Although today Poole’s shopping centre is called the Dolphin Centre, to many locals the centre will always be known as the Arndale Centre, its name for the first two decades of its existence.
In the late 1950s hopes to rejuvenate Poole from its industrial beginnings were in full swing with the first plans officially drawn up in 1958 for a major indoor shopping centre.
Like many development schemes, the plans were met with opposition and it took years before the green light was given for the £1million scheme to go ahead.
The start of the development included the clearing of the Ladies’ Walking Field along with the demolition of properties in Seldown Lane and Kingland Road.
Construction of the centre began in September 1967 and by July 1969 the doors were open with big stores such as Beales, Boots and J Sainsbury attracting shoppers.
Not only did the centre have 93 shops and office space it included a bus station, a pub, and a sports centre.
Marks and Spencer opened in the Arndale in March 1971, with a branch more than double the size of its predecessor.
One of the main attractions for children as well as Poole Toy Centre were the wooden hippo, turtle, snake and whale created by artist Peter Hand, which stood in the thoroughfares until 1997.
The economic crises of the 1970s led to phase two of the Arndale development being abandoned in 1975, but finally, in July 1980 outline planning permission was given.
A topping-out ceremony for phase two took place in March 1984.
This section of the Arndale would include more shops and a town square to be named Falkland Square to mark the town’s links with the forces that had served in that year’s war with Argentina.
The late 1980s saw the centre changing names from the Arndale to the Dolphin centre when a £7million revamp took place. In 1989 the doors reopened as the Dolphin Centre but in the hearts and minds of many, it will always be the Arndale.
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