Beech, Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Beech is a village and civil parish
in the East Hampshire
district of Hampshire
, England
. It lies 2 miles (3 km) west of Alton
, just west of the A339 road.
The nearest railway station is 2 miles (3 km) east of the village, at Alton
.
At one time, Beech came under the large parish of Bentworth
until its decline in the mid-19th century. Although today, Beech's parish borders the parish of Bentworth.
By the turn of the millennium the Village Hall, although well used, was in serious need of modernisation. Thanks to the generosity of local inhabitants during a long-running appeal for funding, and with the support of the National Lottery, a major programme of expansion and refurbishment began in late 2008, with completion expected early 2011.
The village has a linear nature, sitting largely within a narrow valley that descends (by minor road) for almost two miles (3 km) from Alton Abbey, which at 217 metres (712 ft) is one of the highest points in Hampshire, to the Alton - Basingstoke trunk road at 106 metres (348 ft).
The area in which Beech is situated is primarily rural. The parish has an area of 5.26 square kilometres (1262 acres) and is a broad mix of woodland, farmland and, in the village area, residential developments. In the past, the area has had an agriculturally based economy, although this influence has declined with modern farming practices.
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 East Hampshire
East Hampshire
East Hampshire is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Petersfield. Other towns are Alton, Horndean and Whitehill-Bordon....
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...
. It lies 2 miles (3 km) west of Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
, just west of the A339 road.
The nearest railway station is 2 miles (3 km) east of the village, at Alton
Alton railway station
Alton railway station is a railway station in the town of Alton, in the English county of Hampshire. The station is the terminus for two railway lines; the Alton Line which runs to Brookwood and onto London Waterloo and the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, which runs to Alresford. The latter once ran...
.
History
Although Beech's origins can be traced back to the 12th century, modern Beech took shape in the 1890s when the local landowner began to sell off small parcels of land for housing - much of it in the colonial style of wood and corrugated iron construction. This process continued in the period between the First and Second World Wars. The parish church was built in 1902 and the existing village hall was established nearby in 1932 in a building that had previously formed part of the local print works. Since the 1960s the colonial-style housing has gradually been replaced by modern high end detached housing stock.At one time, Beech came under the large parish of Bentworth
Bentworth
Bentworth is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies approximately west of the town of Alton and about 8 miles south of Basingstoke, just off the A339 road. The parish covers an area of , of which about are woodland...
until its decline in the mid-19th century. Although today, Beech's parish borders the parish of Bentworth.
Present day
The village is now primarily an affluent residential area, serving surrounding business areas with little commercial activity within the village boundary. Beech is a growing village with, at present, some 600 villagers living in 205 houses. The establishment of the South Downs National Park is expected to have a major impact on Alton (which falls just outside the Park) and its surrounding villages in terms of increased housing development.By the turn of the millennium the Village Hall, although well used, was in serious need of modernisation. Thanks to the generosity of local inhabitants during a long-running appeal for funding, and with the support of the National Lottery, a major programme of expansion and refurbishment began in late 2008, with completion expected early 2011.
Geography
The Parish of Beech is located in the north-eastern area of Hampshire approximately 11 miles (18 km) south of Basingstoke, 15 miles (24 km) east of Winchester and two miles (3 km) from the market town of Alton. Beech is close to, but outside, the northern boundary of the South Downs National Park.The village has a linear nature, sitting largely within a narrow valley that descends (by minor road) for almost two miles (3 km) from Alton Abbey, which at 217 metres (712 ft) is one of the highest points in Hampshire, to the Alton - Basingstoke trunk road at 106 metres (348 ft).
The area in which Beech is situated is primarily rural. The parish has an area of 5.26 square kilometres (1262 acres) and is a broad mix of woodland, farmland and, in the village area, residential developments. In the past, the area has had an agriculturally based economy, although this influence has declined with modern farming practices.