Broadstone, in Dorset
Broadstone is a town in Dorset, within the council area of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It also became a civil parish of its own on 1 April 2026.
The town grew from a single farm, Broadstone Farm, built in 1840. A railway line passed it in 1847, and the first station opened in 1872. Its first name was New Poole Junction, until it became Broadstone in 1890.
Growth has been rapid since then. For example, the Pine Springs housing estate and new schools followed the rising population. Today The Broadway, on the B3074, is the busy centre of shops, churches, schools and housing.
Schools follow a three-tier model here. For instance, the town has two first schools and a middle school. Corfe Hills School, one of the largest secondary schools in Dorset, is also in Broadstone.
Heathland on the doorstep
Broadstone is known for its large recreation fields and heathland park. The 24-acre Broadstone Heath keeps some of the original heathland that once covered the Poole Basin. Meanwhile, nearby Canford Heath is the largest heathland in Dorset.
A local legend explains the name. Broad stones were supposedly laid across a stream, so people could cross without wetting their feet. In fact, two stones outside the United Reformed Church are said to be originals.
Broadstone has a notable past resident, too. The naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who proposed a theory of evolution alongside Charles Darwin, spent his last years here. He built his own house, Old Orchard, and his grave lies in Broadstone Cemetery.
What an installation here tends to involve
Housing ranges from the town’s earlier streets to later estates such as Pine Springs. That mix means no single approach suits every home, and it is one reason prices vary. Our 2026 installation cost guide breaks down what moves the figure. Therefore the installer will look at each property’s walls, garden and neighbours before choosing a spot.
A detached house with a larger garden usually gives more choice for the outdoor unit. The installer can often keep it well away from a neighbour’s window. The garden may also allow a longer, well-hidden pipe run.
A house on a tighter estate plot is different. Side returns can be narrow, so pipe runs and units need careful planning. Installers usually aim for a wall that keeps noise away from the shared boundary. On a tight plot, whether a unit needs planning permission is worth checking first.
Some gardens, however, back onto open heath rather than another garden. In that case, mention it when you enquire. The installer can then think about siting and noise before any visit.
Coverage from Poole
Broadstone is about 4 miles from Poole by road, around 10 minutes’ drive; see our Poole installation page. Neighbouring pages cover installing a system in Corfe Mullen, Canford Heath air conditioning installation and home cooling installs around Colehill.
Corfe Mullen sits on the north-western fringe of the South East Dorset conurbation. Similarly, Colehill lies between Wimborne Minster and Ferndown, on the same conurbation’s northern side. Canford Heath, a suburb of Poole, was built on heathland in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Getting matched in Broadstone
Send one enquiry and we match your address with one pre-qualified installer who works here. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Get in touch through the enquiry form. See air conditioning installation for what the service covers across Broadstone and the wider Poole area.