*POOL, (Dorset) so called from its being surrounded, except on the N. by Luxford-Lake, is 88 cm. 110 mm. from London, In
the R. of Edw, III. it twice sent members to Pt. but afterwards we find no returns for many years, till Edw. IV. When K.
Hen. VI. disfranchised the Port of Melcomb, he transferred that privilege to this place, and gave the mayor leave to
enclose it with walls, which K. Rich. III. began at the haven. By the resort of ships hither, for want of a sufficicnt
depth of water at Wareham, this is become the most considerable T. in the Co. and tho' reckoned in Haster-H. is a Co.
independent of itself, and so not to be esteemed in any shire, or division. The Gt. of this T. and Co. is by a mayor,
recorder, ald. a sheriff, a coroner, T.-clerk, bailiffs, and C. C. In the arm of the sea here, called Luxford-Lake, the
tide ebbs and flows 4 times in 24 hours. Here are Mts. on M. and Th. the last of which was granted by Hen. VI. together
with 2 Fairs, for 16 days each, from May 1 and Novem. 2. The houses, which are about 400, are low; but most of them are of
stone. Its Ch. which is a royal peculiar, whereof the corp. are patrons, is large; but low and dark, and above 200 years
old. This being anciently a hamlet of Canford, the manor was the K's. demesne. It has been granted by our monarchs to the
Fitz-Pains, the Montacutes Es. of Salisbury, and other great families; but by K. Cha. II. the royalty was vested in Sir
John Webb. The mayor is always chosen out of the burgesses, the F. before St. Matthew's-day. By a charter of Q. Eliz. no
man can be made free of this T. but by the election of the mayor, 4 ald. and 24 burgesses. That Q. made it also a Co. of
itself, and to have a sheriff, &c. with the privilege of trying malefactors, &c. within its own jurisdiction, But this the
corp. does, by procuring a commission from the crown, otherwise the judges would come hither, in their circuit from
Salisbury to Dorchester. The mayor is escheator, clerk of the Mt. and admiral within the jurisdiction. To this T. near 200
vessels bel. for trade, which is chiefly into foreign parts, especially in the Newfoundland fishery. The place is noted
for vast plenty of mackarel in the season, and other good fish, with which it supplies Wilts and the inland parts of
Somerset; but more especially for the best and biggest oysters in all this part of England, which are said to be excellent
for pickling; and it is observed, have more pearl in them, and larger than any others in the Km. They are barrelled up
here, and sent not only to London, but to the West-Indies, Spain, Italy, &c. Great quantities of corn and pulse used to be
exported hence abroad, as also Purbeck-stone, here being a large warehouse, called the T.-cellar, for putting in merchants
goods. Here are a custom-house and key, and a fair T.-house of stone. In the R. of Eliz. one Mr. Rogers, a wealthy citizen
of London, left money to build almshs. here, and for other charities; and here is a ch. sc.