Overton, Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Overton is a village and parish in Hampshire
, England
located west of the town of Basingstoke
, and east of Andover
and Whitchurch
. The village of Quidhampton
lies to the north of the village. The River Test
rises 1 km to the east near the hamlet of Ashe
.
There is evidence of early man living in this locality with barrow
s located near the village. It is host to the quadrennial Overton Sheep Fair. The modern fair was first held in 2000 and most recently in July 2008. It commemorates farmers leading sheep through the village many years ago, as well as the Overton Mummers, who perform frequently over the Yuletide period outside some of the many public houses in the village.
on the West of England Main Line
, which lies to the north of the village. It is also served by a weekday hourly bus service provided by Stagecoach
to Winchester and Andover, both of which continue to form a 30 minute service to Basingstoke.
, Overton
The churchyard is noted for having a large and long-established colony of glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca
), which are becoming increasingly rare in the UK.
' Watership Down
, the rival rabbit warren of Efrafa was located just north of the railway above Northington Farm in Overton.
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...
located west of the town of Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, and east of Andover
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
and Whitchurch
Whitchurch, Hampshire
Whitchurch is a town in Hampshire, England. It is on the River Test, from Newbury, Berkshire, from Winchester, miles from Andover and miles from Basingstoke. Much of the town is a Conservation Area. Because of the amount of wildlife in and near the river, parts of the town are designated as...
. The village of Quidhampton
Quidhampton, Hampshire
Quidhampton is a village in the civil parish of Overton in Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Whitchurch which lies approximately 4 miles south-west from the village. The village has a railway station at Overton....
lies to the north of the village. The River Test
River Test
The River Test is a river in Hampshire, England. The river has a total length of 40 miles and it flows through downland from its source near Ashe, 10 km to the west of Basingstoke , to the sea at the head of Southampton Water...
rises 1 km to the east near the hamlet of Ashe
Ashe, Hampshire
Ashe is a small and quiet village just west of Basingstoke, in Hampshire, England.-Governance:The village is part of the civil parish of Overton, and is part of the Overton, Laverstoke and Steventon ward of Basingstoke and Deane borough council. The borough council is a non-metropolitan district of...
.
There is evidence of early man living in this locality with barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
s located near the village. It is host to the quadrennial Overton Sheep Fair. The modern fair was first held in 2000 and most recently in July 2008. It commemorates farmers leading sheep through the village many years ago, as well as the Overton Mummers, who perform frequently over the Yuletide period outside some of the many public houses in the village.
Transport
The village is served by Overton railway stationOverton railway station
Overton railway station serves the village of Overton in Hampshire, England. It is located in the adjacent village of Quidhampton. The station is served and operated by South West Trains.-Typical hourly off-peak service pattern:...
on the West of England Main Line
West of England Main Line
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire to Exeter St Davids in Devon, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter...
, which lies to the north of the village. It is also served by a weekday hourly bus service provided by Stagecoach
Stagecoach in Hampshire
Hampshire Bus Company Ltd. trading as Stagecoach in Hampshire is an operating sub-division of Stagecoach South, part of the Stagecoach Group.Its main bases of operation are Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester.-Local:...
to Winchester and Andover, both of which continue to form a 30 minute service to Basingstoke.
Housing
A new development of 75 eco-friendly homes featuring contemporary architecture and energy saving devices has been built in FoxdownFoxdown
Foxdown is a residential cul-de-sac in Overton, Hampshire. It is the site of a new development of contemporary housing that follows the principles of sustainable design....
, Overton
Church of St Mary
Overton church, dedicated to St Mary, has mediaeval origins, with the nave dating to about 1180 and the chancel to the 13th century. It was rebuilt several times during the 19th century.The churchyard is noted for having a large and long-established colony of glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca
Lampyris noctiluca
Lampyris noctiluca, the common glow-worm of Europe , is a firefly species of the genus Lampyris. These are beetles, as evidenced by the hard cases which close over the wings when they are not in use....
), which are becoming increasingly rare in the UK.
Literature
In Richard AdamsRichard Adams
Richard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
' Watership Down
Watership Down
Watership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
, the rival rabbit warren of Efrafa was located just north of the railway above Northington Farm in Overton.