The streets of old Poole

Shiny elephants in the window of a Thai restaurant in Poole High Street

I am still catching up with my travels in September so I hope you will bear with me as I share some images of my favourite place – Poole in Dorset. I have been there so many times that I have already taken pictures of the main landmarks (see the links at the end of the post) – but this time I was snapping anything I fancied as we walked through the colourful back streets.

There were several wet days when we were in Poole, so we were often looking for somewhere to eat a light lunch. The small Sakuna Khrua Thai restaurant was very welcoming and perfect for an authentic Thai meal with rice or noodles. See the website here and savour the menu!

The sign of the Sakuna Khrua Thai restaurant – obviously not on one of the wet days!

Another restaurant we love to visit every time we are in Poole is the Karma, which is also in the quiet, narrow part of the High Street, not the pedestrianised end…

Bright bowl in the window of the Karma

The sign outside the Karma in the High Street

See the website here. I always love the pretty lights hanging from the ceiling in the restaurant. I could sit there all night going “Ooooh” and “Aaaah” as if they were fireworks.

Lights in the Karma restaurant

In the same street is an old-fashioned barber…

Fancy a Turkish shave?

Don’t trip over the sign

There’s also an art shop…

Art for sale, or is that sail…

I think it’s called the Guildhall Gallery

Autumn colour in New Orchard street – and the Old Guildhall beyond

Perhaps someone can identify this tree?

I thought it was a Prunus, but the fruits aren’t at all like cherries – more like hawthorns or rose hips

Back around the corner we reach the broad, pedestrianised part of the High Street…

An old-fashioned hardware store always appeals – we have bought sweeping brushes here in the past as a holiday souvenir!

I am very impressed by the work that has been done on the Methodist church in the High Street. My great grandparents were married here on Christmas Day in 1887 but I had passed the church many times without realising that this was the place.

Poole Wesleyan Methodist Church in the High Street

I so love the silvery rainbow effect you see on the outside of stained glass

The Methodist Church now runs the building as a community hub as well as a place of worship. They call it The Spire, with a cafe called Wesley’s. Read more about it here.

The Spire is in a prime central location

Farther along the High Street is the railway level crossing – and that distant building looking like a huge Crusader fortress is the Barclays Bank HQ

I always look up at old buildings and love the carved stone faces you sometimes see. These were above a modern fashion shop…

Probably an ancient god above a shop window, but what are the wires sticking out at the top? Were there electric lamps here once, or is it to stop birds perching? (thanks to Maria at leafencounter for confirming the wires are to stop pigeons pooing on the Portland stone and corroding it)

…and another one, maybe Mercury (Hermes) judging by the winged helmet. Looks a bit mean, though!

Back to our hotel – The Thistle on the Quay…

…where the palm trees tell of foreign shores reached from the harbour

And finally a word for the small boats we watch from our hotel window…

We always look out for the green and gold livery of the harbour master and pilot boats…

…and here are the crew of the RNLI boat James Dugdale, keeping everyone safe at sea

Thanks for indulging me – I LOVE Poole!

Here are some more pictures of the old parts of the town:
Poole Quay
Poole Old Town
Poole Baiter and Longfleet
Brownsea Island