When Was Poole Burnt Down?

The Spanish burnt Poole harbour down to the ground in the year 1405. this was because a notorious local pirate named Harry Paye continuously kept attacking vessels that belonged to Spain. Paye was a fearless privateer-cum-pirate who took risks and led attacks on the coastal towns from the Bay of Biscay to Finisteerre on Normandy in France Poole, however, seemed to benefit immensely despite the activities of the pirates and their consequences. In the year 1571, Poole acquired the new status of a county corporate.

In the 17th century, Poole started transatlantic trading and by the 18th century, it had become the busiest seaport in England, beating its rival Bristol. Urbanisation was an important effect of the industrial revolution that took place then. Merchants began to set up and settle in tenement buildings, which were demolished during a slum clearance drive in 1960's and the 1970's. The slum clearance programme was extremely unpopular and highly criticised.