Winchfield
Encyclopedia
Winchfield is a small village in the Hart District
of Hampshire
in the South-East of England. It is situated 1 mile south-west of Hartley Wintney, 8 miles east of Basingstoke, 2 miles north-east of Odiham and 38 miles west of London
. It is well connected to London Waterloo and Basingstoke
by rail.
Winchfield consists of a recently rebuilt village hall
(in 1998), a church, a 17th Century inn called the Winchfield Inn and a combination of old residential properties and new ones.
Winchfield parish currently has a population of 581 people, which is projected to rise to just over 600 in 2008. The population is scattered across this wide parish, which includes Potbridge, settlement around Winchfield church, Winchfield Hurst and Shapley Heath.
Winchfield's manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1088. In 1838, a station was constructed, known as Shapley Heath and was renamed Winchfield Station
, probably in 1840, although the exact date for this is unknown. Between 1838 and 1839, Shapley Heath station served as the terminus point for all rail services from London. From here, all mail was then distributed to the rest of the South of England by mail coach. This continued for about a year, when the railway was extended to Basingstoke late in 1839.
Notably, there was also a large workhouse located in Pale Lane which then became a hospital and has since been the subject of sympathetic redevelopment into a housing development.
The parish council was formed in 1894, and since then, the village has continued to slowly expand, with newer properties constructed at Winchfield Hurst and near the Station.
. The church has been hardly altered since its original construction in the 12th Century, with the exception of the sixteenth century south porch and a modern north aisle and top stage of the tower.
During the 2006 festival, the festival had jazz performances, a male voice choir, easy classics and the Gould Piano Trio, as well as some outstanding classical soloists such as Tasmin Little, John Lenehan and Llŷr Williams. Henry Kirkpatrick also performed a one of 'Jay-Z' act, where he rapped the Pop hit 'Umbrella' to a tacky backing track.
Hart (district)
Hart is a local government district in Hampshire, England, named after the River Hart. Its council is based in Fleet. It was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the urban district of Fleet, and the Hartley Wintney Rural District.Hart District is one of the...
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...
in the South-East of England. It is situated 1 mile south-west of Hartley Wintney, 8 miles east of Basingstoke, 2 miles north-east of Odiham and 38 miles west of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is well connected to London Waterloo and 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...
by rail.
Winchfield consists of a recently rebuilt village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
(in 1998), a church, a 17th Century inn called the Winchfield Inn and a combination of old residential properties and new ones.
Winchfield parish currently has a population of 581 people, which is projected to rise to just over 600 in 2008. The population is scattered across this wide parish, which includes Potbridge, settlement around Winchfield church, Winchfield Hurst and Shapley Heath.
History
There is a Stone Age settlement at Bagwell Green, a few hundred yards past the church in the direction of Odiham Common. Winchfield also has a few examples of 16th and 17th century buildings, particularly near the Church.Winchfield's manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1088. In 1838, a station was constructed, known as Shapley Heath and was renamed Winchfield Station
Winchfield railway station
Winchfield railway station is located in the small village of Winchfield and serves Hartley Wintney and other surrounding villages in Hampshire, England...
, probably in 1840, although the exact date for this is unknown. Between 1838 and 1839, Shapley Heath station served as the terminus point for all rail services from London. From here, all mail was then distributed to the rest of the South of England by mail coach. This continued for about a year, when the railway was extended to Basingstoke late in 1839.
Notably, there was also a large workhouse located in Pale Lane which then became a hospital and has since been the subject of sympathetic redevelopment into a housing development.
The parish council was formed in 1894, and since then, the village has continued to slowly expand, with newer properties constructed at Winchfield Hurst and near the Station.
St. Mary The Virgin
St Mary The Virgin was built during the 12th Century during the Norman Invasion of BritainNorman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
. The church has been hardly altered since its original construction in the 12th Century, with the exception of the sixteenth century south porch and a modern north aisle and top stage of the tower.
Winchfield Festival
Winchfield holds a biennial festival, which is centred around Winchfield's 12th Century Church. The festival developed from a single musical event initiated sixteen years ago to raise funds to renovate the church organ. Since then the festival has expanded with the help of the local community to include both fun and educational events. The Winchfield Festival is a properly constituted charity, with educational as well as entertainment goals.During the 2006 festival, the festival had jazz performances, a male voice choir, easy classics and the Gould Piano Trio, as well as some outstanding classical soloists such as Tasmin Little, John Lenehan and Llŷr Williams. Henry Kirkpatrick also performed a one of 'Jay-Z' act, where he rapped the Pop hit 'Umbrella' to a tacky backing track.