Ruby Grimshaw spends some time in weirdville

On our way back from our week in Bridport in August we drove through Poundbury, the pioneering urban extension to Dorchester, built on land belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall and based on Prince Charles’s principals of urban development. We thought it would be interesting to spend more time there, so L and I returned to Poundbury for a few days.

Looking out of my bedroom window on the first morning it was like awakening on an Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple film set. The absence of yellow lines and traffic notices together with the trailing roses around doors and windows made it seem like the ’50s. The different types of architecture – Georgian, Victorian, olde-worlde cottage – was bewildering.

When we walked through the streets later there was a feeling of stillness and tranquillity but everybody we met was extremely chatty and helpful. Apparently there is an extremely low crime rate, due perhaps to the excellent street lighting and the uncluttered streets. The open areas are gravelled, which apparently discourages skate boarding. As we walked back from the (only) pub one evening it seemed strangely quiet and empty. I think I almost missed turning a corner and bumping
into a group of wasted girls on a hen night.

It was like awakening on a Miss Marple film set

I had only been able to locate one B&B in the whole of Poundbury and I had thought it was due to my lack of computer skills. But we learned that the town only allows one business of each category in each area – thus one dentist, one newsagent, one hairdresser etc. However there is still a lot of building taking place around the edges of the area and a large expansion northwards is about to take place, so I was amused that the one business not affected by the One Only Rule was the estate agent. There were several.

I asked in one (I explained that I might have plans to sell up and move to Poundbury) if there were any restrictions on daily living for the residents. The man looked down at his folders and smiled. “We attract a certain type of person, so we don’t need rules,” he said.
He would not be drawn further.

I can only assume he thought I was not a suitable candidate for Poundbury. That’s all right. I don’t want to leave Brighton. It allows me to grow old as disgracefully as I am able.