Sitting next to Bournemouth University, you might not realise the history of Talbot Village. Did you know this green and shady suburb was established by the philanthropy of two women, Georgina and Mary Anne Talbot?
Early Days
The heathland where Bournemouth now stands was once common land which provided the local community with turf, game, and rough grazing for animals. It was enclosed at the beginning of the 19th century, forcing the people who relied on the common into poverty.
Georgina and Mary Talbot moved to Bournemouth from London. They were shocked by the conditions and wanted to create a better environment for all. Georgina initially rented land and hired local people to clear and work the land.
“Many of the more influential people in the neighbourhood in that day thought her views Utopian, and were disposed to ridicule them”
– Description of Talbot Village and its aims, 1881, D-PLR/F/29
Despite this, the sisters went on to buy 465 acres of land in Kinson. In a little over a decade, they built 19 cottages, five farms, and seven almshouses. The cottages each had an acre plot, with a well, fruit trees, and space for animals. They were rented for 4 or 5 shillings a week, mostly married couples on parochial relief.
One house in the village was designated as a general shop, but
“all beerhouses are strictly prohibited”
In 1862, a school was opened, providing the children of the village with an education and recreational space. The church was the final piece, and Georgina was the first person to be buried in the churchyard in 1870.
For the community
The sisters encouraged a self-sufficient community, where people lived and worked together. Unlike other model villages, such as Bourneville or Saltaire, they received no monetary gain from Talbot Village, instead establishing a charitable trust to ensure the village could continue. Money earned from the farms was first used for building repairs, then for school supplies and salaries.
In recent years
Talbot Village slowly became a suburb between Bournemouth and Poole as both towns grew. The Talbot Campus for the Bournemouth School of Technology was established along the south side of Wallisdown Road in 1976, and later a student village was built nearby. The institution was renamed Bournemouth University in 1992.
Much of the original village remains and is now a designated conservation area. The Talbot Village Trust has carried Georgina and Mary Ann’s vision into the present day, working to maintain the village and its community.
What are your memories of Talbot Village? Do you know someone who has lived there? Let us know in the comments below!