Upton, Dorset

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Upton is an urban area in south east Dorset, England, situated in the Purbeck district and on the coast of Poole Harbour. The town has a population of 7,573 (2001). It was built at the crossroads of roads from Poole to Dorchester and Hamworthy to Blandford. Close to Upton lies Upton House, a county park and former Upton Estate. Although mostly residential, Upton features a small industrial estate.

Upton adjoins Hamworthy and Turlin Moor to the South. Lytchett Minster, located to the West shares the Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council with Upton.

Upton has a number of schools, including Upton Infant School and Upton Junior School, which are feeder schools for the popular Lytchett Minster School. The Yarrells Preparatory School is also based there.

In 2000, The Upton Clock Tower was built at the Upton Crossroads to celebrate the new millenium and represent the town's pride.

An area of heathland, Upton Heath, is nearby and a few fires have happened in the past. Additionally there are Upton Woods, as well as Lytchett Heath and Lytchett Bay, which leads onto Poole Harbour.

1 Publications relating to the village/town of Upton
2 Transport
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Publications relating to the village/town of Upton

[edit] A Village At War

Memories of Lytchett Minster and Upton to Commerorate the D-Day Landings - 6th June, 1944 - Published by The Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council; 1994. A5 sized booklet of 28 pages.

From the Preface: For a few months in 1944, Lytchett Minster and Upton played host to numbers of young American soldiers, whose arrival caused much excitement before they left quickly to join the D-Day allied invasion force.

Many of the older local residents have talked about the impact the arrival of the Americans had on the area and this makes fascinating reading to those who were too young to have memories of that time. Our own young men had already been fighting for four years around the world when the arrival of the American forces served as an added sign of hope to all, both home and abroad.

The Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council wished to take the opportunity of the 50th Anniversary to record the thanks of the area to all the young soldiers who went to war all those years ago; particularly those who left from Upton. Many sacrificed their youth, and thousands made the ultimate sacrifice in order that we may live in freedom and peace today. We wanted any American soldiers to know that, along with our own men, we have not forgotten them or their bravery.

[edit] Memories of a Dorset Parish - Bygone Lytchett Minster

by June King. Paperback book of 190 pages. Publication undated.

'Memories of A Dorset Parish' From the Preface: When I was relating to my own children stories of what life was like in Organford and Lytchett Minster when I was a child, they said "Please write it down, we shall never remember otherwise."

From humble beginnings, recording my memories, more information evolved about the parish, and I found I had enough material to write a book. However, I feel sure there are many people better qualified to write our local history, but they may not have the time or impetus to do so. If my thoughts and research inspires anyone to delve deeper, then I feel my effort has not been in vain.

[edit] Audrey's Story

by Alan Burridge - Published by e-booksonline(UK)ltd, 2003. Paperback book of 216 pages. Fiction/biographical/memoir. (Out of print).

'Audrey's Story' synopsis:

They say everyone has a story to tell, but not many have been told about life in Poole, Hamworthy, and Upton during World War II; and this is Audrey's story of those times.

With most commodities rationed, lawns turned over to growing foodstuffs and the all-too-frequent air-raids on the munitions factory at Holton Heath, life is tough. Enemy Stukka aircraft drop their bombs carelessly when confronted with defence planes, scrambled from nearby Tarrant Rushton, and many hours are spent in air-raid shelters as a result.

However, when Audrey's Uncle George attends the St. Michael's church fete in Hamworthy dressed as the infamous 'Force Wheat Flakes' cereal packet character, Sunny Jim, and a rook circles down from the trees to settle on his shoulder, things start becoming a little strange. Within the hour another air-raid takes place and an enemy aircraft is shot down and crashes into one of the Wendy Ann tugs at Poole Quay, and this tragedy is believed to be an omen brought about by the rook.

The rook's appearance seems to trigger off other strange events that Audrey and her family have to confront; but is the bird the omen of bad luck it is first believed to be?

[edit] Transport

Upton is served by Wilts and Dorset bus routes numbers 8, 142, 143, 187, 188 and 189, which provide links to Poole, Wareham and Swanage, and Lytchett Matravers.^[1]

The A35 road runs past Upton, as does the A350.

The nearby Hamworthy railway station provides access to rail travel, or alternatively the Poole station is a short drive away.