the potter, lived on a converted World War 2 motor torpedo boat on Long Island, while another couple lived on Round Island and looked after it for the absent owner. Although Furzey Island is only a mile from Poole Quay it always seemed much further.
Notify me of new posts via email. Email Address:. I am an adult survivor of congenital heart disease but eventually, aged 38, my own battle-scarred heart failed. My 2nd heart is a gift of kindness that I want to share with everyone. Round the Island. Skip to content. Home About. Poole to Sandbanks. Islands of Poole Harbour Posted on April 20, by jcombe.
Brownsea Island Brownsea is the largest of the islands within Poole Harbour and the closest to the harbour mouth. Furzey Island This is a private island, located south and west of Brownsea Island.
Giggers Island Located right at the west of the harbour near Wareham and the mouths of the river Piddle and Frome. Green Island This island is just south west of Furzey Island. Long Island This island is to the west of the harbour, just off Arne. Otter Island Located at the south western edge of Lytchett Bay. Stone Island A sandbank or stone bank really, this tidal island is mostly revealed at low tide and is right by the mouth of the harbour.
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Fifty years ago this embroidery disappeared, and all trace of it is lost. They had in fact bombed the decoy site set up on the Arne peninsula and, although this deception was successful in protecting the factory, damage was not limited to the decoy site and many of the buildings, including the church, were bombed.
Visiting the area today, no obvious signs remain of what destruction rained down on Arne. It was a place of consequence, from whence was exported the stone of the Isle of Purbeck, as well as the china clay dug out of the heaths.
The New Forest timber used in the building of Corfe Castle was landed here. Since , a period of nearly years, the little port has been silent, yet there are still traces of the quay and of the stout road that led westwards. A pound of pepper and a football form a curious commercial instrument, of which the chronicler furnishes no explanation. Parts of Ower quay still exist; in fact, researchers have recently found evidence of the structure below the mud of Poole Harbour.
One building remains at Ower quay, a house of considerable age, although the area is full of the relics of buildings that would have once been a part of this bustling community. Ower and much of the land around here belong to the previously mentioned Rempstone Estate. Thanks to Lara Manningham-Buller and the Rempstone Estate for their invaluable help in compiling this article. Email This Post. Dorset Life Magazine. All trademarks acknowledged.
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