.

Home Page

Corfe Shop

Poole Shop

Eileen Soper's Illustrated Worlds
What we do
Opening hours
Where we are
How to get here
· Car
· Bus
· Coach
· Rail
· Taxi
· Bike
· Walk
· Boat
Access information
In the attraction
Other facilities

Events

Famous Five Adventure Trail 2012

Contact Us

Useful Links

click here to download
the Ginger Pop leaflet

Eileen Soper’s Illustrated Worlds celebrates the work of artist Eileen Soper with author Enid Blyton. Their amazing collaboration extended to 150 books over 20 years, and is best known for The Famous Five series.

Don’t come expecting an art gallery or an Enid Blyton Museum – it’s definitely different! – and most visitors take about an hour to go round. Eileen Soper's Illustrated Worlds works on many different levels and is just as appropriate for 70 year olds as 7 year olds. A recent visitor urged enjoy it yourself first and then bring the grandchildren!
.
You begin your visit by entering the world of the Famous Five and Secret Seven. We’ve got a nice juicy mystery for you to solve – if you can find the entrance to the secret passage. Do look to see who is climbing on our building! Our gypsy caravan is full of things that would be useful to anyone who dreams of an adventure, Famous Five style!

Our Parlour shows the world of the original readers. This room is packed with things for you to do. Those of a nosey disposition enjoy poking through our bureau! All our toys and games are there to be touched, handled, and played with, but carefully of course! Whenever possible, we like to demonstrate our Hornby ‘O’ gauge clockwork train set to visitors, and to read you stories.
.
The World of Dorset on the Home Front is vividly displayed with extracts from the Dorset Women’s Institute War Book, which the British Library has declared as a National Treasure. This fascinating contemporary account shows living with evacuees, welcoming foreign soldiers, jam making, and the endless queuing! We even show how golliwogs did their bit for the war effort! Enid Blyton and Eileen Soper began their collaboration during World War Two, and it is easily forgotten that these stories that have now become synonymous with sunny days and happy endings actually come from this dark period of our history.

Our lovely farming films show the transition between horses and tractors, and the work of the Land Girls.

The Enid Blyton Society website will show you more of Eileen Soper's work by clicking here. 
Enid Blyton was just one of many authors that Eileen Soper illustrated for, and she also wrote her own books. Her other work is showcased throughout our exhibition, along with her passion for wildlife.


Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
Adults £5 - Concessions £4 - Family £16
.
We are open throughout the year, from 10.00 daily, but closing time varies. Please phone 01202 670504 to check.
We will close late if there is a scheduled event on Poole Quay such as fireworks, cars or motorbikes.
We will be open until at least 8pm during the school summer holidays
In winter, we close at 4.00.


Where we are
We are located on a road called Old Orchard, near Poole Quay and beside Poole Pottery. Our post code is BH15 1SD

How to get here…

By car
We are opposite the “Quay Visitors’” Car Park (pay-and-display), which is well signposted under this exact name on pale brown tourism road-signs in Poole. It has parking for people with disabilities (some immediately on the left as you drive in on Level B, some on Level C) and “Parent and Child” spaces on Level C. 

There is a nicer car park though, 750m (half-a-mile) away, at Baiter/Harbourside, which is opposite Brownsea Island, and from where you can get a glimpse of Corfe Castle.

By Bus (Wheelchair friendly)
The Route One bus picks up from the bus or railway stations and stops on the Quay by the Lord Nelson pub, about 75 yards from us. It does not run on Sundays. 
Here is the map and timetable
No.9 bus runs from the Bus Station to Old Orchard. 
Here is the timetable
.
By coach
Coaches on excursions have a drop-off point right outside our door. Long-distance Service coaches stop at Poole Bus Station which is about 1 kilometre (two-thirds of a mile) level walk away.
Many coach operators from across the country offer great value Dorset holidays based in Bournemouth and Weymouth, and they often include excursions to Corfe Castle and Poole Quay as part of the package. Some are even offering Enid Blyton themed trips. 
www.findacoachholiday.com/

By rail 
Poole Railway Station (Waterloo-Weymouth line, see www.southwesttrains.co.uk) has good accessibility. This is about 1 kilometre (two-thirds of a mile) level walk away, or one can take the Route One bus. 

Taxis (including accessible ones). 

C J Taxis 07711 868054
D G Taxis 07957 881110
Hillside Cars (01202) 686845
Poole Radio Cabs (01202) 666333
Dial-a-Cab (01202) 666822
Fares for these larger vehicles are exactly the same as the ordinary saloon car taxis used elsewhere in the town.

By bicycle from the town centre
For cyclists, there is a signposted “Heritage Cycle Route” from the railway station round to Old Orchard, and there are cycle stands at the entrance to Poole Pottery, on the quayside, and at the junction of Old Orchard and the (partly pedestrianised) High Street.

On foot from the town centre
Coming from Poole Railway Station, you need to be on the same side of the track as the actual station building (there is a footbridge that end, and an underpass with ramps at the other end of the platform). Walk under the concrete road bridge, towards the entrance for the shopping centre and pedestrianised High Street, where a big sign says “Falkland Square”. Walk through to the Square. Those coming from the Bus Station should walk through the Dolphin Shopping Centre, following signs for Falkland Square and the High Street, to reach the same point.
In the Square is a signpost showing the way to the High Street. Walk down the High Street, cross the railway level crossing and keep going. Soon another road crosses your path and there are pedestrian crossing lights. Cross there and continue straight down the High Street. Signposts at intervals point you towards the Quay and Tourist Information, which is the way to us as well.
Stop at the pedestrian crossing with a Sainsbury’s on the opposite side, and DON’T cross. Turn left, instead, and the signpost tells you that you are heading for the Quay. You are now walking down Old Orchard. Cross two side roads, pass a block of flats on your left and we are next - in an old building with green tiles on the front.

By boat
Various ferryboat services (foot passengers only) to Bournemouth, Swanage and Brownsea Island run to and from the Quay at the end of Old Orchard, about 70m (76 yards) from our door (details from Poole Tourism).

When you arrive

The main entrance to the Ginger Pop Shop from the street is very wide, with a level surface and automatic sliding doors. Our other entrance is 1 metre (3’3”) wide, with a 5cm (2”) step and negotiable with a pushchair or wheelchair. There is no charge for entry to the shop.
We think that it is common sense that customers should not eat or drink in our shop.
Entry to Eileen Soper’s Illustrated Worlds is through the Windmill at the back of the shop. Both the shop and attraction are on the ground floor, with no steps. Both are well-lit (except for the Secret Passage and Mirror Maze! - which have safety lighting). The shop has aisles suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. There are plenty of chairs in the attraction. Some shelves in the shop may be hard to reach, and of course we will be glad to fetch items down for customers.


In the Attraction

The attraction is fairly open-plan. There is pushchair and wheelchair access to all areas, with the exception of the Mirror Maze. If you are in a wheelchair, or have a small child in a pushchair, you can discover the hidden entrance to the Secret Passage, but the entrance is awkward and the door heavy. You can then enter by the more open end of the Passage, which we can show you. (Pushchairs can be ‘parked’ - please ask staff.)

There are delights for all ages, and something for everyone - the exhibits and activities and the clues to the mystery include things to look at, hear, touch or handle and even smell! Whilst we encourage visitors to touch carefully, we would remind you that some things do have a safety standard from the 1940s!
Assistants or carers accompanying anyone who has a disability or is using a wheelchair are also admitted to the attraction at “Concession” rate (£4) .

Assistance dogs are welcome in the shop and attraction.

The biscuits are a nut free recipe, and you may ask at the counter to see the packet to check for allergy advice.

The short film about Eileen Soper is not subtitled, but the film of farming in the 1940s has some subtitles. The film of Wimborne Market in 1945 is silent.

We can provide a large print version of the Clue Sheet for use in the Secret Passage.

Our staff members are on hand to help and advise visitors and to interpret aspects of the attraction. They are trained to be aware of visitors’ potential access needs. Please speak to them if you have any concerns or need assistance.

Other facilities

First Aid
First Aid is available at the shop counter or by contacting a member of staff.

Refreshments
We sell ice cream and cold drinks to take away. There are plenty of establishments nearby where visitors can buy refreshments to take away, or a sit-down meal.

Toilets
At present, we do not have toilet facilities for the public on our premises, but there are public ones by the Quay Visitors’ Car Park, at the end furthest from us, (pay) and in the Dolphin Quays shopping complex near to us (free).