Christchurch is a town and former borough in the county of Dorset on the English Channel coast, adjoining Bournemouth in the west, with the New Forest to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in the county. Its close proximity to the Cotentin Peninsula made it an important trading port and a potential target for invasion during the Napoleonic and Second World Wars. The borough has over 300 nationally listed buildings and structures, a sample of which are described below, and more than 200 locally listed. In England, a building or structure is defined as "listed" when it is placed on a statutory register of buildings of "special architectural or historic interest" by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, a Government department, in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. English Heritage, a non-departmental public body, acts as an agency of this department to administer the process and advise the department on relevant issues. There are three grades of listing status: Grade I, defined as being of "exceptional interest"; Grade II*, "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"; and Grade II, used for buildings of "special interest". Christchurch has seven structures of Grade I status, 12 listed at Grade II* and 316 of Grade II status. Three of the Grade I structures are bridges, one a church, one a Gothic mansion, one a Norman dwelling and one a Norman castle. Other structures given recognition by English Heritage include a Victorian pillar box, a 1935 telephone kiosk, a bandstand, a mausoleum (see below), a drinking fountain (see below), two entire graveyards, and two war memorials. In addition the borough has 12 scheduled ancient monuments, three nationally important archaeological sites, 12 conservation areas and four sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). For more information on these, see the main articles Christchurch, Dorset, Stanpit Marsh and Christchurch Harbour. Listed buildings Listed buildings not featured in the main article Grade II* The gates and railings of the Priory churchyard, Church Street, Christchurch. DoE Reference: 1A/123 Grid Reference: . Greystones, Waterford Road, Highcliffe. DoE Reference: 13/60. Grid Reference: . The Moorings, Bure Lane, Mudeford. DoE Reference: 3/40. Grid Reference: . Hurn Court, Hurn Court Lane, Hurn. DoE Reference: 8/350. Grid Reference: . Grade II Tole Cottage, Avon Causeway, Sopley. DoE ref 8/335.