Horndean
Encyclopedia
Horndean is a village
and civil parish in the East Hampshire
district of Hampshire
, England
. It is 8 miles (13 km) north of Portsmouth
.
The nearest railway station is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) southeast of the village at Rowlands Castle
.
The village has a population of c.12,600. It shares the semi-rural character of other settlements in the district.
The village was probably best known as the home of Gales Brewery
, which existed in the village from 1850. Privately owned until November 2005, when it was bought by Fuller, Smith and Turner
, it was closed in April 2006. It was the largest local employer until the opening of the Safeway
, now Morrisons
, supermarket in 1994.
due to its convenient position as a staging post on the road from Portsmouth
to London
(now the A3
). In the early 19th century it became home to the Hon. Sir Charles Napier Senior, father to the more famous Sir Charles Napier
, whose house, Merchistoun Hall (named after his former home in Falkirk
, Scotland
), is now a Grade II listed building and serves as the village's major community centre. Horndean was bypassed by main line railways but was served by tram
s of the Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
until 1935 and thereafter by bus
es.
A three-storey workhouse was built during Victorian times to home the local poor. This stood on a site opposite the Good Intent public house (currently named The Colonial). This building had served a number of purposes including a local swimming pool. This was its primary function during the 1970s, provided by the use of a large polythene lined 'tank' on its ground floor. Using the pool was a fairly unpleasant experience by today's standards due to its small size, lack of poolside space and most of all - daylight. The first and second floors were used in latter years as a small lampshade factory. Defunct and dangerous, the entire building was demolished in spring 1982.
The village experienced significant expansion in the 20th century, particularly with the building of the Hazleton estate on the former grounds of Merchistoun Hall in the early 1960s, and the building of the A3(M) motorway in the 1970s, which passes under a bridge adjacent to the village centre. The easy access to the motorway has encouraged an influx of light industry to the village, most of it concentrated in three major estates, the most recent of which is Hazelton Interchange, built in the early 1990s. The centre of the village has a 1960s built small shopping precinct which is home to specialist businesses such as 'The Alice Blue Costume shop' and 'All for Dance dancewear', as well as a cafe, fast food and newsagent.
making it "valley of the Dormouse". Dean refers to the old English word "denu" meaning valley
.
Although there are other believed meanings, for instance that the first part of the name "Horn" is associated when the Queen would travel down to Portsmouth, she would often stay in Horndean, and a "Horn" would be blown to signal her arrival. The second part, "Dean" is the meaning of forest, or large amount of trees which used to exist in Horndean before it expanded. Or a more simpler version is that is means simply "wooded valley".
. There is also a popular youth centre, RKdia. Other venues include Napier Hall, which was partially rebuilt in 2004, and the Jubilee Hall, opened in 2002 but as yet underused. The de facto parish church is All Saints in neighbouring Catherington
.
The surrounding villages are Catherington
, Cowplain
, Blendworth, Rowlands Castle and Clanfield
.
in France since 1998. Various activities and exchange visits are organised by the Horndean Parish Twinning Association.
for elections to the House of Commons
and the South East England
constituency for elections to the European Parliament
.
and ITV1 London are the local ITV
television franchises. Meridian is received from the Rowridge transmitter (though some parts towards Clanfield use the Horndean relay transmitter), whilst London can be received from the Crystal Palace transmitter.
The local newspapers and publications are
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish 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 is 8 miles (13 km) north of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
.
The nearest railway station is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) southeast of the village at Rowlands Castle
Rowlands Castle railway station
Rowlands Castle railway station is a railway station serving the village of Rowland's Castle, Hampshire, England. It is located on the Portsmouth Direct Line which runs between London and Portsmouth ....
.
The village has a population of c.12,600. It shares the semi-rural character of other settlements in the district.
The village was probably best known as the home of Gales Brewery
Gales Brewery
Established in 1847 Gales Brewery was an old brewery situated in Horndean, on the edge of Waterlooville, near Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. It made the nutty HSB and the newer Gales Bitter...
, which existed in the village from 1850. Privately owned until November 2005, when it was bought by Fuller, Smith and Turner
Fuller, Smith and Turner
Fuller's Brewery is a regional brewery founded in 1845 at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, West London.It has an estate of over three hundred public houses.-History:...
, it was closed in April 2006. It was the largest local employer until the opening of the Safeway
Safeway (UK)
Safeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc., before being sold off in 1987....
, now Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
, supermarket in 1994.
History
Horndean grew up in the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
due to its convenient position as a staging post on the road from Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
to 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...
(now the A3
A3 road
The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...
). In the early 19th century it became home to the Hon. Sir Charles Napier Senior, father to the more famous Sir Charles Napier
Charles Napier (naval officer)
Admiral Sir Charles John Napier KCB GOTE RN was a Scottish naval officer whose sixty years in the Royal Navy included service in the Napoleonic Wars, Syrian War and the Crimean War, and a period commanding the Portuguese navy in the Liberal Wars...
, whose house, Merchistoun Hall (named after his former home in Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), is now a Grade II listed building and serves as the village's major community centre. Horndean was bypassed by main line railways but was served by tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s of the Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
The Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway was a tram service that ran initially from Cosham to Horndean in Hampshire, England....
until 1935 and thereafter by bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es.
A three-storey workhouse was built during Victorian times to home the local poor. This stood on a site opposite the Good Intent public house (currently named The Colonial). This building had served a number of purposes including a local swimming pool. This was its primary function during the 1970s, provided by the use of a large polythene lined 'tank' on its ground floor. Using the pool was a fairly unpleasant experience by today's standards due to its small size, lack of poolside space and most of all - daylight. The first and second floors were used in latter years as a small lampshade factory. Defunct and dangerous, the entire building was demolished in spring 1982.
The village experienced significant expansion in the 20th century, particularly with the building of the Hazleton estate on the former grounds of Merchistoun Hall in the early 1960s, and the building of the A3(M) motorway in the 1970s, which passes under a bridge adjacent to the village centre. The easy access to the motorway has encouraged an influx of light industry to the village, most of it concentrated in three major estates, the most recent of which is Hazelton Interchange, built in the early 1990s. The centre of the village has a 1960s built small shopping precinct which is home to specialist businesses such as 'The Alice Blue Costume shop' and 'All for Dance dancewear', as well as a cafe, fast food and newsagent.
Meaning of name
The name Horndean means "valley by a horn-shaped hill" (The horn-shaped hill is most likely Horndean Down). Alternatively "Harne" is the old English word for DormouseDormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
making it "valley of the Dormouse". Dean refers to the old English word "denu" meaning valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
.
Although there are other believed meanings, for instance that the first part of the name "Horn" is associated when the Queen would travel down to Portsmouth, she would often stay in Horndean, and a "Horn" would be blown to signal her arrival. The second part, "Dean" is the meaning of forest, or large amount of trees which used to exist in Horndean before it expanded. Or a more simpler version is that is means simply "wooded valley".
Community
Horndean's major community centres are Merchistoun Hall and Barton Hall, Horndean Technology CollegeHorndean Technology College
Horndean Technology College is a large school, situated in the town of Horndean in Hampshire, UK. The school has formerly been called Horndean Community School, Horndean Secondary School and Horndean Bilateral. It is also sometimes informally referred to as Barton Cross, after the road on which its...
. There is also a popular youth centre, RKdia. Other venues include Napier Hall, which was partially rebuilt in 2004, and the Jubilee Hall, opened in 2002 but as yet underused. The de facto parish church is All Saints in neighbouring Catherington
Catherington
Catherington is a village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1 mile northwest of Horndean, just west of the A3 road.The nearest railway station in 3.3 miles southeast of the village, at Rowlands Castle....
.
The surrounding villages are Catherington
Catherington
Catherington is a village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1 mile northwest of Horndean, just west of the A3 road.The nearest railway station in 3.3 miles southeast of the village, at Rowlands Castle....
, Cowplain
Cowplain
Cowplain is a village on the northern outskirts of Waterlooville. With a population of 8775, it takes up 7.3% of Havant borough's population. The origins of the settlement grew along the old London to Portsmouth road...
, Blendworth, Rowlands Castle and Clanfield
Clanfield, Hampshire
Clanfield is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 2.4 miles north of Horndean, just west of the A3 road....
.
Twinning
The village of Horndean has been 'twinned' with the town of AubergenvilleAubergenville
Aubergenville is a commune in the Yvelines department in north-central France. It is located between Mantes-la-Jolie and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the valley of the Seine...
in France since 1998. Various activities and exchange visits are organised by the Horndean Parish Twinning Association.
Politics
Horndean is in the Meon Valley constituencyMeon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
Meon Valley is a new county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created for the 2010 general election...
for elections to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
and the South East England
South East England (European Parliament constituency)
South East England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 Members of the European Parliament using the D'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
constituency for elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
Media
ITV1 MeridianMeridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
and ITV1 London are the local ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
television franchises. Meridian is received from the Rowridge transmitter (though some parts towards Clanfield use the Horndean relay transmitter), whilst London can be received from the Crystal Palace transmitter.
The local newspapers and publications are
- The Village News (Free)
- The News