Walks 1+2

The Longham Lakes (1 or 2 miles)

Directions and local information, a printable map (pdf)

The lakes are approachable from a number of different directions but local car parking is difficult.

The Visitor Centre car park can only be used by authorised parties.

These walks round the smaller north lake or the much larger south lake can be extended to take in parts of the ancient Longham village.

The lake site was excavated for sand and gravel from 1994 and is now used for water storage for the adjoining water treatment works. The smaller lake opened in 2009. The larger lake is for use by local clubs for canoeing, model yachts and model planes whilst the smaller one is just for fishing. 147 species of birds have been recorded here. The study centre can be hired and is used for education on conservation issues and training.

In archaeological excavations in 1992 a number of prehistoric finds were made, including Bronze Age pottery and worked flints. This area was widely settled at this time with a large cremation site at Simon’s Ground close to Stapehill to the north-west.

A part of a mammoth tusk was found at the Lakes during excavation of the sand and gravel. It is about 2-3 ft long and was sent to the Natural History Museum for verification and preservation some years ago. It is in a glass case at the Centre and can be seen if the Centre is open.

Some fired musket balls have been found nearby, possibly from the Civil War.

If you fancy a bit more of a walk you have the option of 2 extra walks.

From the Visitor Centre on the east side of the lakes walk to the main road, the A348. You have 2 choices –Option 1- turn left and head north towards Ferndown or Option 2-turn right to go south to the River Stour.

Option 1

Cross the main road and turn left. Longham is an ancient settlement and at one time the largest in the area with a map of 1815 showing continuous properties along the main road. These were mixed with the larger Longham House on the left (now 2 houses behind the large brick wall) and Longham Farm (both C18 and Grade 2 listed).

Most cottages would have been thatched roof / cob wall construction for farm workers. Some have been replaced by modern businesses and houses but the whole road reflects the ancient history of the village.

Longham was believed to be planned to be developed as a large model village and rapid development was expected. This did not happen and Longham remained a scattering of a few thatched cottages, the 4 distinctive Canford Estate (also known as Lady Wimborne) cottages opposite the pub, some scattered substantial houses, including the C18 Longham Farm and an earlier building, now the White Hart pub.

The pub was one of the many houses locally owned by Isaac Gulliver, a renowned smuggler. The former Post Office over the road from the White Hart was listed in a business directory in 1859 as a Post Office / shop and ‘coffee tavern’ and the same in 1880 and 1903. The PO / shop only closed about 5 years ago and the property developed as a group of houses.

You can see the United Reform Church over the crossroads with the east / west route from Christchurch to Wimborne. Built in 1841, this is a very large church for the size of the local population at the time. An 1815 map of the area shows a number of cottages on the opposite corner but they were cleared when Holmwood House was built.

Returning south, there is a stone next to the car dealers to show the site of an animal pound. This was used to hold stray sheep, pigs and cattle and nearly every medieval village had one. Owners had to pay a fee to the pound keeper to return animals.

Option2

From the Visitor Centre car park cross the main road and turn right and walk for ¼ mile till you reach the Bridge House Hotel. This was originally Bridge Farm until the 1930s. Many stars of summer shows in Bournemouth used to stay here, attracted by the scenic location, horse riding, fishing in the Stour and afternoon tea.

After Telly Sevalas earned $1m playing Blofeld in the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service he bought the hotel and a couple of his family members ran it for him. In the last few years a £2m investment in upgrading the hotel means there are now 49 en suite rooms.

Being next to the Stour the grounds are known to flood each year with the water coming right up to the edge of the hotel and the island opposite being completely under water.

From the hotel you can see Longham Bridge, one of the few bridges over the Stour. The current Longham Bridge was built in 1728 and improved in 1792 but bridges here have been recorded on maps in 1687 and in the 14th century. This is a natural crossing point as the river can be very low at times and may have been used by prehistoric travellers.

If you walk onto Longham Bridge have a look at the old metal sign on the wall over the road in the centre of the bridge. It reads:

DORSET
Any person wilfully INJURING any
part of this COUNTY BRIDGE will be
guilty of FELONY and upon conviction
liable to be TRANSPORTED FOR
LIFE
By the Court T Fooks

You have been warned!!

There was a water mill to the west of the bridge on a mill stream but this was removed when the pumping station was built in 1885. Just over the bridge is Millhams Road, an ancient track that leads to Kinson, called Kingston in the 18th and 19th centuries, one of the oldest parts of Bournemouth. The ancient St Andrews Church, with origins as a Saxon site, is only about ½ mile along the Lane. Kinson is well known for being active in the smuggling trade.