Tongham
Encyclopedia
Tongham is a small Surrey
village located close to the north-east Hampshire
and Surrey border. The village lies in a triangle between the A31 and the A331. Neighbouring villages include Ash
and Badshot Lea
.
As Tongham is in Surrey, its postal town is Farnham
, although it is closer geographically to Aldershot
in Hampshire. It is home to the Hogs Back Brewery
as the village lies just north of the Hog's Back
. It was formerly the home of Aldershot Stadium which hosted greyhound racing
, stock car racing
(and other short-oval motorsport
s) and speedway
. The stadium lasted from 1950 until it was demolished for construction of the A331 road at the end of 1992.
times. Notable finds in the village include two Neolithic arrowheads and Iron Age
farmsteads. Tongham railway station
was important for transporting materials to build the new military camp of Aldershot
from 1856 until 1870. St. Paul's Church was designed by Ewan Christian
and completed in 1865. In 1866, Tongham (which had previously been part of the parish of Seale
) was made into a separate parish.
A notable Anglican clergyman Cyril Garbett
was born in Tongham in 1875. The military author and Honorary Remembrancer for the Borough of Aldershot (1963 to 1974), and Curator of the Aldershot Museum, Howard N. Cole
, lived in the village.
According to the Guinness World Records 2003, Tongham also holds the world record for holding the most Indisciplined Football Match ever against Hawley Youth Club on 3 November 1969. The referee booked all 22 players, including one who went to hospital and one of the linesman. The match, which was won by Tongham 2-0, was described by a participating player as a "good hard game".
Tongham was mentioned in passing in Aldous Huxley
's novel Brave New World
.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
village located close to the north-east 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...
and Surrey border. The village lies in a triangle between the A31 and the A331. Neighbouring villages include Ash
Ash, Surrey
Ash is a village and civil parish in the borough of Guildford, Surrey, with a population of 17,549 according to the 2001 census. It is at the far west of the Guildford borough, and the urban development in the parish runs directly into Aldershot, which is on the western side of the River...
and Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea is a village situated near Farnham, Surrey, England. It is located half-way in between Aldershot and Farnham, with excellent access to the A31. The village boundaries have traditionally been four bridges -- three railway and one over a stream -- which inspired the logo for the local...
.
As Tongham is in Surrey, its postal town is Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, although it is closer geographically to Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in Hampshire. It is home to the Hogs Back Brewery
Hogs Back Brewery
Hogs Back Brewery is a brewery in Tongham, Surrey, England, and named after the nearby Hog's Back ridge. The brewery started in 1992 as a joint venture between two friends, Martin Zillwood-Hunt and Anthony Stanton-Precious...
as the village lies just north of the Hog's Back
Hog's Back
The Hog's Back is a part of the North Downs in Surrey, England, that lies between Farnham, Surrey in the west and Guildford in the east.-Name:Compared with the main part of the Downs to the east of it, it is a narrow elongated ridge, hence its name....
. It was formerly the home of Aldershot Stadium which hosted greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
, stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
(and other short-oval motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
s) and speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
. The stadium lasted from 1950 until it was demolished for construction of the A331 road at the end of 1992.
History
Archaeological evidence suggests the area of Tongham has been occupied since NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times. Notable finds in the village include two Neolithic arrowheads and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
farmsteads. Tongham railway station
Tongham railway station
Tongham railway station was a railway station serving the village of Tongham, Guildford, Surrey in England which opened in 1849 and closed in 1937.- History :...
was important for transporting materials to build the new military camp of Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
from 1856 until 1870. St. Paul's Church was designed by Ewan Christian
Ewan Christian
Ewan Christian was a British architect. He is most notable for the restoration of Carlisle Cathedral, the alterations to Christ Church, Spitalfields in 1866, and the extension to the National Gallery that created the National Portrait Gallery. He was architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners...
and completed in 1865. In 1866, Tongham (which had previously been part of the parish of Seale
Seale
Seale may refer to:*Seale, Surrey, a village in England"Seale" is also a surname:*Arthur Seale , a convicted murderer*Bobby Seale , an American civil rights activist*Clive Seale , a British medical sociologist...
) was made into a separate parish.
A notable Anglican clergyman Cyril Garbett
Cyril Garbett
Cyril Forster Garbett GCVO PC was an Anglican clergyman, and Archbishop of York from 1942 until 1955.-Early life:...
was born in Tongham in 1875. The military author and Honorary Remembrancer for the Borough of Aldershot (1963 to 1974), and Curator of the Aldershot Museum, Howard N. Cole
Howard N. Cole
Lieutenant Colonel Howard Norman Cole OBE TD F.R.Hist.S DL had been a serving officer in the British Army during World War II and was an author of books on military subjects....
, lived in the village.
According to the Guinness World Records 2003, Tongham also holds the world record for holding the most Indisciplined Football Match ever against Hawley Youth Club on 3 November 1969. The referee booked all 22 players, including one who went to hospital and one of the linesman. The match, which was won by Tongham 2-0, was described by a participating player as a "good hard game".
Tongham was mentioned in passing in Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
's novel Brave New World
Brave New World
Brave New World is Aldous Huxley's fifth novel, written in 1931 and published in 1932. Set in London of AD 2540 , the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society. The future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of...
.