Sandbanks
{{For|the landform|Shoal}}
{{Other uses|Sandbank (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name= Sandbanks
|static_image_name= Sandbanks, Dorset - geograph.org.uk - 1878689.jpg
|static_image_width= 250
|static_image_caption= Sandbanks viewed from Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour
|map_type= Dorset
|coordinates= {{coord|50.686|-1.945|display=inline,title}}
|population=
|os_grid_reference =
|unitary_england= Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
|lieutenancy_england= Dorset
|region= South West England
|country= England
|post_town= POOLE
|postcode_area= BH
|postcode_district= BH13
|dial_code= 01202
|constituency_westminster= Poole
|area_total_sq_mi= 0.39
}}
Sandbanks is an affluent neighbourhood of Poole, Dorset, on the south coast of England, situated on a narrow spit of around 1 km2 or 0.39 sq mi extending into the mouth of Poole Harbour.
It is known for its high property prices and for its award-winning beach.{{Cite web |title=2024 Blue Flag and Seaside Award Winners {{!}} Keep Britain Tidy |url=https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/2024-blue-flag-and-seaside-award-winners |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.keepbritaintidy.org |language=en}} In 2005, Sandbanks was reported to have the fourth highest land value by area in the world.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/4440107.stm "Island on the market for £2.5 million"], BBC News 13 April 2005{{needs update|date=April 2021}} The Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs Coastline area has been dubbed "Britain's Palm Beach".Morris, Steven. "[https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,1606548,00.html £3m for modest bungalow needing TLC]", The Guardian 2 November 2005.
History
In its early years Sandbanks was known as "Parkstone-on-Sea".{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Dave |date=2023-06-25 |title=How sandy peninsula of Sandbanks went from rags-to-riches |url=https://www.dorset.live/news/history/sand-dunes-superstars-rags-riches-7102950 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Dorset Live |language=en}} The area was largely undeveloped until the 20th century.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-27 |title=30 photos showing the amazing changes to Sandbanks in the last 100 years |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20273090.old-photos-show-changes-sandbanks-past-100-years/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} Sandbanks Road was constructed after the first world war, linking the peninsular to the Parkstone area of Poole.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=How cows in meadows were replaced by wealthy Sandbanks residents |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25197892.pictures-show-sandbanks-road-early-20th-century/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}Image:Sandbanks ferry near poole england.jpg, looking towards Sandbanks]]
Geography
Sandbanks is connected to Studland by the Sandbanks Ferry, a chain ferry across the mouth of the harbour. The Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour (known as North Haven Lake) is used for water sports and by light marina craft. The north side is home to the Southern Headquarters of the Royal Yachting Association and a sailing school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rya.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx|title=Home|website=Rya.org.uk}}
Views to the north are across Poole Harbour and to Poole. To the south views extend across the English Channel and to the coastline of Studland and Swanage in the west.
Property
Sandbanks is a predominantly residential area, with homes stretching east from the Harbour to The Avenue, the eastern boundary of Poole. Homes often sell for millions of pounds.
Facilities
The Haven Hotel in Sandbanks, constructed in 1887, was where Guglielmo Marconi performed wireless experiments in the late 1890s while living there. Sandbanks was the third place in the world to have a permanent wireless station (1899).
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution stationed a lifeboat at Sandbanks in 1865. The crew had to travel from Poole in a horse-drawn carriage whenever it was launched so a new Poole Lifeboat Station was opened at Fisherman's Dock on Poole Quay in 1882.{{cite web| title = History | publisher = Poole Lifeboat Station | url = http://www.poolelifeboat.co.uk/content/history/index.shtml | access-date = 15 December 2010 }}
Politics
Sandbanks is part of the Canford Cliffs ward which elects two councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, and also the Poole parliamentary constituency.
Notable present or former residents
- Geoffrey Boycott – Former test cricketer.{{Cite news |date=13 October 2011 |title=Geoffrey Boycott to sue lawyers over home |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/geoffrey-boycott-to-sue-lawyers-over-home-m3vbk23xmgc |access-date=2022-12-17 |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web |date=14 October 2011 |title=Geoffrey Boycott loses Sandbanks home court battle |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9306669.geoffrey-boycott-loses-sandbanks-home-court-battle/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
- Liam Gallagher - Singer.{{Cite news |last=Fox-Leonard |first=Boudicca |date=2024-01-20 |title=How Sandbanks became England’s most unlikely millionaire playground |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/20/sandbanks-poole-harbour-fourth-most-expensive/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
- Karl Pilkington - Presenter, author and actor.{{Cite web|url=https://answer-to-all.com/users-questions/where-in-london-does-karl-pilkington-live/|title=Where does Karl Pilkington live?|website=Answer to all|access-date=29 December 2022}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=February 2023}}
- Tony Pulis – Former manager of Stoke City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19154313.tony-pulis-wife-flats-plans-next-6m-poole-home/|title=Tony Pulis' wife fighting "beyond laughable" flats plans next to £6m Poole home|website=Bournemouth Echo|access-date=7 February 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Tony-s-home-sweet-home/story-12557785-detail/story.html|title=Tony Pulis buys in Sandbanks|work=This is Staffordshire}}
- Harry Redknapp – Former football manager and player.{{Cite web |date=23 September 2021 |title=Harry Redknapp's former Sandbanks home sells for record £10m |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19598523.harry-redknapps-former-sandbanks-home-sells-record-10m/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} Moved to Branksome Park in 2021.{{Cite web |title=PICTURES: Inside Harry Redknapp's new mansion |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19392016.pictures-inside-harry-redknapps-new-dorset-mansion/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en}}
- Celia Sawyer – Dealer on Four Rooms (Channel 4) and presenter of Your Home in Their Hands (BBC1).{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/interiors/11123407/My-space-Celia-Sawyer.html|title=My space: Celia Sawyer|first=Laura|last=Silverman|date=28 September 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 March 2015}}
- Mimi Smith – Maternal aunt and guardian of musician John Lennon.{{Cite web |title=Star to portray our Mimi, from Sandbanks, on big screen |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4779330.kirsten-scott-thomas-to-be-lennons-aunt/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=John Lennon's iron gift to his beloved aunt is set to go under the hammer |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4395445.john-lennons-iron-gift-to-his-beloved-aunt-is-set-to-go-under-the-hammer/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
File:Large houses at Sandbanks, Dorset arp.jpg to Brownsea Island ferry]]
Transport
Sandbanks is accessible by car on two B-roads: B3369 from Parkstone and B3065 from Westbourne, or via Sandbanks Ferry from Studland. Sandbanks, along with Bournemouth and Poole, has easy access to the M27 motorway at Southampton via the A338 and A31 roads.
The nearest railway station is at Parkstone, about 4 km away but there are no public transport routes connecting there. Instead, the Purbeck Breezer bus route runs daily from Bournemouth railway station, the major station in the conurbation; seasonal routes (some departures only) run from Poole bus station, near to Poole railway station.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Sandbanks.htm Sandbanks Sand Spit – Southampton University]
- [http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw037419?filter=new&ref=2027 Aerial photo of Sandbanks in 1932]
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