Freemantle
Encyclopedia
Freemantle is a suburb and electoral ward in Southampton
, UK
.
Origins of the name are uncertain, but there are similarly named places in Hampshire, notably a suburb of Hannington
and Freemantle Common in Bitterne
. The name of the Hannington suburb is thought to have come from "Frigidum Mantellum", the Latinised form of a French name meaning "cold cloak".
developer, he was a town councillor of many years standing, and also was Mayor of Southampton from 1854-1856. He disposed of the land in smaller parcels ranging in value from £20 to £100 to various property developers and building societies. Within a short time, he had also intersected the park by nearly twenty roads.
Freemantle began to be built up in the 1850s and is still mostly small Victorian semi detached and terraced houses. The school was built in 1857 and the Church was completed in 1865.
.
, who were rivals to Southampton F.C.
, who briefly considered a merger and move to the ground in 1897.
The land was owned by the Atherley family
who sold it to the Civil Service with a covenant for sports use. In the last few years the land fell into disrepair, there were problems of fly-tipping
and at one stage travellers took up residence. After footing the bill for every clean up operation, the City Council investigated compulsory purchase of the site.
During 2004, the then owners of the land (Civil Service Property Holdings Ltd) put the site out for sale by closed bid informal tender. At this time local residents, councillors (supported by local MP Alan Whitehead
) attempted to negotiate with the owners but to no avail.
The vast majority of the site has now been sold to Bovis Homes but the council has not agreed any planning permission. There is strong local and political support to ensure the site can be used for the community.
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Origins of the name are uncertain, but there are similarly named places in Hampshire, notably a suburb of Hannington
Hannington, Hampshire
Hannington is a civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It is situated between Basingstoke and Newbury, on the North Hampshire Downs in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
and Freemantle Common in Bitterne
Bitterne
Bitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
. The name of the Hannington suburb is thought to have come from "Frigidum Mantellum", the Latinised form of a French name meaning "cold cloak".
History
Freemantle was originally a large house and estate within the parish of Millbrook and before that was a farm house and land within that same parish. In 1851 it was deemed a separate parish, although some sources still refer to Freemantle as being part of Millbrook. The Freemantle House and Estate was sold by its last owner, Sir George Henry Hewett in 1852, and was bought by Sampson Payne, a local property developer. Sampson Payne was not only a merchant and local propertydeveloper, he was a town councillor of many years standing, and also was Mayor of Southampton from 1854-1856. He disposed of the land in smaller parcels ranging in value from £20 to £100 to various property developers and building societies. Within a short time, he had also intersected the park by nearly twenty roads.
Freemantle began to be built up in the 1850s and is still mostly small Victorian semi detached and terraced houses. The school was built in 1857 and the Church was completed in 1865.
Christ Church Freemantle
The parish church for Freemantle is Christ Church. The origins of a church community begin however in 1856, when a church meeting took place in the Bailiffs House, and then later church services took place in the school rooms. On 25 July 1861, the foundation stone of the church was laid by Archdeacon Jacob and on 27 July 1865 the church was consecrated by Dr Sumner, Bishop of Winchester. On the 19th April 1866 the Ecclesiastical Commission of England agreed that Freemantle would be a separate district from Millbrook, and declared the new Church of the Parish of Christ Church, Freemantle. The tower and spire were added in 1875.Freemantle Common
Rather confusingly perhaps, there is also a Freemantle Common in Southampton, although this is a considerable distance from Freemantle itself, in the suburb of BitterneBitterne
Bitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
.
Civil Service Sports Ground
The main patch of green space in Freemantle is the former Civil Service Sports Ground. Since the 18th century this 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) field has been used for sports and community gatherings. Between 1888 and 1905, it was the home of Freemantle F.C.Freemantle F.C.
Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club...
, who were rivals to Southampton F.C.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, who briefly considered a merger and move to the ground in 1897.
The land was owned by the Atherley family
Arthur Atherley
Arthur Atherley was an English Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as Whig, Liberal and Reformer....
who sold it to the Civil Service with a covenant for sports use. In the last few years the land fell into disrepair, there were problems of fly-tipping
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is a British term for dumping waste illegally instead of in an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, i.e...
and at one stage travellers took up residence. After footing the bill for every clean up operation, the City Council investigated compulsory purchase of the site.
During 2004, the then owners of the land (Civil Service Property Holdings Ltd) put the site out for sale by closed bid informal tender. At this time local residents, councillors (supported by local MP Alan Whitehead
Alan Whitehead
Alan Patrick Vincent Whitehead is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Southampton Test since 1997.-Early life:...
) attempted to negotiate with the owners but to no avail.
The vast majority of the site has now been sold to Bovis Homes but the council has not agreed any planning permission. There is strong local and political support to ensure the site can be used for the community.
External links
- History of Freemantle
- History of Christ Church, Freemantle
- Freemantle Infants School
- A map of Freemantle
- Friends of The Field local campaign association
- Freemantle Festival page
- Foyes Corner Community Festival page
Around Southampton
- http://www.communityhub.info
- http://www.shirleypark.info