History of Kinson Community Centre

Four main buildings make up what is collectively known as Kinson Community Centre. If you stand outside and face the building you will see on your left The New Extension. This was built in 2004 and officially opened in June 2005 by H.R.H. The Princess Royal. The next section is the Georgian house built by Mr Tait in 1793, commissioned by Isaac Gulliver. Next you will see The Main Hall and finally the Sharpe Room, the Main Hall dating from the mid 1950’s.

You will find a history of Pelhams in the  excellent book “Through A Georgian Window (The Purbeck Press, 1981) by Joan Pitts and Wyn Watts. And there are many fascinating references to the House and Community Centre in “Old Kinson” by S.J.Lands (Purbeck Press, 1980). Copies of both books are on sale at the Centre.

The following information has been taken from Bournemouth Borough Council's website with permission.

Kinson pre-dates the Domesday book and started life within the old parish of Great Canford or Cheneford.  Originally the settlement was known as known as Cynestan’s Tun, and was later recorded in the Domesday book as Chinestanestone.  By 1231 it was Kynestanton, then Kenstaneston (1326), Kinstanton (1407), Kynston (1662), Kingston How (1771) and to Kinson by 1800. Originally Pelhams was probably a Hamlet surrounded by paling (Pel = paling or fencing; Ham = hamlet).  Incidentally around 1774 there was also an island in Poole Harbour called Pelhams.  In the 18th century the mansion was enclosed as a hamlet and was practically self sufficient.

The first building at Pelhams was built around 1788 by a Mr A.Tait, on land forming part of Manor Farm (previously Kinson Farm).  The farm was owned by Isaac Gulliver, a well known and wealthy local smuggler.  Around this time Longham Bridge was adjacent to Pelhams, making it a well linked location.  The house was enlarged by 1793 (it is possible that Mr Tait was a tenant of Mr Gulliver and carried out this work on his behalf).

The current building was probably built by a Mr Hutchins around 1795.  When complete, it was sold to William Broucher (who died in 1812).  It is possible that the two parts of the building were each under separate ownership at this point.

In 1816 Mr William Fryer bought the property in its entirety, and again enlarged the main mansion, which stands in the same form today.  His wife, Elizabeth Fryer (also the daughter of Isaac Gulliver), died in 1839 and the house was divided between his grandchildren.  The property was detached from the farm and sat in its own 10 acres of pasture (the original two storey building was demolished after the Second War)

The house ended up with the Rolles-Fryers, a family of wealthy Newfoundland Merchants, it is likely that they brought the Tulip Tree (that still stands on the front green lawn) from North America.

In 1859 William Rolles-Fryer (junior) leased the property to Percy Joseph Newell, who  declared it the clergy house (although it rarely served as one to start with).  In July 1871 his youngest son died as a result of  a fall from a second floor window.  In 1877 he bought the property outright for £1,680 from the Rolles-Fryers; he died in 1878 leaving the property in trust to his female relatives (wife and three unmarried daughters).

When all the daughters had died, Percy Sargeant (his oldest son) was allowed to collect rent or live on at the property before it was handed over to his nephews (Percy Herbert and William Ernest Newell) when they reached 21 years.  At this time they were living in London.  Percy had been living at Pelhams with his sisters since 1886.

The Grandsons could not afford to pay the now Rev. Percy his annuity and the investment that he had made into the property, and in June 1897 it was passed across to his ownership.  Rev. Percy had run annual Whitsuntide walks from the Tulip Tree, which were well attended, it was he who had started to make the house a focal point of the community.  In December 1897 the Estate was sold to Rev. Arnold Mortimer Sharpe and became the vicarage.  Rev. Percy went to live at Ensbury Cottage and died in 1900.

By the time the property had been sold to Rev. Sharpe, 12 acres of the estate (to the North of the property) had been sold off already.  However Re. Sharpe bought this land back. read more >