102-639: Aldershot Garrison , also known as Aldershot Military Town , is a major garrison in South East England , between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire . The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by
204-543: A car bomb attack on the 16th Parachute Brigade headquarters mess at Aldershot garrison. This blast was later claimed, by the Official IRA , as revenge for the shootings in Derry that came to be known as Bloody Sunday . Until then, the military town had been open-plan , but the attack led to immediate action to secure military property. A memorial stone was placed on the site of the bombing. Following Aldershot's establishment as
306-602: A coach house , and the Ship Inn which has the oldest licence in Christchurch. A known haunt of smugglers , the Ship Inn's history can be traced back to 1688. At the end of High Street is Church Street which contains Church Hatch, a Grade II* listed Georgian residence. Once the home of Sir Owen Tudor Burne , it was saved from demolition in 1929 by public appeal. Ye Olde Eight Bells, a Grade II listed gift shop in Church Street,
408-455: A colonel , brigadier or major-general , assisted by a garrison sergeant major . In Ireland , Association football (as distinct from Gaelic football ) has historically been termed the "garrison game" or the "garrison sport" for its connections with British military serving in Irish cities and towns. Christchurch, Hampshire Christchurch ( / ˈ k r aɪ s ( t ) tʃ ɜːr tʃ / )
510-440: A mayor from at least 1297. It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1886. The parish of Christchurch was gradually subdivided into smaller civil parishes. The chapelry of Holdenhurst was a separate civil parish from medieval times. As the town of Bournemouth began to develop from the early 19th century, it initially straddled the parishes of Christchurch and Holdenhurst, continuing to do so even after Bournemouth
612-603: A century later in a car park next to the town hall, now the site of Saxon Square. When construction of the square began in 1983, the market was moved to a car park in Bank Close. Today it is held every Monday in High Street which is then closed to traffic. Periodically there are food fairs and a French market in the town. Every year since 2000 the town has held a food and wine festival during May. It includes an international food market with over 100 stalls selling food and drink, and
714-460: A confrontation between a gang of local smugglers and Customs and Excise officers led to the Battle of Mudeford in which a Royal Navy officer was killed and a smuggler subsequently executed. Another important industry during this period was the manufacture of fusee chains for watches and clocks. In 1790, Robert Cox began to manufacture fusee chains in workshops in the High Street. By 1793 Cox gained
816-675: A convention for naming the barracks was formulated. Wood advocated that the new barracks should all be named to commemorate famous British victories; initially this proposal met with some resistance, but was eventually adopted. The barracks in Stanhope Lines took names from the famous battles of the Napoleonic Wars and those in Marlborough Lines took names from Marlborough's campaigns . The Military Headquarters Building in Steeles Road
918-631: A division of regular troops was permanently based at Aldershot, and 'the Division at Aldershot' (including artillery at Christchurch, Hampshire , and cavalry at Hounslow , Middlesex ) became one of the most important home commands of the British Army. In January 1876 a Mobilization Scheme for the forces in Great Britain and Ireland was published, with the Active Army divided into eight army corps based on
1020-400: A further 2.09% and those of mixed race 0.44%. Asian and British Asian make up the next largest group with 0.25% of the local population, followed by Chinese, 0.16%, black, 0.13% and 0.11% from other ethnic groups. Over 55% of the economically active population are in full-time employment; a further 22% work on a part-time basis. Of those in employment, over 40% of the borough's residents have
1122-560: A further 3% are second homes. The borough has around 25,000 cars: an average of 1.21 per household. Christchurch, in common with the rest of Dorset, has lower crime rates than average for the UK. Reported crime rates per 1,000 of the population in 2006 (with figures for 2001 in brackets) are as follows: violence against the person 10.4 (4.8), sexual offences 0.7 (0.3), robbery 0.2 (0.3), burglary 2.2 (4.0), theft of vehicles 0.9 (2.5), theft from vehicles 3.6 (7.2). (£M) (%) Between 2000 and 2007
SECTION 10
#17331041724051224-556: A high skill level occupation and 17% have a low level one. Some 28.18% have no formal qualifications but 16.63% have a level 4 qualification or above ( first or higher degree , HNC , HND , NVQ levels 4 or 5 ). Christchurch contains around 22,800 properties. In 2005 the average price of a detached house in Christchurch was £323,416. On average property in Christchurch is 24% more expensive than anywhere else in England and Wales. Nearly 80% of residences are owner occupied, 3% are vacant and
1326-482: A large marquee with a kitchen area erected in Saxon Square. Here cooking demonstrations are given, sometimes by a celebrity chef: past guests have included Gary Rhodes and Jean-Christophe Novelli . The week-long festival is a community event which aims to educate people in healthy eating as well as the availability of foods. During the festival local chefs are invited into schools to demonstrate recipes; and throughout
1428-570: A large permanent training camp in the 1850s, the military presence continued to grow. The garrison was divided into the North Camp and the South Camp, either side of the Basingstoke Canal . As more soldiers arrived, they were first housed in bell tents due to a shortage or permanent accommodation. Later, wooden huts were built, which were in turn replaced by brick built barracks in the 1890s. Much of
1530-500: A large storm damaged a groyne which blocked the entrance entirely. Over the following 150 years alternative schemes were proposed but none were ever taken up. Smuggling was one of Christchurch's most lucrative industries during the 18th and 19th centuries due to easy access to neighbouring towns and the difficult harbour entrance which acted as a barrier to customs cutters . Many townspeople were involved in this illegal trade and large quantities of wealth were accumulated. In 1784
1632-515: A local civilian contractor, at a cost of £100,263. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert showed a keen interest in the establishment and the development of Aldershot as a garrison town. In 1855, they had a wooden Royal Pavilion built, in which they would often stay when attending reviews of the Army. In 1860, Prince Albert established and endowed the Prince Consort's Library . After the Crimean War,
1734-527: A monopoly on chain production in Britain, supplying watch, clock and chronometer makers throughout the country. In 1845 William Hart opened a similar factory in Bargates. However, by 1875 the chains were no longer required due to changes in watch designs and the factories were closed. The railway came to Christchurch in 1847 although the nearest station, Christchurch Road, was at Holmsley and passengers were taken
1836-619: A museum: the Red House Museum in Quay Road. Once the town's workhouse , the Red House contains permanent and temporary exhibitions pertaining to local history, costume, geology, natural history and archaeology. The museum grounds contain formal and informal gardens. The old power station in Bargates, owned by Scottish and Southern Energy , housed the Museum of Electricity. This is no longer open to
1938-635: A narrow strip of land. The eastern portion crosses the narrower of two branches of the River Avon that pass through the town and features five low round-headed arches . The western bridge features two arches and crosses the millstream which runs adjacent to the Avon. To the east of the Town Bridge on the same route from the town centre the Waterloo Bridge spans the larger branch of the Avon. Built circa 1816–1817 in
2040-481: A popular tourist destination. Bournemouth Airport , an international airport which handled around 800,000 passengers in 2019, is within the former borough boundary at Hurn . The airport's industrial park contains a number of aerospace and engineering businesses and is one of the largest employment sites in Dorset. Christchurch was founded in approximately AD 650 by missionaries sent to Wessex by St Birinus ,
2142-483: A range of 2 to 8.3 °C (35.6 to 46.9 °F). The average annual rainfall of 594.5 millimetres (23.41 in) is well below the UK average of 1,126 millimetres (44.3 in). Christchurch lies at the centre of a green belt region that extends into the wider surrounding counties. It is in place to reduce urban sprawl , prevent the towns in the South East Dorset conurbation from further convergence, protect
SECTION 20
#17331041724052244-509: A stone keep which was constructed in the 12th century. Within the curtain wall of the castle stands the Constable's House, a Grade I listed Norman dwelling. Much of the building's stonework remains, including a rare example of a Norman chimney (one of only five in the country) and the privy which extends out across the mill stream. The castle was slighted by the Parliamentary army during
2346-484: A total population of over 400,000. Christchurch has one of the oldest populations in the country with significant proportion of residents wealthy senior citizens. The percentage of the population aged over 65 in Christchurch is 30.4%, almost double the national average of 16.5%. Highcliffe on the borough's eastern boundary possesses the highest percentage of elderly residents in the entire United Kingdom at 69%. The Office for National Statistics predicted that by 2031,
2448-410: Is a unitary authority , being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The merger was opposed by Christchurch Borough Council, which unsuccessfully challenged the government's decision to proceed with it in the courts. Ahead of the borough's abolition in 2019, the parishes in the borough were reviewed. The existing parish of Burton was renamed 'Burton and Winkton', and
2550-484: Is a town and civil parish on the south coast of Dorset , England. The parish had a population of 31,372 in 2021. It adjoins Bournemouth to the west, with the New Forest to the east. Part of the historic county of Hampshire , Christchurch was a borough within the administrative county of Dorset from 1974 until 2019, when it became part of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority. Founded in
2652-432: Is mainly composed of sand with patches of clay to the east and west, and superficial deposits ( drift ) of sand and gravel cover the entire area. The extraction of sand and gravel for construction purposes is carried out in the borough, and the opening of more sites is planned. Christchurch, like the rest of the country, has a temperate climate with a small variation in daily and annual temperatures. The presence of
2754-411: Is protected by a sandbar known as Mudeford Spit which has fine sandy beach on both sides of a walkway lined with beach huts . The harbour is protected by a natural headland ( Hengistbury Head ) at the start of the sandbanks, and is a special site for sand martins which nest annually in the sandy cliffs. The harbour is only accessible to shallow draught boats drawing up to 4 feet (1.2 m) due to
2856-457: Is referenced in the first paragraph of Rudyard Kipling 's poem Gunga Din . Garrison A garrison (from the French garnison , itself from the verb garnir , "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters . A garrison
2958-484: Is some 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) of open military training area. Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army . The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near to the village of Aldershot , with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the British Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by
3060-519: Is the most southerly of a chain of three hills, some 3 miles (4.8 km) long with 35-hectare (86-acre) area of heathland and coniferous forest. The New Forest , Christchurch Priory, Hengistbury Head, Avon Valley , Christchurch Bay, The Solent and The Needles of the Isle of Wight can be seen from viewpoints on the east side of the Hill. Stour Valley way, Poole Bay and the Isle of Purbeck can be viewed from
3162-528: Is usually in a city , town , fort , castle , ship , or similar site. "Garrison town" is a common expression for any town that has a military base nearby. "Garrison towns" ( Arabic : أمصار , romanized : amsar ) were used during the Arab Islamic conquests of Middle Eastern lands by Arab - Muslim armies to increase their dominance over indigenous populations. In order to occupy non-Arab, non-Islamic areas, nomadic Arab tribesmen were taken from
Aldershot Garrison - Misplaced Pages Continue
3264-593: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle entry of 901 as Tweoxneam (Twynham) from Old English betweoxn (between) and ēam (rivers). In around 890 AD, Alfred the Great considered Twynham to be of such strategic importance that, with the threat of invasion by the Danes , he made it a burh and defensive walls were erected around the town. In 1094 a chief minister of King William II , Ranulf Flambard , then Dean of Twynham, began
3366-478: The 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum , the borough of Christchurch voted by 59% to leave. Christchurch is the most easterly coastal town of the administrative county of Dorset, and it lies within the historic county of Hampshire . The town abuts Bournemouth to the west and is approximately 9 miles (14 km) east of Poole , 20 miles (32 km) west of Southampton , 23 miles (37 km) south of Salisbury . The town centre lies between
3468-692: The Adventure Wonderland theme park. The New Forest National Park in Hampshire borders the green belt to the east of the borough in Burton parish. The Christchurch parish had a population of 31,372 in 2021, and around 50,000 for the wider borough, making it the fourth most populous settlement in Dorset. It lies in the South East Dorset conurbation which is one of the South Coast's major urban areas with
3570-529: The English Channel . Despite its obvious advantages, Reigate was situated in prime agricultural land that would prove too expensive to purchase. Lord Hardinge suggested Aldershot Heath as the location for the new training area, as land was less expensive, but still close enough to the South Coast to defend London. In January 1854, the British Government 's War Department purchased areas of heathland around
3672-562: The English Civil War to prevent the stronghold from falling into Royalist hands. Christchurch town centre and the harbour are overlooked by the 11th-century Grade I listed Christchurch Priory . Once a monastery , it was given to the town for use as a parish church by Henry VIII after the dissolution in 1540. It is the longest parish church in England, having a nave over 311 feet (95 m) long. The nave and transepts are Norman with heavy columns and round arches, whereas
3774-557: The Gulf Stream ensures that the British Isles maintain an all-year-round ambient temperature, and, because of its position on the south coast of England, Christchurch has slightly warmer winters and cooler summers than settlements further inland. The warmest months in Christchurch are July and August, which have an average temperature range of 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F), and the coolest months are January and February, which have
3876-501: The House of Commons . The seat was recreated in 1983 from parts of the Christchurch and Lymington , North Dorset and New Forest constituencies, and was held by Robert Adley (Conservative) from its creation until his death in 1993. At the by-election Diana Maddock (Liberal Democrat) was elected with a swing of 35.4%, one of the largest-ever swings against a sitting party. The seat
3978-533: The RAMC Memorial , Aldershot Military Cemetery , the Royal Garrison Church and other churches. Adjacent to the military town is some 2,700 hectares of open military training area, which is open to the public when not in use for military purposes. Current barracks which encompass the garrison include: The following units are also based within the garrison, at an unknown location: The Aldershot Garrison
4080-570: The Vampire , Sea Venom and Sea Vixen . In the 1950s, Bournemouth Airport , a former RAF base situated on the outskirts of borough boundaries at Hurn , also became heavily involved in aircraft production after Vickers Armstrong —which later became the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC)—established a factory at the airport. Although the de Havilland factory closed down in 1962 and aircraft manufacturing at Bournemouth Airport ceased by
4182-603: The civil war with the Empress Matilda . The castle again saw action during the Civil War of 1642–1651 when occupied by the Parliamentarians . Christchurch changed hands a number of times: originally under Royalist control, it was captured by Sir William Waller 's Parliamentary army in 1644. Lord Goring briefly retook the town in 1645 but was obliged to withdraw and returned with a larger force days later and laid siege to
Aldershot Garrison - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-466: The lady chapel is from the 14th century and more Perpendicular in style. The great choir is even later, having been rebuilt in the 16th century. The Priory is noted for its Miraculous Beam , which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Within the Priory grounds stands Priory House, a Grade II listed mansion built in 1777 by Gustavus Brander . The Priory is in active use for worship and forms part of
4386-399: The unparished part of the borough (corresponding to the pre-1974 municipal borough of Christchurch) was made into two new parishes, one called Christchurch and the other called 'Highcliffe and Walkford'. The new parish arrangements took effect on 1 April 2019, being the same day that the old borough was replaced by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The new Christchurch parish council takes
4488-423: The 1850s, the contractor had guaranteed the huts for 13 years; in practice, many of those huts were still serving their purpose some 30 years later. In November 1881, the first steps were taken to convert the hutted camp into permanent barracks. At this time, the first two brick buildings were constructed in North Camp; this was quickly followed by the construction of a number of larger brick-built bungalows to replace
4590-413: The 7th century at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Stour which flow into Christchurch Harbour , the town was originally named Twynham but became known as Christchurch following the construction of the priory in 1094. The town developed into an important trading port, and was fortified in the 9th century. Further defences were added in the 12th century with the construction of a castle , which
4692-814: The Arab-Islamic garrisons was the uprooting of the aforementioned nomadic Arab tribesmen from their original home regions in the Arabian Peninsula in order to proactively avert these tribal peoples, and particularly their young men, from revolting against the Islamic state established in their midst. In the United Kingdom , "Garrison" also specifically refers to any of the major military stations such as Aldershot , Catterick , Colchester , Tidworth , Bulford , and London , which have more than one barracks or camp and their own military headquarters , usually commanded by
4794-491: The Army to the present day. Before the establishment of the 'Camp at Aldershot', the British Army did not have any single permanent camp for training troops on a large scale. Historically, troops had been stationed in long established garrisons, many of which could trace their histories back as mediaeval, or earlier, defensive positions. In 1852, following the death of The Iron Duke , a group of reformers, which included Prince Albert , forged an alliance that would seek to improve
4896-604: The Army to the present day. It is home to the headquarters of the Army's Regional Command and Home Command , and it is also the headquarters for the Army Special Operations Brigade . The garrison plays host to around 70 military units and organisations. In 1972, the garrison was the site of one of the worst UK mainland IRA attacks of the time when a car bomb was detonated outside the headquarters mess of 16 Parachute Brigade, killing seven and injuring nineteen. The Official IRA claimed responsibility, stating that
4998-405: The British Army, and is also the administrative base for 101st Operational Sustainment Brigade . The garrison plays host to around 70 military units and organisations. On 22 February 1972, Aldershot experienced one of the worst UK mainland IRA attacks of the time. Seven people, all civilian support staff, including cooks, cleaners, and a Catholic priest , were killed and 19 people were injured, in
5100-425: The British Army. This status has been reflected in the use of Aldershot as a headquarters for a variety of regional commands over the last 100 years. HQ Aldershot Command continued in existence until c. February 1941, when it was replaced by HQ Aldershot Area. In the late 1870s, it was decided that the original hutted camp needed to be replaced with some more permanent structures. When the wooden huts had been built in
5202-415: The Marlborough Lines. Today, the only surviving barracks of the Marlborough Lines group is Lille barracks. The Victorian buildings were largely demolished in 1958, and then rebuilt with more modern facilities, although the original officers' mess survives. North Camp station is the garrison's original railway station. The area known as South Camp was rebuilt at much the same time as North Camp. Construction
SECTION 50
#17331041724055304-438: The Saxon Square shopping precinct in 1982 added a further 41,748 square feet (3,878.5 m ) of shop floor to the town centre—an increase of 67.5%. The combined number of shops and floor space makes Christchurch the fifth largest shopping centre in Dorset. In 2008, Christchurch attracted some 837,000 staying visitors and 792,000 day visitors, and tourism generated £76 million for the local economy. Although important to
5406-678: The Victorian barracks did survive. Montgomery Lines was completed in the 1970s and was built on the site of several barracks that formerly made up Stanhope Lines. Much of South Camp has now been redeveloped as part of the Aldershot Urban Extension. Today, the military town has a population of around 10,500. This consists of around 3,900 resident soldiers, some 1,000 transient military personnel on courses or sport, 770 MoD Civil Servants and some 5,000 service dependents. The garrison contains 2,145 Service Family Accommodation quarters. The rest of
5508-483: The Victorian camp was demolished in the 1960s. Prior to 1890, Aldershot garrison lacked permanent accommodation to house the growing military presence. Following the Barracks Act of 1890, North Camp was rebuilt with brick barracks named: Blenheim, Lille, Malplaquet, Oudenarde, Ramillies and Tournay. The new barracks were built by Henry Wells, a locally based building contractor. This group of barracks then became known as
5610-406: The attack was in revenge for the shootings in Derry that came to be known as Bloody Sunday . Following the attack the Army took steps to secure the garrison by erecting security fences around most of the barracks and lines, as well as introducing armed security patrols. The garrison area covers approximately 200 hectares (490 acres) and its population is about 10,500. Adjacent to the military town
5712-400: The building of a priory on the site of the original mission church. Soon after the construction of the priory the town became known as Christchurch. Some time in the early 12th century, a castle was built within the town. Originally a wooden fort built by Richard de Redvers , first cousin to King Henry I , it was rebuilt in stone by Baldwin de Redvers to resist King Stephen during
5814-496: The built up area of Burton, as well as Bournemouth Airport, with the rest of the borough including the rural portions and hamlets in the Hurn and Burton parishes being 'washed over' by the green belt. Landscape features and greenfield facilities within include the rivers Stour, Moors , Avon and their floodplains , Christchurch Priory, Chapel Lane solar farm, Blackwater and St Catherine's hills, Hurn Forest, Stanpit Marsh, Mudeford Spit, and
5916-468: The castle. However, the Parliamentarians withstood the siege and maintained their hold on the town. Fearing such a powerful stronghold might once again fall into Royalist hands, Cromwell ordered the castle to be destroyed in 1652. Although the fishing industry thrived in Christchurch, the importance of the harbour declined as it became inaccessible to vessels of a large draught. The harbour entrance
6018-566: The construction of pillboxes , gun emplacements and tank traps in and around the town, made Christchurch an "anti-tank island". Between 1941 and 1942 Donald Bailey developed the Bailey bridge at the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment at Christchurch Barracks. Much development with a large increase in housing occurred from the mid-18th century. In 1873, 300 acres (120 ha) of common land north of
6120-418: The desert by the ruling Arab elite, conscripted into Islamic armies, and settled into garrison towns as well as given a share in the spoils of war . The primary utility of the Arab-Islamic garrisons was to control the indigenous non-Arab peoples of these conquered and occupied territories, and to serve as garrison bases to launch further Islamic military campaigns into yet-undominated lands. A secondary aspect of
6222-500: The first Bishop of Dorchester (Oxfordshire). They settled on a stretch of raised land between the rivers Avon and Stour which carried people and their wares to and from market settlements such as Blandford and Old Sarum (near modern Salisbury ). The harbour became one of the most important in Saxon England as it was easily reached from the continent and boats could travel up the river Avon to Salisbury. The town appears in
SECTION 60
#17331041724056324-654: The garrison comprises barracks, the Aldershot Military Stadium , Queen's Parade playing fields, Garrison Sports Centre and the Aldershot Centre For Health, which is a joint MoD and local authority venture. The garrison is mostly centred around the crossroads that join Queen's Avenue and Alison's Road. The military town includes local landmarks such as the Aldershot Observatory , Wellington Statue ,
6426-549: The identity of outlying communities, and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas, and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building. The area is 3,477 hectares (34.77 km ; 13.42 sq mi) (2010) in size, and lies mainly to the north of the district, with portions surrounding the fringes of the Christchurch/Highcliffe-on-Sea urban area. Suburbs also excluded are Jumpers Common,
6528-402: The largest negative change at −42% whereas the electronics industry experienced the biggest fall with £16.2 million less than seven years previous. An aircraft manufacturing industry was established in the town with the construction of an Airspeed factory at Christchurch Airfield in 1942. In 1948 the factory became part of de Havilland and manufactured a wide range of aircraft such as
6630-555: The late 1970s, the aircraft and engineering industries remained important to the local economy. Major employers in Christchurch include: BAE Systems , Bournemouth Aviation Services Company (BASCO), Beagle Aerospace, Channel Express , College of Air Traffic Control, Data Track Process Instruments, European Aviation , FR Aviation , Honeywell , Reid Steel, Revvo Castor Company, Sainsbury's , Siemens VAI and SELEX Communications . The town's High Street has 48 shops with 61,847 square feet (5,745.8 m ) of retail space. The addition of
6732-481: The local economy, Christchurch is not so heavily dependent on tourism as some of its neighbours. In 2008, visitor accommodation consisted of 11 caravan and camping parks , and some 900 bed spaces in eight hotels and 75 guest houses or bed and breakfast establishments. A weekly market was granted to the town by Baldwin de Redvers and the first market took place in 1149 at the junction of Castle Street and High Street. These weekly markets stopped in 1872 but resumed
6834-529: The major Commands and Districts. The 2nd Corps was headquartered at Aldershot. This scheme disappeared in 1881, when the districts were retitled 'District Commands', with Aldershot usually listed as IX or X. In 1898, (when Queen Victoria's son, the Duke of Connaught , was General Officer Commanding) Aldershot Command was ranked I on the list. From 1901 to 1908 Aldershot Command was given the additional title of I Army Corps. The garrison subsequently became seen as home to
6936-405: The mediaeval tradition with dressed Portland stone , its design incorporates five wide segmental arches, circular piers and capped cutwaters. On the northern side of the bridge a modern steel pedestrian footbridge is cantilevered to the older structure. The Grade I listed Christchurch Castle is of Norman origin and was originally of a motte and bailey construction. The castle once dominated
7038-461: The narrow channels of Christchurch Harbour. It contains areas of salt marsh and freshwater marsh with reed beds and is home to grazing horses, rare birds, and 14 species of rare or endangered plants. It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1964, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986. To the north of Christchurch is St Catherine's Hill , the highest part of the borough at 53 metres (174 ft) above sea level . This hill
7140-497: The percentage of residents over 65 will rise to 37.9. In 2005, the life expectancy of female residents was 83.4 years and male residents 79.7 years. This was an increase on ten years previous (1995) when the life expectancy was 82.6 years and 77.0 years for females and males respectively. In common with the rest of Dorset, Christchurch has low numbers of black and minority ethnic groups: the vast majority (96.83%) consider themselves to be White British . Other white groups account for
7242-426: The previous wooden designs. Government House was built as the garrison commander's house in 1883. Between 1889 and 1893, the remaining wooden buildings, in both North Camp and South Camp, were replaced by brick buildings. Major-General Sir Evelyn Wood had recently been appointed General Officer Commanding at Aldershot and was keen to push forward the building of the new accommodation. It was also, at his request, that
7344-479: The public, although the company is working on new ways to share the museum's collection more widely across the UK. Christchurch is home to many churches, most notably Christchurch Priory . Christchurch's town centre encompasses a mixture of traditional public houses, restaurants, coffee shops, antiquated cottages and historic listed buildings . The older part of the town dates from Saxon times and retains its Saxon street layout. The Grade II listed Mayor's Parlour
7446-496: The railways made Christchurch accessible to more potential visitors. A power station was built in Christchurch in 1903 to power the public trams . The excess generated was sufficient to light the town, and it was added to the national grid in 1940. The Fisher Aviation Company began to provide flights from fields at the eastern end of Somerford Road in 1930, and by 1933 the company had flown over 19,000 passengers. In 1934, they obtained permission to establish an aerodrome on
7548-469: The rear. In 1980 the council moved to new Civic Offices on Bridge Street, after which most of the Town Hall was demolished to make way for the Saxon Square shopping centre, retaining only the original 1859 section. The borough of Christchurch was abolished in 2019, merging with Bournemouth and Poole to become a new local government district called Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , the council of which
7650-405: The rest of the way by omnibus. In 1862 a new station was built in the town close to where it stands today and was served by a branch line from Ringwood . Christchurch joined the mainline in 1883, and a third station had to be built. Christchurch, and in particular Mudeford , had been enjoying a modest tourist trade since King George III had patronised the town in the 1790s but the arrival of
7752-401: The rivers Avon and Stour which flow directly into Christchurch Harbour . The borough boundaries stretched to Hurn Forest in the north encompassing Bournemouth Airport and eastwards along the coast as far as Walkford . The River Stour forms a natural boundary to the west; the estuary and harbour form the southern boundary. Christchurch Harbour contains large areas of salt marsh and
7854-449: The sandbars at the entrance. The entrance, known as the Run, has Mudeford Quay on one side and the spit on the other. Considerable tides flow here: up to 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) during spring tides . The harbour is a protected wildlife refuge and is home to large populations of swans , waders and other bird life. On the south side, the harbour is enclosed by Hengistbury Head which
7956-651: The site which became known as Christchurch Airfield . During the Second World War an Airspeed factory was built on the airfield, and began manufacturing aircraft for the RAF ; the USAAF Ninth Air Force established a base there in 1944. A second aerodrome opened at Hurn in 1944 which became Bournemouth Airport . In 1940, with the German 6th Army at Cherbourg , Christchurch was fortified against an expected invasion:
8058-526: The small village of Aldershot at £12 an acre. By 1861, around 8,000 acres had been purchased. It was originally only envisaged to set up a tented camp for summer use; however, following the outbreak of the Crimean War , it was necessary to accommodate a large number of troops, over a longer period of time and so two hutted camps, one north and one south of the Basingstoke Canal , were constructed. Between 1854 and 1859, around 1,200 wooden huts were constructed by
8160-452: The south-west side of the Hill. Due to its commanding views, St. Catherine's Hill has been in use since prehistoric times as a look-out area and beacon and in more recent years served as a military training ground. The hill is home to protected and rare wildlife species, including the Dartford warbler , nightjar , and the sand lizard . The geology of the borough is unremarkable; the bedrock
8262-474: The style 'town council', with its chair being the mayor. The Old Town Hall was transferred to the new town council, which uses it as its headquarters. The Civic Offices on Bridge Street transferred to the BCP Council. They were closed in 2021 pending a proposed sale, after the new council consolidated its offices at Bournemouth Town Hall . Christchurch is represented by a single parliamentary constituency in
8364-482: The total Gross Value Added (GVA) of the borough grew by 37% from £552 million to £757 million. The biggest contributor to the local economy through the period 2000–2007 was the transport and communication sector which in 2007 brought in £145 million GVA; £64 million more than in 2000. The sector which saw the largest growth during that period however, was metals and engineering which increased by 140%. The food, textiles and wood industries experienced
8466-526: The town but now lies in ruins and only a couple of the keep walls remain. A castle has stood in Christchurch since approximately 924 AD when Edward the Elder fortified the town with a wooden fort on a motte . After the Norman conquest in 1066 the castle's defences were strengthened with a ditch and bailey surrounded by a wooden palisade . The wooden fort was replaced; at first with another wooden structure and then
8568-462: The town known as Portfield was enclosed and built upon and the town's population rapidly expanded. During the 20th century further development has seen the population grown from a little over 11,000 to more than 45,000. In the 1950s a large housing estate was built to the east of the town centre and in 1958 a bypass was constructed which redirected traffic using the town's high street as the main thoroughfare to and from London and Southampton. In 1974
8670-581: The town quay where a large marquee contains the main stage. Local bars often host smaller bands and dancing and exhibitions take place throughout the town centre. Another annual event is the regatta which has been held every year since 1909. It takes place around the second week in August and involves rowing competitions on the River Stour and a travelling funfair sited on the adjacent town quay . A carnival procession and large firework display takes place at
8772-494: The town was transferred from the county of Hampshire to Dorset following local government reorganisation and was granted borough status by a Royal Charter . There are two tiers of local government covering Christchurch, at civil parish (town) and unitary authority level: Christchurch Town Council, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . The town council is based at the Old Town Hall at 30 High Street, which
8874-430: The training of the Army. In 1853, a summer camp was established at Chobham Common and two divisional size military exercises were conducted. Following the success of these manoeuvres, it was decided that a permanent camp was needed where such exercises could be regularly conducted. Initially, Reigate was selected as a location that was strategically sound, and close enough to London, to defend against invasion from across
8976-556: The weekend the marquee hosts a cookery workshop for 7- to 10-year-olds. Christchurch holds an annual music festival on the first weekend in July. Originally a folk festival , the event has evolved to cater for a wider variety of tastes: clog and morris dancing groups and salsa and belly dancing exhibitions have featured. Rock bands and soul groups have been included alongside the more traditional types of music. The festival's format changes annually but usually takes place on and around
9078-503: The weekend. The part of the quay by the priory is known as The Quomps and was conveyed to the town in 1911 by Lord Malmesbury . A 19th-century bandstand situated in the Quomps was an anonymous gift to the town in 1938. During the summer months it is used for free open-air concerts on Saturdays, one of the most popular being "Stompin' on the Quomps", a smooth jazz festival. On Sunday afternoons brass bands often play there. The town has
9180-527: The western part of the old Christchurch East parish. The remainder of Christchurch East became a new parish called Bransgore and stayed in Hampshire as part of the New Forest District . Christchurch Borough Council was a lower-tier district council, with county-level services provided by Dorset County Council . The borough council was initially based at the Town Hall, which at that time was much larger, incorporating adjoining former school buildings to
9282-418: Was built as the market hall in 1745 at the far end of the High Street but was moved to its present position in 1849. It was enclosed and extended, and used as the town hall until the civic offices were built in the mid-1970s. It was restored to its former condition circa 1982 when the Saxon Square shopping precinct was built. High Street contains two Grade II listed public houses : Ye Olde George Inne, once
9384-455: Was built in 1859. Christchurch was historically in Hampshire and was both an ancient borough and an ancient parish . The parish extended beyond the borough, also including a large surrounding rural area. The borough was given a royal charter in 1315, confirming earlier borough rights which had been granted by the De Redvers family as lords of the manor . The borough is known to have had
9486-407: Was completed by the same local company responsible for Marlborough Lines. This phase of construction saw nine barracks built, namely: Albuhera, Barossa, Corunna, Gibraltar, Maida, Buller, Mandora and McGrigor barracks. This group of barracks became known as Stanhope Lines. Many of these brick-build Victorian barracks were demolished in the late 1960s, to make way for what is now Montgomery Lines. One of
9588-650: Was completed in 1895. Smith-Dorrien House , the local social facility for soldiers, was completed in 1909. The garrison used to be the corps headquarters for the Royal Corps of Transport and the Army Catering Corps ; when these were merged into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993, the corps headquarters moved to Deepcut Barracks . Today, the garrison is home to the headquarters of the Regional Command of
9690-702: Was destroyed during the English Civil War by the Parliamentarian Army . During the 18th and 19th centuries, smuggling flourished and became one of the town's most lucrative industries. The town was heavily fortified during the Second World War as a precaution against an expected invasion , and in 1940 an Airspeed factory was established on the town's airfield to make aircraft for the Royal Air Force . The town's harbour, beaches, nature reserves and historically important buildings have made Christchurch
9792-531: Was made a borough in 1890. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that parishes were no longer allowed to straddle borough boundaries. The parish of Christchurch was therefore reduced to match the borough of Christchurch, and a parish of Bournemouth was created matching that borough. The parts of the old Christchurch and Holdenhurst parishes outside the two boroughs were split into six rural parishes : Christchurch East, Holdenhurst, Hurn , Pokesdown , Southbourne and Winton . The southern part of Christchurch East
9894-463: Was made a separate parish called Highcliffe in 1897. Highcliffe was subsequently absorbed into the parish and borough of Christchurch in 1932. The old municipal borough of Christchurch was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced with a larger non-metropolitan district of Christchurch, which was transferred from Hampshire to Dorset. Christchurch's borough status
9996-554: Was once another alehouse frequented by smugglers and central to a number of local legends. Close by in Castle Street is the Perfumery, a 14th-century thatched property often referred to as the old courthouse; although some local historians maintain that this was next door and long gone. The town centre contains three Grade I listed bridges. The Town Bridge is a 15th-century ashlar stone bridge composed of two portions separated by
10098-523: Was particularly troublesome with constantly shifting sandbars. In 1665 Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon , bought the Lordship of the Manor of Christchurch. As part of his plans to improve trade in the town, he attempted to resolve the problems with the harbour entrance by cutting a new one through the sandspit at the foot of Hengistbury Head . However, upon completion the new entrance repeatedly silted up and in 1703
10200-533: Was retaken by Conservative candidate Christopher Chope in 1997, and retained in 2001 and 2005. In the 2010 general election , Chope retained his seat with a considerable majority of 15,410 and 56.4% of the vote, making Christchurch one of the safest Conservative constituencies in the country. Christchurch was part of the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament . In
10302-531: Was the site of the earliest settlement here dating back to the Bronze Age . The landward end of the headland has a bank and ditch known as Double Dykes , built in about 700 BC, to protect the ancient settlement. Stanpit Marsh is a 65-hectare (160-acre) nature reserve situated just below the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Stour. During the 18th century it was notorious for smugglers landing tobacco and rum in
10404-409: Was transferred to the new district, allowing the council to take the name Christchurch Borough Council and giving the chair of the council the title of mayor, continuing Christchurch's series of mayors dating back to the 13th century. The new borough covered the area of the old borough plus the parish of Hurn (including an area transferred to it from Sopley ) and a new parish of Burton , created from
#404595