{{Short description|Village in Dorset, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{redirect|Canford|the Hansa A Type ship|SS Canford}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = Canford Magna | local_name = | country = England | region = South West England | static_image_name = Canford Magna - the parish church from the northwest - geograph.org.uk - 1324984.jpg | static_image_caption = Canford Magna parish church | area_footnotes = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = | population = | population_ref = <ref>Census, 2001</ref> | population_density = | os_grid_reference = | map_type = | coordinates = {{coord|50.787|-1.952|display=inline,title}} | label_position = left | post_town = WIMBORNE | postcode_area = BH | postcode_district = BH21 | dial_code = 01202 | constituency_westminster = Mid Dorset and North Poole | civil_parish = Poole<!-- you can use the template {{mi to km|(enter data)|precision=0}} to help convert miles to km automatically; both are displayed --> | london_distance = | unitary_england = Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | lieutenancy_england = Dorset | website = | hide_services = }} '''Canford Magna''' is a village in the civil parish of Poole, in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The village is situated just south of the River Stour and lies between the towns of Wimborne Minster and Poole. The village was significantly developed by the Guest family of Canford Manor, featuring a mixture of thatch and brick buildings, now mostly serving as residences for teaching staff.<ref>[http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/Place/C020.htm Canford Magna, Dorset, England<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The western edge of the village merges with the residential suburb of Merley and the village community of Oakley.
The village school was built in 1866 and now serves as the youth club for Canford and Merley.<ref>[http://www.opcdorset.org/CanfordMagnaFiles/CanfordMagna.htm Parish of Canford Magna<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==History==
=== Development under the Guests === The new buildings were started in 1866, beginning with a school and mortuary chapel. Lady Charlotte Guest, of Canford Manor, had become heavily involved in the estate and had commissioned the construction of three blocks of terraced cottages. These were built between 1870 and 1872, embellished with gables, ornamental chimneys, lattice windows, and large ornamental door hinges.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Clark |first=Pat |title=Lady Wimborne Cottages The Story of the Canford Estate Cottages |publisher=The Dovecote Press |year=2000 |isbn=1874336695 |pages=8-9}}</ref> These became widely known as Lady Wimborne Cottages.{{fact|date=September 2024}}
Cornelia Guest, Daughter-in-law of Lady Charlotte, also shared an interest in the estate cottages, constructing more across the estate in Ashington, Merley and Poole. She also commissioned the thatcher, John Hicks, to add rustic porches of oak branches and twigs to the existing terraced cottages. Hick's work and the architecture of Canford Village were captured in a series of drawings by the artist Barbara Jones which appeared in an article of The Architectural Review in 1944.<ref name=":12" /> thumb|309x309px|Terraced Lady Wimborne Cottages, (no. 45-49) built 1870 Under the First Lord Wimborne, and his wife Cornelia who inherited the manor in 1880, the work to convert Canford Magna into a model village was completed. The finished village had created such a stir that sightseers from Bournemouth travelled by horse drawn charabancs to view it. They arrived to trumpet fanfare and were taken around by guide well versed in the benefits of the model village. The favoured season for this tours was Autumn when the gables of the cottages were covered in scarlet Virginia creeper and the great chestnuts that lined the streets were in colour.{{fact|date=September 2024}}
=== Later history === thumb|309x309px|Rustic Porches designed by John Hicks for the porches of Canford Magna In 1931 the civil parish had a population of 2985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10450561/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Canford Magna AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=16 April 2024}}</ref> On 1 April 1933 the parish was abolished and merged with Poole and Pamphill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10450561|title=Relationships and changes Canford Magna AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=16 April 2024}}</ref>
In 2025, a new incinerator was planned to be built in Canford Magna.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-16 |title=Canford Magna: Views wanted on waste incinerator plans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjyjjdw0yeo |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Planning was refused by BCP Council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-12 |title=PROPOSED INCINERATOR AT CANFORD MAGNA |url=https://magwatch.org/incinerator |access-date=2025-12-20|website=Magwatch|language=en}}</ref> Local MP Vikki Slade raised the issue in parliament at Prime Minister's Questions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=New incinerator 'will burn more waste than Dorset produces' |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/25044107.incinerator-will-burn-waste-dorset-produces-says-mp/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en}}</ref>
==Church== Canford Magna Parish Church is within the village, the oldest part of which is nearly a thousand years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canford Parish Church |url=http://www.canfordparish.org/ourchurch.html |publisher=www.canfordparish.org}}</ref> During late Saxon times, a small cruciform chapel was built, which is now the chancel. The church was much expanded during the Norman period in the perpendicular gothic style, using dark local stone, with the North tower being added circa 1180.{{fact|date=September 2024}}
==Canford School== Canford School, a co-educational private boarding school is located in the village. The school was previously the mansion and estate of Lord Wimborne, yet was sold to form the school in 1923. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=PICTURES: Six old postcards of Canford Magna |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23075496.old-pictures-canford-magna/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> A golf club lies on the edge of the village and the school.<ref>[http://www.canfordmagnagc.co.uk Canford Magna Golf Club<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category}}
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Category:Villages in Dorset Category:Former civil parishes in Dorset Category:Conservation areas in Dorset Category:Poole