Rooksdown
Encyclopedia
Rooksdown is a civil parish
in the Basingstoke and Deane
district of Hampshire
, England
. The parish was formed on 1 April 2004. It covers a small estate in the north-west of Basingstoke
which was previously part of the parish of Sherborne St. John, itself originally part of the Vyne
estate.
Asylum but became a pioneering plastic surgery unit in 1940, run by Sir Harold Gillies
. During the second world war, pioneering plastic surgery
was carried out there by Sir Harold Gillies
.
The land which Rooksdown parish now occupies was originally part of the grounds of the former Park Prewett Hospital and farm. After the hospital closed in 1997, some small development took place on surrounding land. The main hospital site was acquired by English Partnerships
in 2005 for the purposes of redeveloping the area. The original clock tower, water tower and entertainment hall have been retained as they are listed buildings.
The local housing development is still referred to as Park Village, although this is no longer the name of the locality. The area is currently undergoing a major development centred on the former Park Prewett
Hospital. This is being refurbished to provide a number of housing units and community shops and facilities. Part of the development is designated to provide affordable homes.
There a four areas of housing development in Rooksdown that have been built at various stages. The first and oldest development is the Beeches, this development lies nearest the single carriageway section of the A339
and contains Saxonwood School. The second development phase was originally known as Rooksdown to differentiate from The Beeches. This development follows on from The Beeches following the line of the old Rooksdown Lane meeting up at the top of the old hospital golf course. The third phase is Park Village, a large estate built on the line of the dual carriageway section of the A339
, extending up to the edge of the old Park Prewett Hosptial. The current development is known as Limes Park and is a huge area of development encompassing new build and the redevelopment of the Park Prewett Hospital buildings. Collectively this area is known as Rookdown following the creation of the parish.
and ward
of Basingstoke and Deane borough council
. The borough council is a Non-metropolitan district
of Hampshire County Council
.
and Parklands Hospital also falls within the parish of Rooksdown, as does the South Central Ambulance Service
ambulance station.
who provide frequent services from the North Hampshire Hospital
(service 2 and 5, east of the parish) and Winklebury
(service 6, west of the parish) to Basingstoke town centre. An infrequent circular service (4) passes through the parish linking it to other parts of the borough. The main Basingstoke to Newbury service (The Link) was diverted through the parish in 2008.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Basingstoke and Deane
Basingstoke and Deane
Basingstoke and Deane is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. Its primary settlement is Basingstoke. Other settlements include Bramley, Tadley, Kingsclere, Overton, Oakley, Whitchurch and the hamlet of Deane, some from Basingstoke....
district 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...
. The parish was formed on 1 April 2004. It covers a small estate in the north-west 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...
which was previously part of the parish of Sherborne St. John, itself originally part of the Vyne
The Vyne
The Vyne is a 16th-century country house outside Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.The Vyne was built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain. The house retains its Tudor chapel, with stained glass. The classical portico on the north front was added in 1654 by Inigo...
estate.
History
Rooksdown is named for Rooksdown Hospital, originally Rooksdown House, which once occupied the north west corner of the parish at the junction of Kingsclere Road and Rooksdown Road. It was originally the private wing of the Park PrewettPark Prewett
Park Prewett Hospital, also known as Park Prewett Mental Hospital, was a psychiatric hospital northwest of Basingstoke, in the county of Hampshire in England, which operated from 1917 until 1997. The hospital was designed by the noted asylum architect George T...
Asylum but became a pioneering plastic surgery unit in 1940, run by Sir Harold Gillies
Harold Gillies
Sir Harold Delf Gillies was a New Zealand-born, and later London based, otolaryngologist who is widely considered as the father of plastic surgery.-Personal life:Gillies was born in Dunedin, New Zealand...
. During the second world war, pioneering plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
was carried out there by Sir Harold Gillies
Harold Gillies
Sir Harold Delf Gillies was a New Zealand-born, and later London based, otolaryngologist who is widely considered as the father of plastic surgery.-Personal life:Gillies was born in Dunedin, New Zealand...
.
The land which Rooksdown parish now occupies was originally part of the grounds of the former Park Prewett Hospital and farm. After the hospital closed in 1997, some small development took place on surrounding land. The main hospital site was acquired by English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
in 2005 for the purposes of redeveloping the area. The original clock tower, water tower and entertainment hall have been retained as they are listed buildings.
The local housing development is still referred to as Park Village, although this is no longer the name of the locality. The area is currently undergoing a major development centred on the former Park Prewett
Park Prewett
Park Prewett Hospital, also known as Park Prewett Mental Hospital, was a psychiatric hospital northwest of Basingstoke, in the county of Hampshire in England, which operated from 1917 until 1997. The hospital was designed by the noted asylum architect George T...
Hospital. This is being refurbished to provide a number of housing units and community shops and facilities. Part of the development is designated to provide affordable homes.
There a four areas of housing development in Rooksdown that have been built at various stages. The first and oldest development is the Beeches, this development lies nearest the single carriageway section of the A339
A339 road
The A339 is a long A road in England. It is the main road between Newbury in Berkshire and Alton in Hampshire.-Points of interest:...
and contains Saxonwood School. The second development phase was originally known as Rooksdown to differentiate from The Beeches. This development follows on from The Beeches following the line of the old Rooksdown Lane meeting up at the top of the old hospital golf course. The third phase is Park Village, a large estate built on the line of the dual carriageway section of the A339
A339 road
The A339 is a long A road in England. It is the main road between Newbury in Berkshire and Alton in Hampshire.-Points of interest:...
, extending up to the edge of the old Park Prewett Hosptial. The current development is known as Limes Park and is a huge area of development encompassing new build and the redevelopment of the Park Prewett Hospital buildings. Collectively this area is known as Rookdown following the creation of the parish.
Governance
Rooksdown is a civil parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
and ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
of Basingstoke and Deane borough council
Basingstoke and Deane
Basingstoke and Deane is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. Its primary settlement is Basingstoke. Other settlements include Bramley, Tadley, Kingsclere, Overton, Oakley, Whitchurch and the hamlet of Deane, some from Basingstoke....
. The borough council is a Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Hampshire in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are district councils, and town and parish councils...
.
Landmarks
The water tower and main hall of the former mental asylum are being renovated before being made available for local use. The former Park Prewett Farm barn is a grade II listed building. The North Hampshire HospitalNorth Hampshire Hospital
Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital was granted Foundation Trust status in December 2006. Now called Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust , it has previously been known as The North Hampshire Hospital, and Basingstoke District Hospital.BNHFT is a 450 bed National Health Service...
and Parklands Hospital also falls within the parish of Rooksdown, as does the South Central Ambulance Service
South Central Ambulance Service
The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS ambulance services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire in the South East England region...
ambulance station.
Transport
The parish is served by Hampshire BusStagecoach 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:...
who provide frequent services from the North Hampshire Hospital
North Hampshire Hospital
Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital was granted Foundation Trust status in December 2006. Now called Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust , it has previously been known as The North Hampshire Hospital, and Basingstoke District Hospital.BNHFT is a 450 bed National Health Service...
(service 2 and 5, east of the parish) and Winklebury
Winklebury
Winklebury is a large suburb located two miles north-west of central Basingstoke in the UK. Up until the late 1960s Winklebury was a collection of small holdings but Basingstoke's growth as a London Overspill town saw the area developed for housing.-History:...
(service 6, west of the parish) to Basingstoke town centre. An infrequent circular service (4) passes through the parish linking it to other parts of the borough. The main Basingstoke to Newbury service (The Link) was diverted through the parish in 2008.