Trams

In 1889 the 'Bournemouth, Boscombe & Westbourne Omnibus Company' was formed. This operated from a small stables in Pokesdown. Other companies were also formed around this time, 'The Southbourne, Boscombe & Bournemouth Omnibus Company', operating a service between Parkwood Road Boscombe to Seamoor Road Westbourne, and 'The Bournemouth General Penny Omnibus Company'.

Other companies were started in various other areas, with services operating between Christchurch and Poole, and Winton and Moordown.

The first real application for a tramway was made in 1881 by the 'Bournemouth, Poole and District Light Railways (Electric) Company', a subsidiary of the 'Provincial Tramways Company'. A route linking the East Station and Poole was proposed, but this was turned down. Another company, the 'British Electric Traction Company' (BET) also had proposals for numerous tramways in Bournemouth, these were also opposed by the local Council, who at the time, thought that if anybody was going to run services, the Corporation should do it themselves.

The 'British Electric Traction Company' (BET) in 1899 finally obtained the powers to operate a single line between Poole, Upper Parkstone and County Gates, they were not allowed to run the line across the county boundary into Westbourne and Bournemouth. 'The Poole and District Electric Traction Company' was founded and under the Light Railways act of 1896, the obtained the Poole & District Light Railway Order 1889.

Poole around 1901

The construction of the tramway started on the 4th of May 1900, and the three and three quarter mile line finally opened just some 11 months later, on the 6th of April 1901. The fare for the journey was 3d.

Following the granting of the Poole & District Light Railway Order in 1889, BET again applied for powers to construct and run services in the Bournemouth area. Bournemouth by this time had started to realise that there was to be a need for this form of transport in the town, and proposed it's own tramway system.

On the 4th of May 1900 (the same day work started on the Poole to County Gates line), when both proposals were submitted to the Council, they passed both bills, 'The Christchurch and Bournemouth Tramways Act, 1900', but the Bournemouth Corporation had precedence over BET, who would only get to exercise powers if the Corporation failed to construct the tramway themselves within two years.

Work eventually started on the Landsdowne to Pokesdown route (This was eventually opened on the 23rd of July 1902), but there were numerous objections and legal hearings to follow, with even preparations being made to take the case to the House of Lords. Eventually plans were drawn up to dispose of the Poole system to the Corporation.

Poole Council proposed that if BET sold the system, they should be allowed to purchase it themselves and lease it back to the Corporation. In 1903 this matter went to arbitration, and by the end of 1904 Bournemouth Corporation gained control of the whole system (both built or planned) for about £112,000. Poole were allowed to purchase their section of lines and lease them back to Bournemouth for 30 years, this also helped Bournemouth financially. Bournemouth officially took over the Poole system on the 22nd of June 1905.

Opening dates of tram routes: (View the route map)

The construction of the first tramway in the area between Poole and County Gates started on the 4th of May 1900.

Bournemouth officially took over the Poole tramway system on the 22nd of June 1905.

The first 'through' tramcar between Poole and Bournemouth ran on the 3rd of July 1905.

The first 'through' tramcar between Poole Railway Station and Christchurch Priory ran on the 17th of October 1905. The cost of this 10 mile journey was 10d, plus a half pence toll charge to cross Tucton Bridge.

This page has been reproduced from Kevin's Place (www.kevinsplace.co.uk)