Mudeford Quay, Christchurch, Dorset, England ( 1 )

Mudeford was originally a small fishing village in the borough of Christchurch, Dorset southern England, lying at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour. The River Mude ( which starts from Poors Common in Bransgore, Hampshire and Bure Brook ( which starts from Nea Meadows in Highcliffe, Dorset ) flow into the harbour there. In recent times the boundaries of Mudeford have expanded and include modern housing. About 4000 people now live in the area giving a population density of roughly 24 persons per hectare. Mudeford includes two woodland areas (known as Mudeford Woods and Peregrine Woods), a recreation ground on the north side of Stanpit (used to play cricket since the 19th century, probably as far back as the 1860's) and All Saints Church ( built in 1869 as a gift by Mortimer Ricardo, who lived at Bure Homage House ).
The village is home to both Mudeford Infants School and Mudeford Junior School. Mudeford Quay was constructed in the late 1940. Before this, The Haven, as it was then known was surrounded by sloping beaches. The Run then was much wider than it is now and the area was subject to terrible erosion. So much so that Christchurch Council purchased the whole area in 1945. Five years later the area had been raised and reinforced with steel piles and concrete.
Today the quay which consists of The Haven Inn public house, several ex-fisherman's cottages and a large car park is still used by local fishing boats as well as being a base for many water sports. A RNLI inshore lifeboat station is located on the quay. In 1809, a troopship carrying 100 soldiers returning from the Peninsular War, sank in Christchurch Bay. The whole complement was saved by fishermen from the village. A specially built lifeboat was stationed at Mudeford from 1802, privately owned and manned by the local fisherman. It was subsumed by the RNLI in 1962 and in June 1963 a new inflatable boat was delivered. Between 1963 and 1995, the Mudeford Lifeboat was launched 766 times and rescued 308 people.
The Mudeford ferry operates between the Quay and Mudeford Sandbank on Hengistbury Head. The ferry was until the 1960's operated by rowing boats with payment being at the discretion of the passenger. Mudeford Quay is at the entrance to the Harbour known as ~ The Run. The area was historically much involved in smuggling and the site in 1784 of The Battle of Mudeford. George III is recorded as having visited Mudeford in 1801 and using a bathing machine.
Stanpit Marsh is situated on the north side of Christchurch Harbour, just below the confluence of the rivers Avon and Stour. The 65 hectare site has an unusual combination of habitats including salt marsh with creeks and salt pans, reed beds, freshwater marsh, gravel estuarine banks and sandy scrub. It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1964 and in 1986 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Marsh is home to over 300 species of plants, 14 of which are nationally rare and endangered.
Tutton's Well:- Many Christchurch residents may be unaware that the Borough contains the last remaining natural geological erupting mineral spring within a public open space in East Dorset. The ancient Tutton's Well can be found in Stanpit, near the Stanpit Recreation car park. The water of the well was recognised as having unusual purity with medicinal values as it contains a wide range of important minerals. In medieval times it was transported around the country as a cure and known as The Christchurch Elixir. The traditional annual pilgrimage to the Priory included the healing benefits of this spring water from the monks. In July 2009 the Council's Planning Control Committee agreed that the Friends of Tutton's Well could restore ancient features to the Tutton's Well site. These will include:
1) restoring the quay wall at Stanpit Creek (from which fishermen used to launch their fishing boats)
2) restoring the Dipping Place - this will allow the original branch of the spring to emerge
3) restoring a working crank pump to the Well
4) erecting a notice board to give a historical perspective.
The restoration of the Tutton's Well features is due to the generous patronage of Tom Tutton without whom this valuable local history would be lost to memory.