In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Brownsea like this:
BROWNSEA, or Branksea, an island and a chapelry in Studland parish, Dorset. The island lies in Poole harbour, 2 miles SSE of Poole; measures about 6 miles in circuit; and forms a romantic group of glens and hillocks, with about 100 acres recently reclaimed from the sea. It was long used as a deer park; but has now a village, a pier, a tram road, and clay pits worked for the Staffordshire potteries. ...
A castle on it was built, in the time of Elizabeth, for defence of the harbour; strongly fortified, in the time of Charles I., for the wars; and recently renovated and adorned, as a family residence. The property was purchased, not many years ago, by Colonel Waugh, and underwent its improving changes at his hands; but was put up for sale in 1859. The chapelry was constituted in 1855, and is conterminate with the island. Post Town, Poole. Pop., 123. Houses, 27. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Salisbury. Value, £60. Patron, J. J. Menest, Esq. The church was built in 1854; and is in the early decorated style, of Purbeckstone, with a square embattled tower.
Brownsea through time
Brownsea is now part of Purbeck district. Click here for graphs and data of how Purbeck has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Brownsea itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Brownsea, in Purbeck and Dorset | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/21352
Date accessed: 20th April 2024
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