Poole, Dorset
Harry Page or 'Arripay' was one of the more colourful characters of this part of the
Port's history. He was a sea captain who engaged the French and Spanish many times
during a brilliant career; setting off to raid the French coast, on one occassion he
returned with a booty of no less than one hundred and twenty captured vessels laden
with salt, wine and fine cloth.
HENRY VII & THE WARS OF THE ROSES
JOHN LELAND ...it standeth almost as an isle in its haven...
ELIZABETHAN POOLE Links
MEDIEVAL POOLE Locally
Bibliography
The Story of Poole, Old Town, Port & Harbour
In his attempt to assert his claim to the throne in the final years of the Wars of the
Roses, the future
Henry VII set sail from St Malo with a force of fourty ships and five thausand men.
Falling foul of a storm, his fleet was scattered and he reached the
harbour with only the ship that carried him to find the portsmen out in force in
anticipation of his landing. Henry sent a messenger ashore to enquire of the host whether
his master would be recieved as friend or foe - the answer may be guaged from Henry's
decision to land at Milford Haven instead.
The Tudor town was fortified against would-be raiders and was built around The Quay on a
triangular paninsula causing John Leland to write;-
During the early years of the reign of Elizabeth I the port was at the height of prosperity
built on a vigorous trade with the Spanish though the port, like many others, supplied its
share of ships to fight the Armada.
POOLE DURING THE CIVIL WAR
Joan Sutton ©1988 ISBN 0 906596 04 1