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architecture

The Grand Houses of Chandler’s Ford

August 31, 2020 By Robbie Sprague 21 Comments

No 77 Brownhill Road, Chandler's Ford

It’s an afternoon in August and, after the morning’s continuous rain, my wife and I have been out for a brisk walk around the wooded roads of Brownhill, Merdon, Lake and Lakewood. It’s warm and the overpowering sweet smell of Scots pine and Douglas fir pervades the landscape. There are still large numbers of conifers among the mature oak trees where they were once a dominant species.

I first moved into Lakewood Road in 1955 when the woodlands prevailed; the area to the west of the Lake was a pine forest through which I regularly went horse-riding. It is now, tragically, an inaccessible tangle of overgrown species – but that’s another story!

At that time, in the rectangle of land formed by Hiltingbury, Hocombe, Lakewood and Hursley Roads, there was little development, the oldest house being our neighbours’ house,The White House, the land for which had been acquired in 1908. The area was woodland and heathland. I galloped across this land frequently and, like many other boys, rode my bike aerobatically over ‘the bumps’ behind the present Ashdown Road.

As a young boy, I had that wonderful sense of freedom, space and adventure. The land was ripe to be plundered and developed and, from the 1890s, the land from Ford to Brownhill, and Hiltingbury to Hocombe was destined to fall under the woodman’s axe to make way, initially, for exclusive houses.

Kings Court - Imagine a sweeping gravel driveway and gardens where there is now a car park!
Kings Court – Imagine a sweeping gravel driveway and gardens where there is now a car park!

[Read more…] about The Grand Houses of Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler’s Ford community, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling

The Hutments 1950s and My Family

February 24, 2018 By John Rolfe 18 Comments

I live in the USA, but was originally from Southampton. I have attached a photo of my mum and brother. [Read more…] about The Hutments 1950s and My Family

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, storytelling

Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

September 13, 2017 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

Recently a tweet by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) caught my eyes:

“Chandler’s Ford Infant School Project – April Rapley. Shortlisted for Student our Excellence in AT Award.”

Congratulations to April Rapley, Architectural Design and Technology graduate from Southampton Solent University! Her re-design of Chandler’s Ford Infant School on Kings Road has been shortlisted for the Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Project) 2017. [Read more…] about Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

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Tags: architecture, celebrations, Chandler’s Ford community, community, Eastleigh, event, Kings Road, Kings Road Infant School, local interest, news

The Hutments: Could You Help Find Old Neighbours in Chandler’s Ford?

April 4, 2017 By SO53 News 11 Comments

Editor’s note: This post was sent to Chandler’s Ford Today by Liz Stothard (re: Dee). She grew up at the Hutments.

Could someone help Liz find out some links about her past in Chandler’s Ford please? Below is her article.

By Liz Stothard (re: Dee):

I was born in Winchester 1950 lived at the Hutments. And also I see from looking that my late Father is mentioned…he worked for Vickers and then ATC! [Read more…] about The Hutments: Could You Help Find Old Neighbours in Chandler’s Ford?

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, storytelling

Charlotte Mary Yonge in Eastleigh

September 30, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

Charlotte Mary Yonge Eastleigh

Charlotte Mary Yonge? Who is she?

She is the woman represented by the new statue of a seated figure in the approach to Eastleigh Railway Station. Yes, but who is she?

Charlotte Mary Yonge is hardly known these days but she was a notable novelist in her time. [Read more…] about Charlotte Mary Yonge in Eastleigh

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Tags: architecture, Charlotte Mary Yonge, culture, development, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley, John Keble, literature, local interest, news, Otterbourne, train station, writing

What Do Architects Do?

September 23, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

L A Hally, a local architect, gave an informative talk about some of her work in Chandler’s Ford Today two weeks ago.

She specialises in designing extensions, rebuilds and redesign of houses in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about What Do Architects Do?

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, culture, education, event, history, local interest

Voice of a Teenager: How to Improve Chandler’s Ford

September 16, 2015 By Ben Williams 5 Comments

After the summer holiday in Perth and Singapore, I thought it would take a long while to get used to Chandler’s Ford life, but I have been able to recover quickly and adjust to the ordinary. My perception on many things changed slightly, more specifically how Chandler’s Ford can be improved.

Obviously I don’t hate it here. [Read more…] about Voice of a Teenager: How to Improve Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: architecture, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, community, Eastleigh, event, Fryern Arcade, Fryern Funtasia, Hiltingbury, viewpoint

A Bridge in the Garden

August 10, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

For three seasons of the year we have a stream running through the garden. It is dry in summer so it is really a bourne. The water authority have upgraded it to the status of ‘river’. This gives them control over what we do with it in case we want to dam it, change its course or make a culvert. [Read more…] about A Bridge in the Garden

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Tags: architecture, family, gardening, Hiltingbury, hobby, local interest

Top 10 Reasons to Love Books

August 7, 2015 By Allison Symes 17 Comments

I have loved books, especially fiction, since I was very young.

My mother taught me how to read but was told off for it by teachers when I started school because she hadn’t done it in the correct way. I think these days she’d probably be given a medal. Mind, with all the issues in the news recently, I sometimes wonder how any of us of a certain age ever made it through the 1970s! [Read more…] about Top 10 Reasons to Love Books

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Tags: architecture, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, leisure, literature, reading, review, writing

National Gallery and the Prince

May 21, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick Leave a Comment

I visited the National Gallery again. I always feel uneasy about the place and have never worked out why. Do you have a sense of unease?

It is a national treasure and we are proud of it but it is not like Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square. [Read more…] about National Gallery and the Prince

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Tags: architecture, arts and crafts, culture, days out, London, review, travel

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

March 27, 2015 By Dave Key 33 Comments

Dave Key Supermarine historian Hursley Park

About the author: Dave Key is the voluntary archivist and historian at Hursley Park. He is trying to locate as many ex-Supermariners, or their relatives, as possible in order to record their stories. Could you help?

In September 1940 the Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Woolston & Itchen workshops were bombed, forcing the complete dispersal of Spitfire production around the south of England (principally Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire). [Read more…] about History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

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Land South of Chestnut Avenue: Consultation Ends Monday 23 March 2015

March 13, 2015 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Land south of Chestnut Avenue north Stoneham Park Chestnut Avenue Stoneham Lane Eastleigh: Consultation ends Monday 23 March 2015.

Many of you in Eastleigh are concerned about the development on North Stoneham Park.

Chandler’s Ford Today published a post last December on Land South of Chestnut Avenue and the exhibitions for the developer.

On the Eastleigh Borough Website, the consultation period is between 19 February and 23 March 2015. [Read more…] about Land South of Chestnut Avenue: Consultation Ends Monday 23 March 2015

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chestnut Avenue, community, development, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, local interest, nature, review, Stoneham Park, viewpoint

The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

March 12, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

The good and the bad of the Fryern Arcade Chandler's Ford by Mike Sedgwick

People blog about, talk about, write about and visit Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford so there must be something good about it.

Shortly after Fryern was opened in 1967, Ian Nairn, an architectural journalist wrote in the Observer (October 8th 1967) about Fryern and compared it with a similar development, the Fairwater Centre, in Cwmbran, South Wales. [Read more…] about The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, discussion, Fryern Arcade, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, post office, review, Winchester Road

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

January 21, 2015 By Andy Vining 19 Comments

History of Hiiltonbury Farmhouse, Chandler's Ford, by Andy Vining.

A few days ago my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janet Williams and her husband at the Hiltonbury Pub, my old home, and we discussed the way Chandler’s Ford had grown over the years.

In the entrance hall of the pub there is a photograph of Hiltonbury taken from the air in about 1974 and Janet suggested that I took a photograph of it and put it on the blog with some descriptions of some of the buildings in the photographs so here goes. [Read more…] about History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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Tags: architecture, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, culture, education, family, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

January 6, 2015 By Andy Vining 16 Comments

My family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.

On the 6th of May in 2012, my family gave a picnic table and benches at the corner of North Millers Dale (off Hursley Road) to the NMDCA (North Millers Dale Community Association), unfortunately the little plaque attached to the table was removed some time ago.

Vining’s Copse is named after my family. [Read more…] about The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry

January 3, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 14 Comments

Chandler’s Ford is like a well-engineered machine. It works smoothly, runs well and does not break down.

It is serviced thoroughly by Eastleigh Borough Council; traffic flows are fluid and it has good bus services and a railway station.

The shops here are more than adequate with three supermarkets (Co-operative Food, Asda, and Waitrose), [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry

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Tags: architecture, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, culture, education, Fryern Arcade, Hiltingbury, history, local businesses, local interest, Methodist Church, The Hilt, Thornden Hall, travel

Land Off Castle Lane – North Baddesley – Proposed Housing Development

December 11, 2014 By Nick John 7 Comments

Taylor Wimpey proposed to build 300 homes at Great Covert, off Castle Lane, North Baddesley.

I was fortunate in meeting with my local Councillor recently (Valley Park ward, Test Valley Borough Council) and in the conversation we touched upon the thorny subject of housing development.

Apparently, there is a proposed new development up in front of the planning committee currently which effectively tacks on around 300 homes to the edge of the Knightwood Park development as it borders Castle Lane – [Read more…] about Land Off Castle Lane – North Baddesley – Proposed Housing Development

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Public Exhibition: Land South Of Chestnut Avenue, North Stoneham Park: Friday 12th December

December 8, 2014 By Dan Brain 3 Comments

As many will already know Stoneham Park has been put forward as a site for development in the Council’s local plan, with 1100 homes proposed to be built on the site (plus 50 by Test Valley).

A second exhibition has now been arranged for Friday 12th December between 3pm and 7.30pm at The Pavillion on the Park, 1 Kingfisher Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9LH. [Read more…] about Public Exhibition: Land South Of Chestnut Avenue, North Stoneham Park: Friday 12th December

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chestnut Avenue, community, development, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, local interest, nature, review, Stoneham Park, viewpoint

Hutments

November 11, 2014 By Mike Sedgwick 27 Comments

After Nick John’s post about the Hutments I made enquiries from a friend, Robbie Sprague, who was born and bred in Chandler’s Ford. He wrote to me as follows:

Chandler’s Ford Local History, by Robbie Sprague:

[Read more…] about Hutments

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, storytelling

Do You Remember The Hutments?

October 30, 2014 By Nick John 116 Comments

I wonder if I could throw this topic out there in the hope that those people who have lived (or whose families have lived) in the Chandler’s Ford area for more than half a century may be able to contribute.

I was born in the 1950’s and my parents were at the time living in a development called The Hutments. [Read more…] about Do You Remember The Hutments?

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, storytelling
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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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Reviews of local performances and places

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