Locks Heath
Encyclopedia
Locks Heath is a western residential suburb
of Fareham
, in the south of Hampshire
, England
. It lies to the southeast of Sarisbury
east of Warsash
, to the west of Titchfield
, and to the south of Park Gate
and Swanwick
. The population in 2003 was 7,170 and encompasses 1089 hectares.
growing. The industry developed as a result of the 1866 Enclosure Acts which allowed the common land to be split into a large number of small plots. The new plot owners needed a crop that would give them a quick income from a small outlay. The combination of suitable soils and a mild climate, free from spring frosts, proved ideal for the production of early cropping strawberries. Their early ripening made them desirable in markets across the country. Swanwick railway station
opened on 2 September 1889 and helped to facilitate the transportation of large quantities of strawberries to customers all over the country.
Strawberries were transported to the waiting trains by horse and cart. A lasting reminder of this is a rail on the outside edge of what is now the pavement leading down the hill to the station. This was used to line up the wheels of the horse drawn carts, so as to enable easy unloading of the carts. The station was also originally much bigger with what remains of a second branch line still visible under the tarmac of what is now the station car park. A short way from the station a warehouse can be seen which used to be the 'Swanwick and District Basket Factory' which supplied the baskets to pack the strawberries into for transportation. The outline of the old signage is still visible on the outside of the building.
The strawberry industry hit its peak in the 1920s and then began to slip into decline. This was caused by a variety of factors, including the demand for development land, competition from abroad and the increasingly strict requirements of retailers for standardised products.
Although strawberries are still grown in the area, much of the land once used is now covered with houses. Because of the nature of the plots of land which were once the strawberry farms, many of the houses are built in relatively small estates. The mixture of old and new gives Locks Heath a unique character, and there are numerous references to strawberries in the area, such as 'The Talisman' Pub, Talisman being a variety of strawberry another is the Joseph Paxton
pub which is the name of a locally grown Strawberry named after the gardener and designer of Crystal Palace
.
where an average 90% of pupils transfer to.
Some information and history is contained on the Fareham Borough Council Web site, which has a section on the Locks Heath area at: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/discover_local_area/whats_here/locksheath.aspx. The local history extract on Wikipedia was quoted from the Locks Heath Web site and is used with permission.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
, in the south of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies to the southeast of Sarisbury
Sarisbury
Sarisbury is a village to the west of Park Gate within the borough of Fareham. Its focal point, The Green, originated as a tongue of land at the extremity of Titchfield Common which was left when the rest was enclosed. Its focal point is still the parish church of St Paul, built in 1836 to a...
east of Warsash
Warsash
Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club...
, to the west of Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
, and to the south of Park Gate
Park Gate
Park Gate is a locality in the borough of Fareham in Hampshire, England. It merges into Locks Heath to the south, Segensworth to the east and Sarisbury to the west. Within the area are two churches , a primary school and a police station. It is located to the south of Swanwick railway station....
and Swanwick
Swanwick, Hampshire
Swanwick is a village in Hampshire, England, east of the River Hamble and north of the M27 motorway.The village is located within the borough of Fareham and is the site of the London Area Control Centre and the London Terminal Control Centre part of National Air Traffic Services Air Traffic...
. The population in 2003 was 7,170 and encompasses 1089 hectares.
History
In the late 19th and early 20th Century, the most important local activity in this area was StrawberryStrawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
growing. The industry developed as a result of the 1866 Enclosure Acts which allowed the common land to be split into a large number of small plots. The new plot owners needed a crop that would give them a quick income from a small outlay. The combination of suitable soils and a mild climate, free from spring frosts, proved ideal for the production of early cropping strawberries. Their early ripening made them desirable in markets across the country. Swanwick railway station
Swanwick railway station
Swanwick railway station is a railway station serving Park Gate, Locks Heath, Whiteley and Swanwick, in the borough of Fareham, in Hampshire, England. Despite the name, the station is actually in Park Gate and not Swanwick .The station opened on 2 September 1889, and was specially built for the...
opened on 2 September 1889 and helped to facilitate the transportation of large quantities of strawberries to customers all over the country.
Strawberries were transported to the waiting trains by horse and cart. A lasting reminder of this is a rail on the outside edge of what is now the pavement leading down the hill to the station. This was used to line up the wheels of the horse drawn carts, so as to enable easy unloading of the carts. The station was also originally much bigger with what remains of a second branch line still visible under the tarmac of what is now the station car park. A short way from the station a warehouse can be seen which used to be the 'Swanwick and District Basket Factory' which supplied the baskets to pack the strawberries into for transportation. The outline of the old signage is still visible on the outside of the building.
The strawberry industry hit its peak in the 1920s and then began to slip into decline. This was caused by a variety of factors, including the demand for development land, competition from abroad and the increasingly strict requirements of retailers for standardised products.
Although strawberries are still grown in the area, much of the land once used is now covered with houses. Because of the nature of the plots of land which were once the strawberry farms, many of the houses are built in relatively small estates. The mixture of old and new gives Locks Heath a unique character, and there are numerous references to strawberries in the area, such as 'The Talisman' Pub, Talisman being a variety of strawberry another is the Joseph Paxton
Joseph Paxton
Sir Joseph Paxton was an English gardener and architect, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.-Early life:...
pub which is the name of a locally grown Strawberry named after the gardener and designer of Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
.
Facilities
The mid 1980s saw significant development of the Locks Heath area with the construction of new housing and The Lockswood centre was built to provide additional facilities including The Lock Stock and Barrel pub and a supermarket. The centre now provides a focal point for the area and also includes a library/community centre and a GP surgery.Schools
There are many junior schools including St.Johns School and Locks Heath Junior School where most of the Locks Heath infants pupils go to after they leave primary school, Hook-with-Warsash Junior School, Park Gate Primary School and Sarisbury Junior School. The only state secondary school is Brookfield Community School and Language CollegeBrookfield Community School and Language College
Brookfield Community School & Language College is a large state-funded secondary school located in the Locks Heath ward of the Borough of Fareham...
where an average 90% of pupils transfer to.
External links
- Hook-with-Warsash Junior School
- Locks Heath Junior School
- Park Gate Primary School
- St Johns School
- Sarisbury Junior School
- Sarisbury, Locks Heath and Warsash Townscape Assement 2010
- 'The Talisman' Pub
Some information and history is contained on the Fareham Borough Council Web site, which has a section on the Locks Heath area at: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/discover_local_area/whats_here/locksheath.aspx. The local history extract on Wikipedia was quoted from the Locks Heath Web site and is used with permission.