Broadstone, Dorset

Broadstone /ˈbrɔːdstən/ is a town and civil parish and electoral ward of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. It is located 3 miles (5 kilometres) from Hamworthy railway station and 7 miles (11 kilometres) from Bournemouth Airport. The ward had a population of 10,289 at the 2021 census.^[1]

Since 1840, Broadstone has grown from a small farm to a suburb of 10,000 people. Centred on the main road (the B3074), 'The Broadway' is a busy hub of shops, churches, schools and housing. Broadstone is notable for its large recreation fields and heathland park, as well as an annual Christmas parade and lights. The 24-acre (10-hectare) Broadstone Heath possesses some of the original heathland which covered the Poole Basin.

History

In 1840, "Broadstone Farm" was built, and a railway line bypassed it in 1847. Its first church was built in 1853, which later became the Scout Association hall. The first Broadstone railway station was built in 1872; initially named "New Poole Junction", it became "Broadstone" in 1890. Broadstone First School originated as a Dame school, founded in 1871. At the turn of the century, lavender oil started being produced. This ceased in 1935 when the factory burnt down, but much lavender can still be found in the area. Rapid expansion of the town has since occurred, with the development of the Pine Springs housing estate and the opening of additional schools to cope with the increase in population. On 1 April 2026 Broadstone became a civil parish.^[2]

Toponymy

Legend has it that a number of "broad stones" were laid across a local stream to enable people to cross over without wetting their feet.^{[citation needed]} This stream flows in the valley between Clarendon Road and Springdale Road, and the stones were located close to the Brookdale Farm. The Stepping Stones pub (now renamed 'The Blackwater Stream' since its takeover by J D Wetherspoon) was named in honour of this, and displays a large stone outside its beer garden. Rumoured to be the original, it was stolen decades ago and has since been replaced by a replica. There are also two stones outside Broadstone United Reformed Church, supposedly also originals from the stream.

Notable residents

The Victorian era biologist, naturalist and philosopher Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently proposed the same evolutionary theory as Charles Darwin, lived in Broadstone during the last few years of his life.^[3] He built his own house, named Old Orchard, near what is now Wallace Road. His remains are buried in Broadstone Cemetery, next to those of his wife, Annie. His grave was restored by the A. R. Wallace Memorial Fund^[4] in 2000. It features a 7-foot (2.1-metre) fossilised coniferous tree trunk mounted on a block of Purbeck limestone.

Annette Brooke, a Liberal Democrat MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole from 2001 to 2015, resided in Broadstone.

Bryan Telfer, a commodore in the Royal Navy and veteran of the Falklands War is buried in Broadstone Cemetery.

Victor Watkins who lived in Broadstone was the first Scout in England to gain the Kings Scout Award. He is commemorated with a blue plaque on 29029 Nepalese Restaurant at 205 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone, Poole.

Stuart Hibberd, the chief announcer of the BBC (or "voice of the BBC") for 25 years who announced the deaths of King George V and Adolf Hitler, died in Broadstone in 1983. Broadstone was their family home.^[5]

As a child, actor Richard Todd lived in Broadstone.^[5]

Dutch playwright Jan Fabricius resided at Caesar's Camp, a house on Broadstone Heights.^[5]

Education

Broadstone follows the three-tier education model and contains two first schools (Broadstone First and Springdale First) and a middle school (Broadstone Middle School). Corfe Hills School, an academy school, is also located in Broadstone and is one of the largest secondary schools in Dorset. Its catchment area serves Broadstone, Poole, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Merley as well as other areas.

Politics

Broadstone is in the Mid Dorset and North Poole parliamentary constituency for elections to the House of Commons.

Broadstone ward elects two councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Before 2019, it was represented by three councillors on Poole Borough Council.

Councillors

The ward is currently represented by two Liberal Democrat councillors.^[6]

Clubs and associations

Broadstone is the centre of many clubs, societies and organisations for the South East Dorset area including The Lytchett archery club, Broadstone Football Club, the Broadstone Golf Club, Broadstone Horticultural society, Broadstone Tennis Society, Dorset Caledonian Society, Broadstone Scout Group, Broadstone Youth Centre and the Broadstone Cricket Club. Other local offices include the British Legion, the Rotary club, and the Broadstone Wessex Bowling Club.

References

1. ^ "Broadstone Ward (as of 2022) 2021 Census Area Profile". nomis. Office for National Statistics.
2. ^ "The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Broadstone) Order 2025". Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
3. ^ "Was Wallace more Darwinian than Darwin himself?". First Class Essays. 2005-12-01. Retrieved 2008-06-14. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "1999-Wallace's grave"
5. ^ Broadstone, St John's Church. "Parish History - St John's Church Broadstone". www.stjohnschurchbroadstone.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
6. ^ "Broadstone". Poole Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
7. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Broadstone Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-11.

External links

• Broadstone Village - Broadstone Businesses, offers and community events
• Broadstone Net - local community website