Eastleigh

Winchester Mass Cycle 2023

October 6, 2023 By chippy minton 2 Comments

Prologue

Last weekend (30^th September) saw the seventh annual Mass Cycle in Winchester. It was organised by Cycle Winchester, a community group that campaigns to make Winchester better by bike. And, let’s be honest, Winchester is currently not particularly cycle-friendly.

This was most definitely NOT a protest demonstration. There was no laying down of bikes to block the roads; there was no padlocking of cyclists to bollards. The purposes were to promote the joy of cycling, to provide a safe opportunity for less-proficient cyclists to brave the centre of Winchester, and to show the city and county councils how many people might switch to bicycles if only the infrastructure were there. [Read more…] about Winchester Mass Cycle 2023

Tags: community, cycling, Eastleigh, road safety, Winchester

Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford

November 23, 2022 By SO53 News 8 Comments

By Pawel Basisty

My name is Pawel Basisty and I’m member of Friends of Polish Veterans Association in Southampton. Our organisation is trying to make sure that our army veterans and important history dates are not forgotten but celebrated. Often we take part in the same events as British Legion.

This time we will celebrate the unveiling of the commemorative plaque for 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford.

The story of the Polish Dependants' Hostel, Hiltingbury by Marian Sobieraj — The story of the Polish Dependants’ Hostel, Hiltingbury by Marian Sobieraj

Unveiling of the commemorative plaque will take place at 4.30 pm 27 of November 2022 in Polish Club Southampton 507 Portswood Road SO17 2TH.

Nativity Experience returns – 19 to 24 November

November 13, 2022 By chippy minton 2 Comments

After a two-year break caused by the Covid pandemic, Eastleigh Baptist Church’s much-loved interactive Nativity Experience is back. Bigger and better than before –with an additional and exciting attraction.

The body of the church will be transformed to take visitors on a journey through different stages of the Christmas story. The layout has been inspired by the ancient tradition of a labyrinth that takes a person on a contemplative and reflective spiritual journey. The maze at the top of Winchester’s St Catherine’s Hill was possibly an example. [Read more…] about Nativity Experience returns – 19 to 24 November

Tags: Christmas, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Baptist Church, Nativity

parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

October 5, 2022 By chippy minton 3 Comments

Despite its name, parkrun isn’t about running. It’s about social interaction and community. In fact, it could be described as a community event masquerading as a sports event. I’ve written before about how participants are welcome to run, jog, walk or volunteer and that every form of participation is equally valuable and equally welcomed.

parkrun turns 18 this month, and to mark its birthday it is running the parkwalk at parkrun campaign to celebrate the value of walking. For each of the five Saturdays participants will be encouraged to walk and chat their way around the course. There will even be dedicated “parkwalkers” who will be more than happy to walk with you. [Read more…] about parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

Tags: community, Eastleigh, Eastleigh parkrun, health, sports

parkrun rewards for persistence

February 13, 2022 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

Almost 7 years since my first parkrun (though parkrun was suspended for 70 weeks of that time), I have recently completed my 250^th parkrun. That’s 250 Saturdays, plus a few Christmas Days and New Year’s Days, that I’ve got up early enough to run 5km at 09:00 am.

unofficial 250 parkrun tee shirt — Chippy models his home-made celebratory shirt before his 250th parkrun

That’s some persistence – and a milestone. But a milestone that is easy to achieve. All you have to do is keep going back. [Read more…] about parkrun rewards for persistence

Tags: community, Eastleigh, Eastleigh parkrun, health, sports

Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

January 9, 2022 By Christine Clark 5 Comments

It won’t come as a surprise to any local gardener that brickmaking was a big industry round here 100-150 years ago. Our heavy clay soil, as well as the local chalk downland, made this area an obvious site for several brickfields over the centuries. In fact, in the late nineteenth century in Hampshire there were 100-150 works producing clay products such as bricks, tiles and pipes.

Chandler's Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road. — Chandler’s Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road.

It was in around 1870 that it was discovered that our clay soil was particularly suitable for brickmaking. There were three brickfields in Chandler’s Ford. The biggest, which was also one of the largest in the country, was Bell’s, which occupied the land now taken by Chandler’s Ford industrial estate. The position of the railway no doubt helped its success as this was the main means of transporting the finished bricks. A short single-track branch line ran through the brickfield, joining the Eastleigh-Romsey line at the station near the signal box. The whole process of clay extraction, moulding to shape and firing was done on site. This last was not always popular with local residents due to the fumes emanating from the kilns. This brickfield had the honour of providing 35,000 bricks for the construction of the Royal Courts of Justice in the 1870s.

Brickmaking in Chandler's Ford — Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, war memorial, writing

Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

December 2, 2021 By Christine Clark 1 Comment

I wonder how much you know about hospitals in Chandler’s Ford past? We know of the private Nuffield Hospital in Winchester Road. Many will remember Leigh House Hospital that is gone now, to make way for housing. But there was another, long gone …

Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

Chandler's Ford Leigh House Hospital — Chandler’s Ford Leigh House Hospital

In 1835 the Hursley Poor Law Union was officially formed to cover the parishes of Hursley, Compton, Farley Chamberlayne, North Baddesley and Otterbourne. Ampfield and Chandler’s Ford were added to the list in 1894. By 1867 the Hursley parish workhouse, built in 1828, was criticised for its inadequate building (disgusting water closets and a cesspool under the windows of the lying-in and infectious wards, which had been unemptied for twelve years!). [Read more…] about Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh, education, handler’s Ford, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

World War II and afterwards in Chandler’s Ford

November 17, 2021 By Christine Clark 9 Comments

Chandler’s Ford had a population of just over 3,000 people in 1939 and, although only five miles north of Southampton which was badly bombed during the Blitz (57 nights in 1940-41), we escaped lightly. Here’s how …

BOMBS

Two ‘Doodle-bug’ V1 flying bombs fell on Hiltingbury: one landing harmlessly in a field, the other killing the residents of a bungalow in Pine Road (these bombs were presumably aimed at London but, as was the case with so many, they didn’t make it all the way). A couple of ‘breadbaskets’ fell (a Molotov breadbasket was attached to a parachute and so called because it contained both high explosive and incendiary bombs) and a stick of bombs fell in Hursley Road. One German aircraft came over from the north, machine-gunning as it went before flying off towards Eastleigh. As well as the few deaths, structural damage was caused to about half a dozen homes from the bombs. Much more structural damage was caused by the anti-aircraft guns around the area and large cracks in walls and ceilings from ack-ack guns were common.

V1Musee - ByBen_pcc - Self-photographed, Public Domain, Wikimedia — V1Musee – ByBen_pcc – Self-photographed, Public Domain, Wikimedia

During the Blitz on Southampton in 1940, the reflection of the fires could be seen in the night sky here in Chandler’s Ford. Searchlights, air raid sirens and anti-aircraft guns made the village very aware of what was happening locally. During the worst of the Blitz, many Southampton families would come to Chandler’s Ford to sleep the night, or for longer if they were bombed out. Several churches and halls were used as reception centres, providing food and blankets. Local residents often offered accommodation and some people made Chandler’s Ford their permanent home.
[Read more…] about World War II and afterwards in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, local history, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, storytelling, war memorial, writing

The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 2)

October 19, 2021 By Christine Clark 4 Comments

Part Two: 1913

Chandler's Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church )in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society. — Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church ) in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society.

If we now time-travel twenty years or so to the eve of the First World War, let’s see what has changed on our route. Once again, we come up from Southampton to the Asda roundabout and up Bournemouth Road. Chandler’s Ford now has a police constable who lives at the police house at 5 York Villas, Bournemouth Road. We pass the home of one R. E. Burke, a lounge steward on HMS Titanic who sadly perished when the ship foundered last year. As we pass the Hut Hotel (see image below, forgiving the cars!), we may see Chandler’s Ford United FC training in a field behind, using the hotel as their changing room. The big brickfield on our left is still busy.

Hut Hotel, image by Christine Clark — Hut Hotel

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, Hursley Road, local history, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One, writing

The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 1)

October 12, 2021 By Christine Clark 8 Comments

Part One: 1895

You probably know that most of Chandler’s Ford has developed in the last hundred years or so and that prior to the twentieth century, there wasn’t a lot here, apart from a few cottages, the brickfields, farm land and woods. I’ve been looking at the history of one important feature of our town: the main road – Bournemouth Road and Winchester Road – stretching from Asda to the Nuffield Hospital. I wonder what you know of its history?

Stone train, Chandler's Ford, pre-Millers Dale, April 1976 (for rail enthusiasts, the loco is D1058 Western Nobleman). Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society. — Stone train, Chandler’s Ford, pre-Millers Dale, April 1976 (for rail enthusiasts, the loco is D1058 Western Nobleman). Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society.

Let me take you back to 1895. Let’s say you want to travel from Southampton to Winchester and for some reason you don’t take the train, preferring to ride your horse / travel in your carriage or cart by road. The road that goes through our town was the most direct route, a turnpike with an improved surface since the early nineteenth century, unlike other local roads.

Before the railway came in 1847, this road would have been heavily used by the stage coaches that plied between Southampton and London. The horses were changed every six miles and being this distance from both Southampton and Winchester, Chandler’s Ford was the obvious place for the changeover. The coaching stage in our town was where the Fryern Arcade is now, but by 1895 the stables had been redeveloped as a house. [Read more…] about The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 1)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, Hursley Road, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

Chandler’s Ford Races

September 21, 2021 By Christine Clark 3 Comments

Many people love a day at the races. But can you imagine the roar of the crowd, the thunder of hooves, the cries of the punters here in Chandler’s Ford? Yet indeed, Chandler’s Ford used to have a racecourse. Complete with grandstand and a course length of 2.25 miles, it was located on fields near the railway station (now Valley Park) and was described in the newspaper as ‘presenting a lovely appearance to those who come to drink a draught of nature.’

But why here at Chandler’s Ford?

Our River, the Monks Brook

August 12, 2021 By Christine Clark 8 Comments

We have two beautiful rivers in south Hampshire, the Test and the Itchen. Both chalk streams, in their upper reaches these are noted for their water quality. In fact, due to the chalk aquafer on the Itchen, which has excellent storage and filtration, we get our water supply from this river.

But here in Chandler’s Ford we know of another, less well-known river, the Monks Brook. ‘Fordians see it popping up here and there, through Hiltingbury Lakes, at the bottom of people’s gardens, under roads: sometimes pretty as in Flexford Reserve, sometimes business-like as it rushes down a manmade culvert under Hursley Road.

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, local history, local interest, Monks Brook, nature, news, walks

Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos

April 24, 2021 By SO53 News 1 Comment

Did you remember or celebrate St. George’s Day on the 23rd of April?

This is a video with some footage in 2017 showing the St. George’s Day parade, by the magnificent 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” Band.

This video features the band’s second and third parades of the day in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford.

14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band - St George's Day 2017 — 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band – St. George’s Day 2017

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

The Christmas Jigsaw Tradition

January 2, 2021 By chippy minton 11 Comments

One of my childhood family’s traditional Christmas holiday pastimes was to complete a jigsaw puzzle (or two). Christmas presents generally included at least one puzzle. This year’s Covid-19 restrictions on travel and socialising made it a good time to resurrect the tradition with my adult family.

There is something incredibly relaxing and therapeutic about tacking a jigsaw puzzle. You can’t rush a jigsaw; it takes as long as it takes. They are addictive too – once you’ve started you have to keep going. One evening, Mrs Chippy and I had to remind ourselves that it was 11.30 pm and we really should be going to bed. I have been known to stay up into the early hours in order to finish a puzzle. [Read more…] about The Christmas Jigsaw Tradition

Tags: board games, Christmas, Christmas traditions, coronavirus, Covid-19, Eastleigh, family memories, lockdown, pastimes, puzzles, storytelling, tradition

Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

October 31, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 6 Comments

There is a story of a pompous man pushing into the front of and airport check-in queue. The check-in girl tells him to go to the back of the queue. ‘Do you know who I am?’ asks the man. The check-in girl asks the queue, ’can anyone help? This man does not know who he is.’

I sympathise with this man, not because of pushing into a queue, but because I am not known by my name any longer. The days when I heard people say, ‘Hello, Mike, nice to see you,’ have gone because, in COVID protection mode, no one sees me.

kaboompics - man working on a computer — Image via Kabookpics

Reduced to a Binary Digit

I am known to my computer but only as a string of digits. The screen wants to know my ID number, password, authentication code, admin password, username, wireless key, PIN, account number or registration key. Then there are numbers and codes sent to my phone which last only an hour or so. If I go to a bar or restaurant, my phone communicates with a QR code. I can text my order and someone brings drinks. [Read more…] about Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, Covid-19, Eastleigh, news, reflection, science, storytelling, technology

Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

June 15, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 2 Comments

By the time you read this, I will have been locked-down for 100 days, from March 9th in fact.

This is not the first epidemic or pandemic I have experienced. The first, in 1961, amounted to nothing very much but, without prompt action, it could have been even more serious than the present one.

I returned home to my student flat late one night to find the door locked and bolted. I rang and banged and shouted and eventually my flat-mate, Taffy, appeared on the balcony.

‘You can’t come in, mate.’

‘Stop messing around, Taffy and let me in.’

‘Can’t, it’s smallpox.’

‘There’s no smallpox here. Let me in.’

‘But there is in South Wales and in Bradford. We are possible contacts because we spent the weekend in South Wales. We are in quarantine for 10 days and must have no contact with anyone. Public Health sends someone around with food which they leave at the door.’ [Read more…] about Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, Covid-19, Eastleigh, medicine, science, storytelling

M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb

January 26, 2020 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

The M27 will be completely closed in both directions between junctions 3 (M271) and junction 4 (M3) this weekend – from late evening Friday 31 January to early morning 3 February.

This is the third and final closure required for the replacement of the Romsey Road bridge. More details can be found on the Highways England website. [Read more…] about M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb

Tags: Eastleigh, M27, news, Roadworks, Southampton, Traffic, travel

‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” and Friends

December 20, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Written by Greg Walker, Principal Director of Music, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band.

Here’s our talented group of youngsters at The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band showing what we can do, along with a mass choir of Scout and Guide Shows from all across Hampshire, with our cover of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’... we hope you enjoy it – we had GREAT fun recording and making it.

“The Spitfires and Friends do Christmas” CD (2019)

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, local interest, music, news, scouting, The Spitfires marching band

Mr Kipling – Exceedingly Good Memories

September 26, 2019 By SO53 News 5 Comments

Channel 5 has recently shown the “Secrets of the Mr Kipling Factory” programme. This has triggered many people’s memories, especially those who used to work at Manor Bakeries in Eastleigh.

Our reader Jill Mayes shared her memories of Mr Kipling with us:

Watching Mr Kipling cakes. Both my parents, myself and lots of friends worked for them at Manor Bakeries at some time or other in Eastleigh. I worked off of cupcake alley and they even made my wedding cake. The test bakery cakes were lovely. My mum got a free box of cakes every Christmas until she died. 🧁🍰 exceedingly good memories.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Eastleigh, history, local history, local interest, memories, storytelling

M3 to get Smart

September 16, 2019 By chippy minton 4 Comments

Work will soon begin to upgrade the M3 between Junctions 9 and 14 (Winchester to Eastleigh) to a Smart motorway. Site clearance and preparation works will start in the winter, with main construction scheduled from later in 2020 until 2022. When complete, the upgraded motorway will neatly dovetail between the new Smart M27 and the proposed improved junction layout at Winnall. Does this sound like a coordinated plan of road improvement schemes? I think it does.

A Smart motorway is a motorway with an extra lane instead of the hard-shoulder. A host of electronic gismos allow Highways England to monitor traffic flows, respond to incidents, and generally keep the traffic moving. [Read more…] about M3 to get Smart

Tags: Eastleigh, M3, road safety, Winchester

Eastleigh

Prologue

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Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

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BOMBS

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Reduced to a Binary Digit

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“The Spitfires and Friends do Christmas” CD (2019)

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