Lewis Tregonwell

Lewis Dymoke Grosvenor Tregonwell (/trəˈɡʌnəl/ trə-GUN-əl; 1758–1832) was a captain in the Dorset Yeomanry and a historic figure in the early development of what is now Bournemouth.

In 1810, the Tregonwells decided to build a house near Bourne Heath to live in over the summer months, their main residence remaining Cranborne Lodge.

Tregonwell was able to buy 8.5 acres (34,000 m2) of what is now Bournemouth town centre for just £179 11s (£179.55) from Sir George Ivison Tapps, the Lord of the Manor of Christchurch.

In 1832, Tregonwell died at the age of 73 and was buried in Anderson, but in 1843 his widow had his remains transferred to a vault in St Peter's Churchyard at Bournemouth.

Underground rooms were often used as ice-houses, as the only available form of refrigeration; links such structures with smuggling is generally no more than speculative.

When Bournemouth was mostly heathland, the land featured small gravelly hollows surrounded by gorse bushes, which were most likely to be used as hiding places, as contraband made a swift journey inland.