Winton is a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, UK. It lies a mile or so north of Bournemouth town centre, along Wimborne Road (the A347).

History

The name Winton derives from Wintoun Castle in Scotland, which was home to the Earl of Wintoun, a relative of the Talbot family (who were local land owners).

At the beginning of the 19th century the area was just rough heathland, with just a track linking ancient Moordown Village to Horseshoe Common. In 1805 this all changed when a new main road through Winton was put in and named Muscliff Road (today it is known as Wimborne Road).

Around 1850 wealthy Scottish philanthropists Georgina and Marianne Talbot saw the plight of local workers and set about trying to improve their lives by purchasing land along the road and building four artisan cottages and sinking wells to provide fresh water.

By 1891 the population of Winton had reached 4,000 and by 1894 the needs of Winton were so great that they were put under the care of the Winton Parish Council and later in 1897 Winton Urban District Council was formed. In 1901 Bournemouth (which was by then a county borough) increased its boundaries to include Winton and other districts.

Landmarks & Buildings

Winton Recreation Ground

Winton Recreation Ground is the only significant green space in an area of approximately one square mile, serving a population of some 4750 people.

The idea of creating a public recreation facility for Winton was first envisaged in 1902. The Earl of Malmesbury gave nearly six hectares of suitable land to Bournemouth Borough Council in 1904. The official opening of Winton Recreation Ground took place in September 1906.

The facilities available at the ground include Richmond Park Bowls Club, tennis courts, cycle track, children's playground, playgroups play building and a cricket pitch.

The cricket pavilion is over 90 years old and it was extended in 1962 and refurbished in 1999.

Winton Banks

This busy road junction in Winton is called Winton Banks thanks to the many banks that once surrounded this junction.

Continental Cinema

The far right of the picture is the corner where the Continental Cinema once stood. Opened in 1911 it started life as the Winton Hall and was renamed Winton Electric Picture House the following year.In 1930 it was modernized and renamed Plaza, becoming the first cinema in Bournemouth to show talking pictures. After the war years it was again refurbished and renamed the Continental. In 1978 it changed hands but the cinema took a downturn in the 1980s due to lack of maintenance and it ended its life in 1989 when it was demolished.

Winton Library

Winton library was opened in 1907 and became Bournemouth's first permanent purpose-built library. It was built on land provided by landowner Lord Leven with financial support from Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The library has undergone a number of refurbishments during its lifetime, the most recent in 2006 when a computer suite was added.

Present day

Today Winton is still popular for shopping, including a regular farmers' market which takes place in Cardigan Road. The area has several striking buildings, such as Saint Luke’s Church, the old Fire Station on Peter’s Hill, the art-deco Moderne Cinema building (now the Gala bingo hall) and the Edwardian library in Wimborne Road.

Winton is also a popular area for students of Bournemouth University to live in, given its local amenities, bus connections to the town centre and proximity to Talbot Campus, the university's main site.

Timeline

• Circa 1850 Philanthropists Georgina & Marianne Talbot purchase land on the main Wimborne Road.

• 1862 Seven almhouses designed by Cristopher Crabbe Creeke are built for the old and infirm. They are constructed of Portland stone.

             Talbot Village School erected with room for 68 pupils.

• 1870 St.Marks Church completed at a cost of £5000. The building consists of Portland and Purbeck stone.

• 1894 Winton becomes a civil parish.

• 1897 Winton Urban District Council is formed.

• 1901 Bournemouth extends its boundaries to include Winton.

             Winton gets its own police station. It is established in a building built ten years earlier known as Hamilton towers.

• 1902 Horsedrawn carriages are replaced by trams.

• 1903 The first fire station is established. It is staffed by volunteers and the fire engine is a horse drawn pump.

• 1906 Winton Recreation Ground is officially opened.

• 1907 Winton library opens.

References

• BH Life, January/February 2006 edition
• http://www.geograph.org.uk

External links

• Winton Forum - Community group and website providing news, history and comprehensive information about Winton, Bournemouth