Hint: Question 1 and Question 2 are linked.
1) What’s this? Where can you see this?
2) Where is this place in Chandler’s Ford?
3) What does this photo say about Chandler’s Ford? Location? What’s going on there?
Put your answers in the comment below. Thank you.
Update: Since Chippy has revealed the answer for No 2, I’ll now show you the stunning images of Knightwood Leisure Centre (Valley Park, Skys Wood Rd, Chandler’s Ford SO53 4SJ).
#2 is Knightwood sports centre (that may not be it’s proper name). The road running up the right hand side is Knightwood Avenue.
#3 looks like the construction of the M3 (conversion of original A33) at what is now the Chandlers Ford. The bridge in the foreground is the original bridge across the A33 which was subsequently demolished. It ran from the Hocombe road junction across to where the kink in the road now is just before the resevoir. The next bridge is the bridge that now runs across from that junction, and the bridge in the distance is the one that links the north-bound and south-bound slip roads.
Wow, chippy, you’re on fire! Very well done.
According to Eastleigh and District Local History Society, “Hocombe Bridge in Chandler’s Ford shortly before demolition in 1990. This bridge joined Otterbourne Hill directly with Winchester Road, carrying the road over the A33(T) Chandler’s Ford and Otterbourne by-pass but its span was too narrow to take the M3.
I drove over that bridge every day, on my way to and from Winchester. I remember seeing the new bridges being built and wondering how the road layout was going to be!
Tell us something more. What was the area like during that time? What is it like now?
Other than the conversion of the A33 to the M3, and the addition of a junction at that site, I don’t think much else has changed.
I recall being told that the original plans for the M3 had the new junction being the only junction for Eastleigh, and Leigh Road junction would be closed. However, Hampshire County Council put their foot down, and insisted that Leigh Road junction stayed. This may explain why Junction is for both Leigh Road and the M27.
Of course, this original plan may date back much further; to the 1970s when Boyatt Wood was built. Take a look at Woodside Avenue – built with a view to becoming dual-carriageway in the future.