local history

The Role of Chandler’s Ford in the Run-up to D-Day

May 27, 2024 By Christine Clark 1 Comment

Writer: Christine Clark
Photos: All crochets by Chandler’s Ford u3a.

On 6 June 1944, the long-awaited Allied landing in northern France began. Facing Hitler’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications, soldiers of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other Allied nations landed on beaches in Normandy, beginning a campaign which lasted until 24 July 1944.

Hitler and his generals had been expecting an invasion that year. However, the successful Operation Bodyguard, a military deception strategy, misled the Axis powers into believing that the invasion would be later in the year and further north-east, nearer to Calais. Instead, the Allied war planners had selected a 50-mile stretch of coastline in Normandy on five beaches codenamed Utah, Omega, Gold, Juno and Sword.

Crochets by Chandler's Ford u3a. — Crochets by Chandler’s Ford u3a.

A key part of the strategy of Operation Bodyguard was to hide the amount of troop buildup in southern England. Approximately 160,000 Allied soldiers had to be mustered, fed, watered and moved to their embarkation points without it being obvious to the Axis powers’ intelligence.

These muster points, or marshalling areas, spread right across the south coast of England. In our area, Marshalling Area C was central south Hampshire and included Southampton, Botley, Winchester, Chandler’s Ford, Hursley, Ampfield and Romsey. The closest embarkation point was Southampton docks, although there were others in the New Forest and Gosport. [Read more…] about The Role of Chandler’s Ford in the Run-up to D-Day

Tags: Armistice Day, Chandler's Ford, community, D-Day, history, local history, remembering, Remembrance Sunday, u3a

What’s in a (road) name?

April 8, 2023 By chippy minton 10 Comments

Following my recent discovery of Lordswood Lane and Chilworth Drove – bridleways that used to be more important routes – I had a look at a map and found that there are more of these than you might think. Or more than I thought.

For example, White Lane runs from Twyford in the vague direction of St Catherine’s Hill, and Silkstead Lane and Shepherd’s Lane can be found near Compton and Otterbourne. Even the pathways that lead through Boyatt Wood may follow routes that predate the houses. The footbridge over the railway at the end of Archers Road may even be a legacy of an access route that is older than the railway.

Tags: Bournemouth Road, local history, local interest

Twyford Pumping Station Open Days

April 1, 2023 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

Twyford Waterworks, in Hazeley Road, was an Edwardian steam pumping station built to extract water from underground boreholes. Water is still pumped from those same boreholes today – though now using electrical power, and in a non-publicly accessible area of the site. The rest of the site, however, is a scheduled ancient monument under the care of the Twyford Waterworks Trust. During the summer months they hold regular open days to allow the public a fascinating glimpse into this section of our industrial history. [Read more…] about Twyford Pumping Station Open Days

Tags: industrial heritage, local history, local interest

Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford

November 23, 2022 By Pawel Basisty 8 Comments

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.

Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

January 9, 2022 By Christine Clark 3 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

The Grand Houses of Chandler’s Ford

August 31, 2020 By Robbie Sprague 29 Comments

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!

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

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3

August 23, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 5 Comments

In 1963 I met Mandy Fry, a girl who lived with her parents and sisters in their family farm in Bramdean. Mandy was lodging during the week with my Aunt while she was attending Eastleigh College and that’s how we met when visiting one day.

Peter Hammerton: in 1963, I met Mandy Fry.

Malcolm Road

In October 1966 Mandy and I bought a plot of land in Malcolm Road. We had plans for a house drawn up. Although passed by the local authority, we still had to take the drawings to Scammel & Smith, the local estate agents, to have the drawings approved by them for the Hiltingbury Estates before we could start building. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 2

August 22, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 31 Comments

In October 1960 in Chandler’s Ford, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks and many of the houses in Mead Road were flooded, some up to 18” of water inside, but I remember our house staying dry inside because the ground floor was built higher than those around it and stayed just below the floorboards.

October 1960, the Monks Brook river burst its banks.

October 1960, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks, in Chandler's Ford. — October 1960, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks, in Chandler’s Ford.

Peter Aged 18 holding firemans boat waiting to rescue people from flooded bungalows in Chandler's Ford. — Peter Aged 18 holding firemans boat waiting to rescue people from flooded bungalows in Chandler’s Ford.

In the 1950’s during my teens I had a paper round working for the newsagents on the corner of Mead Road and Park Road. On Saturdays I used to take a tea chest full of old newspapers to the waste land opposite the newsagents and burn them on a bonfire. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 2

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 1

August 20, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 3 Comments

My family came to live in Chandler’s Ford in the 1880’s when my great grandfather Levi Hammerton and his family moved here from the Bournemouth area. Levi worked as a builder building houses in and around Chandler’s Ford.

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair with a plaque that reads: Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford as a mark of their appreciation of the many services rendered to the Parish 1902.

Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 3

November 23, 2019 By Peter Russell Leave a Comment

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Hello again. I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments from June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 3 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my recollections of hutment life. I will also share my recollections of the other families there.

Once again, if there are further memories/information people would like to share, I would love to hear from you via the comments section. It would be nice to fill in the gaps wherever possible.

Tags: local history, memories, storytelling, The Hutments

Why I Love History

November 22, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

I set a word count for my CFT posts. For this one it was vital. Why? Because I can go on at length about this topic!

Many an author loves history because history IS a story (of a nation, of individuals who changed a nation’s fate etc) and it can come into their stories too.

I also believe there is truth in the phrase if a nation forgets its history, it is destined to re-live it. I can think of several episodes in British history which are best kept to the pages of a history book!

And, of course, it is why we have Remembrance/Armistice Day. It is important to remember. We should learn the lessons of history. Sadly we so often don’t. But that’s not history’s fault. It is ours.

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[Read more…] about Why I Love History

Tags: character histories, creative writing, history, local history, remembrance, stories

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

November 16, 2019 By Peter Russell 4 Comments

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Introduction

I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road Hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 2 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my family background and how we came to be at there at all.

It would be lovely if memories could be shared and if there is further information that people have, please do send in your comments. It would be nice to fill in the “gaps” especially on hutment numbers and family surnames.

Tags: Information, local history, memories, storytelling, The Hutments

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

November 9, 2019 By Peter Russell 4 Comments

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

INTRODUCTION

My name is Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. I’ve been following and contributing to the main discussion thread on this website since Spring 2016 and noticed the ‘related posts’ by John Rolfe and Liz Stothard/Dee, where photos have been uploaded.

(Editor’s Note: The links to all of the previous posts on The Hutments will follow at the end of this post and throughout the series).

I’ve arranged with Janet Williams to share my posts on The Hutments here, where I can present the results of my research from 2016 onwards and, more personally, upload my family’s recollections and photos for others to share.

Many of my findings are based directly on the clear recollections of my mother, Claudia Ruth Russell. I can no longer ask her any questions, as she sadly passed away, aged 97, in October 2018.

Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952-1 — Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952

This web page is a tribute to her and my father. [Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

Tags: Information, local history, storytelling, The Hutments

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

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Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

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BOMBS

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Malcolm Road

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Introduction

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INTRODUCTION

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