A gentleman by the name of Lewis Tregonwell lived with his wife, somewhere between Salisbury and Blandford Forum I believe, but around 200 years ago they took a holiday break down on the coast. They came across an area at the mouth of the River Bourne and liked it so much that they bought land and built a house. That house is now part of the Royal Exeter Hotel. And that was the start of Bourne - mouth.
I only read about that, heard about it on the radio or saw something about it on TV, very recently. Others were instrumental in establishing the place at other times but Tregonwell is regarded as the founder of Bournemouth, I believe, and his house was where it started.
Anyway, the Royal Exeter Hotel sounds a fine place to stay.