A TIMELINE OF CHRISTCHURCH HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
c. 1020 The village of Tweoxneam is made a burgh of fortified settlement
11th century The name of the settlement is changed to Christchurch
1086 Christchurch has a population of about 170
1094 The Normans build a priory at Christchurch
1200 Christchurch is a little market town with a population of about 1,000
1307 Christchurch sends 2 MPs to parliament
1539 Henry VIII closes the priory
1640 The first stagecoaches run to Christchurch
1644 During the Civil War Parliamentary troops capture Christchurch
1662 A free grammar school is founded in Christchurch
1750 Many people in Christchurch live by fishing or smuggling
1774 Christchurch gains a primitive 'fire engine'
1801 Christchurch has a population of 1,410
1835 Highcliffe Castle is built
1853 A gas works is built in Christchurch
1855 Christchurch gains a newspaper
1871 Christchurch has a population of 3,064
1895 Christchurch gains a piped water supply
1901 Christchurch has a population of 4,204
1902 Christchurch Council begins laying sewers
1903 Christchurch gains an electricity supply
1905-36 Trams run in Christchurch
1951 Christchurch has a population of 20,000
1952 Red House Museum opens
1958 A by-pass is built at Christchurch
1975 Christchurch is twinned with Christchurch New Zealand
1979 Plessey comes to Christchurch
1981 A Museum of Electricity opens in Christchurch
1983 A new shopping precinct opens in Saxon Square. Place Mill opens to the public. The Regent Centre opens.