Today I decided to go for a walk alongside poole harbourside.  Rather than the Quay, where I would normally head to, I thought I’d try starting the other end.  So pushchair and baby in tow off I popped to Poole.

Parking on Turks Lane I found myself at Whitecliff park.  Together with Baiter park (a bit further along) these make up Poole Harbourside Park. 

Free Parking! Always a great bonus. 

Following the path along the water and you will come across what looks like an old stone wall jutting out towards the sea.

Take a moment to look at this as it is actually quite interesting.  I promise 🙂

The Powder House, this unassuming pile of stone was once the reason that no explosions happened in the town what with all those ships coming into dock carrying barrels of gunpowder.

This 20sq foot building with a huge oak door was constructed well away from the town at Baiter Park.  Ships coming into Poole had to stop off here and drop off all their gunpowder supplies.

Apparently there was a fire at a local bakery prior and officials thought they just couldnt take the risk and having a great fire of Poole!

Supposedly it was constructed in such a way that if ever there was an explosion then the roof would be destroyed but the walls would remain in tact.  Not sure if this was ever tested and proven! **after seeing a picture of the old powder house before destruction I can see that the roof looks made of wood and can see how this would have been possible.

Later on, it was also used as a hideaway when the air raid sirens went off in the war for children playing in the nearby park.

There are also rumours that due to high window and wooden rafters that the place was also used to torture and hang people but I think this is more of an urban legend that having any real fact behind it.

Nearby there used to be an isolation hospital constructed in 1885 where infectious people were put away, to protect the other towns people.  This was used up until 1936 when Typhoid hit the town.  When it was closed stone from the powder house was used to block entry so people could not go exploring inside.  Sadly this was torn down in 1963.  I would have loved to see the building as I am quite a fan of what is known as Dark Tourism!

But the ruins of the Powder House are still there to be seen, even if it is not quite obvious what it once was.  

Further along the path and at low tide we came across the old concrete stone walls of the old sea baths.  Used in the 1880’s.  Whilst I love swimming in the sea, it must surely have been very cold!? ** I have been informed that the baths were in fact heated! And you can see the old floor tile if go out on it, but it is slippery! I plan to go back and will update when I do!

Looking out to the water I can just picture the shipwrecks that are lying very nearby.One of these is the Studland Bay wreck from the early 1500’s when Europeans were off discovering the New World!It was rediscovered in the bay in the 1980s.Notable objects have been recovered from this wreck and can be seen at the amazing Poole Museum.  Including a Nit comb!  An essential item for sailors back then! Nice!

Continued our walk to the Quay.  There is so much at the Quay to explore and write about I will do so in another post and on another day out.

But for now we turned round battled the wind back again, which whilst pushing a pushchair was a workout in itself and off we went back to the car.

A nice 5k walk but I was happy to be back and out of the wind!Interesting Fact: Baiter Park was the site of the mass burial site of Plague victims and also where the town Gallows were.