When Did Poole Start To Export Wool?

During the times of the Norman Conquest of England, Poole was a small fishing village and grew into a big and busy port gradually. In 1433, Poole was named the chief seaport (or Port of the Staple) for the export of wool. Poole had excellent trade relations with the Baltic countries and Italy during the medieval period. In the 17th century, it formed a trade partnership with Newfoundland in Canada, and thus began a new era in the history of the flourishing Poole harbour.

Owing to its excellent trade relations with Newfoundland, Poole not only became one of Britain's wealthiest and busiest seaports, but it became the principal seaport in the trade route between the United Kingdom and all of North America. The employment of ninety per cent of Poole's population was directly dependent upon the harbour (in the beginning of the 19th century), but there was a drastic drop in the harbour employment figures when the railway lines started connecting Poole to the rest of England.

The bulk of large vessels anchored at Southampton in the earlier days because of its depth and proximity to London, but the regular dredging of a channel through the Poole harbour has played a major role in the redevelopment of the harbour.