The proximity of Christchurch to the sea, its harbour and its location astride the confluence of the rivers Avon and Stour have generated several industries and considerable commercial activity for the town over the centuries. Prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Priory was also an important place of pilgrimage and this brought much prosperity to the town which waned after the 16th century until the advent of modern road and rail connections in the 19th century.

The town's two rivers, the Avon and the Stour provided the motive power for it's mills ( Place Mill and Knapp Mill) positioned on their banks and these have been used for fulling as well as the grinding of corn and other cereals into the early 20th century.

SALMON FISHERY
The Avon and the Stour, together with the harbour, have provided Christchurch with ample supplies of fish and Christchurch was famous for its salmon in days gone by. In the 19th and early 20th century the harbour was netted commercialy for this prized catch although today angling for salmon has become a recreational passtime caried on from the private fisheries which own rights to various parts of the rivers.

Another product for which Christchurch was also famous for during the latter 19th and early 20th century was the fusee chain. These were supplied to watch and clock makers in London, Birmingham and Liverpool. The industry not only provided employment for some two hundred people in Christchurch but children in local workhouses, including that at Christchurch, were also set to making the tiny chains.
See Fusee chain manufacture in Christchurch.

For a time in the 19th century, the Hengistbury Mining Company mined 'doggers', ironstone, from the promontory which were sent to Wales via Southampton. Removal of the ironstone from the beach at Hengistbury Head caused considerable erosion which caused concern to the mayor of Christchurch about flooding of parts of the town. The mining operations were halted when, like many such ventures, they became unprofitable however.

©2002, R.Bruno

Until the mid-20^th century, the majority of commercial and industrial activity in Christchurch was concerned with fulfilling local needs. One of these was the requirement for beer, now a recreational luxury item, in bygone times a necessity as the first piped water arrived in the town in 1895 and mains drains to prevent the contamination of the water supply were not installed until 1902. This requirement for beer was met by a number of breweries which formerly existed in the town.

The establishment of the Military Barracks in the late 18^th century as a precaution against possible French invasion of the south coast was a boost to the local economy both in terms of supplying the barracks and of the money spent in the town by the military personel stationed there.

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Large-scale industry arrived in Christchurch with the establishment of the Military Engineering and Experimental Establishment (MEXE) which later became the Military Vehicle Experimental Establishment (MVEE) and also with the arrival of the Signals Research Development Establishment (SRDE).

Aeroplanes were also manufactured at Hurn by Airspeed which later became part of the De Haviland company.

Many of the sites which were previously occupied by the larger industries have now become industrial and housing estates.

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