Poulner is recorded as Polenore in 1300, Polenoure in 1327, Pulnore in 1410, and Powner in 1682.[1] The origin of the name is uncertain, but the second element "ora" or "ofer" means "bank, slope", probably referring to the escarpment now known as Poulner Hill that lies to its east, and the first element might be "polleie" meaning the popular herb "pennyroyal".[1]
At one time Poulner was a separate settlement from Ringwood - however 20th century development of housing in the fields and small-holdings that once lay between Poulner and Ringwood have made Poulner effectively a suburb of Ringwood. Today Poulner has a row of shops including a Tesco Express containing a post office, two pubs, a medical centre with an attached pharmacy, two primary schools,[2][3] a small Anglican church and a Baptist chapel, a Scout group,[4] and an amateur dramatics society called Poulner Players.[5]
