POKESDOWN, (now in the County of Dorset after the 1974 boundary reshuffle) is 2½ miles west from Christchurch, with Iford, a mile and a half west, on the river Stour, over which is a bridge, together form an ecclesiastical parish, taken in 1859 from the civil parish of Christchurch. 

The church of St. James was erected in 1858, and a north aisle was added in 1874 : it is Gothic, and consists of apse chancel, nave, with aisles separated by arcades of three arches on either side, and south porch. 

The register dates from the year 1860. 

The Independent chapel, erected in 1858, will seat 250 persons; here is also a small "Wesleyan chapel, erected in 1873. 

The National school was erected in 1856, and enlarged in 1874. 

The population in 1871 was 869.