History & Culture

Poole is a town rich in history.   The beautiful Old Town was part of the medieval town and some buildings still survive.

The overall style is Georgian and stems from re-development in the 18^th Century when the area accommodated the prosperous middle class of Poole, such as sea captains and well-do-do tradesmen.  Their brick-built houses have fine proportions with a wealth of authentic architectural details such as fanlights and boot scrapers.

The Lower High Street has some interesting buildings, independent retailers selling unique gifts, handmade cosmetics with a varied dining scene.

Poole Museum

Poole’s rich history is revealed in four floors of galleries. The 18th Century harbour warehouse has been carefully revealed to provide the perfect setting for the story of Poole to be told.  Entry to the museum is free and fully accessible to visitors with a disability. Poole Museum is temporarily closed for redevelopment and is planned to reopen in Summer 2025.

Attached to the museum, in the medieval Town Cellars, is the local Historical Centre, where residents and visitors can delve deeper into archives and resources covering the history of Poole and its people.

Scaplen's Court: This medieval town house is open and free to the public during August and used by local children in term time as a learning centre.   The Tudor Herb and Physic Garden is open to the public from May to September.

Trails to Discover More

Explore Poole’s Historic Old Town on the cockle trail, this is around a one hour walk.  

Visitors to Poole Old Town and Harbourside Park will find a series of interpretation and wayfinding panels revealing stories, pictures, video and audio on the town’s remarkable heritage.