Wick, or Wick Village, is a small hamlet to the immediate north of Hengistbury Head and south of Christchurch and the river Stour. Wick today contains a number of Grade II listed buildings, among them Riverside Cottage, a high-pitched thatched cottage adjoining Wick Ferry, and Wick House, a substantial red-brick property almost opposite - probably built in the late eighteenth century. Further down towards Wick Green, there are more listed cottages including two whitewashed brick and slate properties, 'Quality' and 'Tranqility', the former was used as a retreat by the music-hall star Ella Shields in the 1930s, while the latter housed a tea-room and village shop. Not far from these properties, in the middle of Wick Green itself, are two grass-choked flagstones covering a well, which was used by villagers into the 1930s
There has been a passenger-ferry from Wick across the Stour to Christchurch since about 1815, when it was set up to give employment to a farm labourer named Marshall, who had become unfit for farm work after being kicked in the thigh by a horse. It was operated by punt until 1947 when outboard engines were added to the ferry-boat, after which crossings began to be made in half the time. The service was discontinued for a short period in 1957 and today they run from Spring through to late Autumn with crossings taking less than five minutes and costing £1 each way.
Due to the high demand for properties in Wick, prices tend to be higher than the immediate surrounding areas, with nearly all freehold dwellings costing in-excess of £600,000. The vast majority of properties are semi-detached houses, terraced houses or detached bungalows although there are a dozen or so detached houses and a similar number of apartments.
There has been a passenger-ferry from Wick across the Stour to Christchurch since about 1815, when it was set up to give employment to a farm labourer named Marshall, who had become unfit for farm work after being kicked in the thigh by a horse. It was operated by punt until 1947 when outboard engines were added to the ferry-boat, after which crossings began to be made in half the time. The service was discontinued for a short period in 1957 and today they run from Spring through to late Autumn with crossings taking less than five minutes and costing £1 each way.
Due to the high demand for properties in Wick, prices tend to be higher than the immediate surrounding areas, with nearly all freehold dwellings costing in-excess of £600,000. The vast majority of properties are semi-detached houses, terraced houses or detached bungalows although there are a dozen or so detached houses and a similar number of apartments.