Long Island (Dorset) Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Long Island
Static Image Name:Long Island across Wych Channel - geograph.org.uk - 449745.jpg
Static Image Caption:Long Island viewed from the western shore of Poole Harbour
Label Position:bottom
Coordinates:50.6906°N -2.0176°W
Map Type:Dorset
Civil Parish:Corfe Castle
Shire District:Purbeck
Shire County:Dorset
Region:South West England
Constituency Westminster:South Dorset
Os Grid Reference:SY987879
Area Total Km2:0.042

Long Island is an uninhabited island in Poole Harbour in the English county of Dorset. It lies just off the shore of the Arne Peninsular in the south-west of the harbour, and is separated from the nearby, and inhabited, Round Island by a narrow channel only a few feet wide. The island covers approximately 30 acres at low tide, reducing to only 9.5acres at high tide.[1] [2] Long Island lies within the civil parish of Corfe Castle. The parish forms part of the Purbeck local government district.[1]

Long Island had been privately owned by the Rempstone Estate for over 250 years but in 2007 it was closed to the public and put up for sale with offers invited in excess of £1 million.[2] The sale was initially delayed by a rights of way application made by pleasure boat owners who feared the new landlords would deny public access to the island. However the application was dismissed by Dorset County Council in 2009 and the island was sold in 2010 for an estimated £3 million to a local property developer.[3]

On 24 August 1943, a Royal Air Force Consolidated Catalina (FP287) was on a training flight & was landing at Poole Seaplane Base. The aircraft overshot the landing path during the second flare then attempted a go-ground, soon after crashed into sea next to the island. Eight of the twelve crew died in the crash. [4]

[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: OS Explorer Map OL15 - Purbeck & South Dorset . . 2006 . 978-0-319-23865-3 .
  2. Web site: Harbour island is 'dream' location . . 2007-11-09 . 2007-11-09.
  3. Web site: Poole property developer new owner of Long Island. Bournemouth Daily Echo. 9 March 2010. 2010-03-23.
  4. "24 August 1943 Consolidated Catalina." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  5. "Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Poole: 8 killed." Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved 9 October 2021.