Canford Heath’s first house was built in 1963 and was one of the largest housing estates in Europe. Through its development, amenities were added to the area which included the Adastral Square a parade of shops, medical and dental facilities, and a pub on Adastral Road.

Bournemouth Echo: The Flying pilot Pub which opened in Canford Heath in 1970The Flying pilot Pub which opened in Canford Heath in 1970


Adastral Road got its name from the Royal Flying Corps London headquarters Ad Astra with the addition of L of the capital put at the end. Ad Astra is the RFC motto ‘to the stars’.

The Fighter Pilot pub (now The Pilot) opened in 1970 by the Battle of Britain fighter pilot Group Captain Douglas Bader, VC, who was a teetotaller. Not long after the pub opened so did the first supermarket on the estate, Waitrose.

 

  Canford Heath at 50: how one of Europe's largest housing estates has grown

PICTURES: When gypsies lived on Canford Heath and the first houses were built

 

Bournemouth Echo: Waitrose, the first supermarket on Canford HeathWaitrose, the first supermarket on Canford Heath

Waitrose opened its doors on 30 June 1970, the pocket-sized branch opened with a delicatessen, an off-license, and employed 53 partners, most being local residents. The branch closed in 1982 as the branch did not have enough space to expand its assortment to meet new competition in the area. It was replaced with a Kwik Save but is currently an Iceland.

Bournemouth Echo: Adastral Square, Canford Heath, Poole, circa 1971Adastral Square, Canford Heath, Poole, circa 1971

The other shops that feature at this time in the photographs from the Grahame Austin Collection are Family Care, S & R who sold bread, cakes, and dairy, Washeteria a launderette, The Plaice a fish and chip shop, Martin newsagents, Canford Home, and Garden Centre, National Westminster Bank, Williams & Farmer, Charles Revell, Weston are the Chemist and The Wine Shop.

What are your memories of these shops at Adastral Square in the 1970s?