Introduction Lodginghouses developed into an important part of early Victorian Bournemouth’s economy, the fluid nature of the category reflecting the dynamics of the ever-expanding town. Not least, this business afforded opportunities for women to establish personal and economic independence. Early trends The earliest found directory (1849) listed a single lodginghouse keeper, Mrs Slidle. Before going […]
Introduction Social networks of people originating from the same Dorset district may have helped migrants achieve success in early Victorian Bournemouth. This post continues the focus on the hinterland framed by Cranborne and Wimborne. Social Networks Background Inhabitants of the area defined by Wimborne, Cranborne and the two rivers Allen and Crane migrated around it […]
Introduction ‘Cosmopolitan’ could have described early Victorian Bournemouth’s tourists, but the term might also have applied to the resort’s immigrant residential population. Demographic analysis of the population living in the Wimborne, Allen, Cranborne, Crane (WACC) hinterland offers insight into this aspect of the resort’s residents. The demographic analysis applied here depends on data from the […]
Introduction The career of Bournemouth’s media entrepreneur John Sydenham illustrates how commercial and social success might result from marketing the written word. His main business established at Poole, the new resort, nearby at Bourne Mouth, attracted his attention. He lost little time in establishing a presence at the affluent colony. The press reported his opening […]
Introduction The well-connected Alexander Morden Bennett’s social position would have matched well with the affluent visitors who came to early Victorian Bournemouth. This position, combining marriage connections with political associations, provided him with good social capital during his long career as Bournemouth’s perpetual curate. A.M. Bennett comes to Bournemouth Bournemouth’s early church building loses momentum […]