West Moors
Encyclopedia
West Moors is a village in East Dorset
, England
, on the northern fringe of the Poole-Bournemouth conurbation
, just outside the larger settlements of Ferndown
and Verwood
. The parish of West Moors had an estimated population
of 7,400 in 2004.
West Moors rose to local prominence with the building of the Southampton and Dorchester
and Salisbury and Dorset Junction
railway lines in the late 19th century and, although main line services were later diverted via Bournemouth
, West Moors railway station
was served by a branch line railway until 4 May 1964. The only remnants of these lines through the village are the original level crossing
gatekeeper's cottage on Station Road, and the Castleman Trailway
footpath following the original trackbed leading to Ringwood
to the east and Poole
to the west.
The village expanded with the development of the military fuel depot located outside the village but within the West Moors civil parish. The depot is home to elements of the Defence Fuels Group, including the Defence School of Petroleum, and also to the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Training Centre. In the past many military families were housed in their own housing estates, however most jobs are now undertaken by civilian personnel and the military housing sold off. More recent population increases have been due to the influx of commuters, both to Bournemouth and Poole, and to more remote destinations such as Southampton
, and London
.
West Moors has a mixed population, with a relatively high proportion of elderly people, and significant number of young families. There are two first schools
, one middle school
, two youth club
s and a skatepark
.
There are various shops including two butchers, one baker and two Public Houses. There is also the West Moors Social Club which has entertainment nights. Moors Valley Country Park
is just outside the parish boundary (3 miles from the village).
The village's sports facilities include two football pitches (Fryers Playing Field) which becomes a cricket pitch during the summer period. The tennis courts have recently been refurbished into a grass football facility and a multi-use area that can be used as two tennis courts (tarmacadam surface) or other sports.
West Moors is world famous for its Seven Wonders:
1. Skate Park
2. Moors Valley Country Park
3. Top Secret US Army Base (not appearing on any map)
4. Tesco Express
5. West Moors Library
6. New Forest Kebabs
7. Friday Night Poker at West Moors Club
8. (honorary wonder) Biltong Shop
East Dorset
East Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Furzehill, near Wimborne Minster.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Wimborne Minster Urban District with part of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District and the Wimborne and Cranborne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the northern fringe of the Poole-Bournemouth conurbation
South East Dorset conurbation
The South east Dorset conurbation is a multi-centred conurbation on the south coast of Dorset in England. The area is rapidly becoming an amalgamation with the area of South West Hampshire immediately on the fringe of the newly formed New Forest National Park...
, just outside the larger settlements of Ferndown
Ferndown
Ferndown is a town and civil parish in the East Dorset district of Dorset in southern England, situated immediately to the north of unitary authorities of Poole and Bournemouth. The parish, which until 1972 was called Hampreston, includes the communities of Hampreston, Longham, Stapehill and...
and Verwood
Verwood
Verwood is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England. The town lies north of Bournemouth and north of Poole. The town has a population of 14,820 according to latest figures from Dorset County Council, making it the largest town in Dorset without an upper school in terms of population.-Early...
. The parish of West Moors had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 7,400 in 2004.
West Moors rose to local prominence with the building of the Southampton and Dorchester
Southampton and Dorchester Railway
-Planning and Construction:The Southampton and Dorchester Railway, operating in the counties of Hampshire and Dorset, received Parliamentary Assent in 1845 and opened in 1847. The railway was promoted by a Wimborne solicitor, Charles Castleman...
and Salisbury and Dorset Junction
Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway
The Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway was a railway that ran in the English counties of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset from 1866 until its closure in 1964. Working from Salisbury, trains left the Salisbury to Southampton line at the remote Alderbury Junction. Here there was a signal box, some...
railway lines in the late 19th century and, although main line services were later diverted via Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, West Moors railway station
West Moors railway station
West Moors is a closed railway station in Dorset. Opened in 1867, It became the junction of the Southampton and Dorchester Railway and the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway. Although passenger services were withdrawn in 1964 as a result of the Beeching Report, continued use of the line into the...
was served by a branch line railway until 4 May 1964. The only remnants of these lines through the village are the original level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
gatekeeper's cottage on Station Road, and the Castleman Trailway
Castleman Trailway
The Castleman Trailway is a footpath in Southern England. Portions of the trailway are also a cyclepath but the middle section from West Moors to Wimborne is not cyclable....
footpath following the original trackbed leading to Ringwood
Ringwood
Ringwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages....
to the east and Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
to the west.
The village expanded with the development of the military fuel depot located outside the village but within the West Moors civil parish. The depot is home to elements of the Defence Fuels Group, including the Defence School of Petroleum, and also to the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory Fire and Rescue Service for the area of Dorset, South West England. The Service Headquarters were located in Colliton Park, Dorchester, but as of October 2008 moved to a new purpose built location in Poundbury....
Training Centre. In the past many military families were housed in their own housing estates, however most jobs are now undertaken by civilian personnel and the military housing sold off. More recent population increases have been due to the influx of commuters, both to Bournemouth and Poole, and to more remote destinations such as Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
West Moors has a mixed population, with a relatively high proportion of elderly people, and significant number of young families. There are two first schools
First School
First school and lower school are terms used in some areas of the United Kingdom to describe the first stage of primary education. Some English Local Education Authorities have introduced First Schools since the 1960s...
, one middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, two youth club
Youth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
s and a skatepark
Skatepark
A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
.
There are various shops including two butchers, one baker and two Public Houses. There is also the West Moors Social Club which has entertainment nights. Moors Valley Country Park
Moors Valley Country Park
Moors Valley Country Park, officially Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, is a Country Park situated in Ashley Heath, Dorset on the border with Hampshire, in the south of England....
is just outside the parish boundary (3 miles from the village).
The village's sports facilities include two football pitches (Fryers Playing Field) which becomes a cricket pitch during the summer period. The tennis courts have recently been refurbished into a grass football facility and a multi-use area that can be used as two tennis courts (tarmacadam surface) or other sports.
West Moors is world famous for its Seven Wonders:
1. Skate Park
2. Moors Valley Country Park
3. Top Secret US Army Base (not appearing on any map)
4. Tesco Express
5. West Moors Library
6. New Forest Kebabs
7. Friday Night Poker at West Moors Club
8. (honorary wonder) Biltong Shop