Boscombe Tapestries

*Boscombe Pier, January 2022* Boscombe Pier has had a somewhat chequered history. Construction began in October 1888, and the pier opened in July 1889, but initially was not very successful. It was taken over by the council in 1904 and buildings were erected at the entrance and on the pier-head. Facilities included a busy steamer landing stage. During World War 2, the pier was breached for defence reasons. In the 1960s, a restaurant and the Mermaid Theatre were built at the pier-head, though the ‘Theatre’ initially opened as a roller-skating rink. By the 1990s, the Mermaid had fallen into disrepair and it was demolished in 2008, replaced by a simpler viewing and fishing platform. I particularly like this view, showin...

Boscombe to Hengistbury, January 2022 The view from Boscombe Pier looking east along the south coast of England towards Hengistbury Head (centre right). The colourful, multi-storey development on the left is the Honeycombe Beach apartment complex, which has amazing sea views. Date: 16th January 2022.

Boscombe Pier Number of views as of 22nd May 2019 = 2230. A deserted Boscombe Pier, bathed in early morning January sunlight. Opened in 1889, and several rebuilds later, the structure was closed in 2005 as it was deemed to be unsafe. Thankfully it was restored and re-opened in 2008. Website Nothing To See Here named it Britain’s coolest pier in 2009 and the National Piers Society voted it Pier of the Year in 2010. Date: 21st January 2012.

Boscombe Overstrand Number of views as of 18th July 2018 = 5100. Number of sales as of 18th July 2018 = 3. This shot shows Boscombe Beach, sweeping away eastwards towards Hengistbury Head, whilst clouds gather over the Solent beyond. To the left is the recently refurbished Boscombe Overstrand building and behind it the Barratt Homes Honeycombe Beach development. Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Date: 21st January 2012.

*Boscombe Pier and Purbeck, January 2022* Great light overlooking Boscombe Pier earlier this week, with the Purbeck Hills across Poole Bay in the distance. A couple of jet skiers enjoy the calm, sunny, if rather chilly conditions. Date: 16th January 2022. Location: Boscombe East, Bournemouth, Dorset, England.

Pier of the Year Number of views as of 18th September 2017 = 530. Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth (Dorset, England). Voted Pier of the Year by the National Piers Society in 2010. Named as Britain’s 'coolest' pier in 2009 by website Nothing To See Here. Date: 21st January 2012.

Boscombe Pier Number of views as of 21st June 2018 = 650. Boscombe lies a couple of miles to the east of Bournemouth, Dorset on the south coast of England. The Boscombe Pier Company was formed in 1886 and construction of the town's pier commenced in 1888. The first pile was driven into the sea bed by Lady Shelley, daughter-in law of the poet Percy Shelley. Simply designed as a promenade deck with a landing stage at the head, the 600ft (183m) wood and iron pier was opened by the Duke of Argyll on 29th July 1889 at a cost of around £12,000. It was sold to Bournemouth Corporation in 1904. Buildings were erected at both the shoreward and seaward ends in a bid to attract more visitors, and one unusual feature was the skeleton of a 65ft (19.6m...

Boscombe Overstrand Panorama Number of views as of 8th October 2018 = 4200. A couple of miles east of Bournemouth, Boscombe is the site of Bournemouth's new artificial surf reef, unique in Europe and one of only 4 in the world, the others being Narrowneck, Queensland; Cables, Western Australia and Mt.Maunganui, New Zealand. The submerged reef occupies approximately one hectare (the size of a football pitch) and is 225 metres from the shoreline. The reef mimics the effects of a natural reef and is built from large geo-textile bags filled with sand. The Boscombe Overstrand building (centre shot) was designed in 1958, but has recently been transformed into a complex of 'surf pods', chic but not cheap beach accommodation overlooking the reef...

*Sandcastle Building, Boscombe, March 2021* You know what they say - as guys get older, the only thing that changes is the size (and price) of their toys. Here's the proof. Forget buckets and spades, here's the latest in sandcastle building tech. Or ... Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole's latest sand replenishment project - apparently the team is working 24/7 to top up the beaches in time for the holiday season. Date: 14th March 2021.

Sheds Of Any Colour But Grey Number of views as of 9th July 2018 = 1400. Looking for all the world like a life-size Dulux colour chart, these brightly coloured beach huts can be found on the East Undercliff, between Bournemouth and Boscombe (Dorset, England). Date: 14th October 2012.

Poole Bay from Hengistbury Head View across Poole Bay from Hengistbury Head (between Bournemouth and Christchurch, Dorset, England), looking west towards Southbourne, Boscombe, Bournemouth and Poole. Hengistbury Head is a former stone age, bronze age and iron age settlement, and is now a popular nature reserve. Date: 4th February 2018.