Horndean
A lively village at the southern end of the District, set astride the old A3 busy coach road linking London with Portsmouth.
Horndean Civil Parish was formed in 1932 and covered the southwest part of the Hundred of “Ceptune” or Finchdean. The oldest building in the Parish is the 12th century Church in Catherington. Horndean Village was established in the 16th century, but it was the development of Portsmouth Dockyard, which by 1711 employed over 2000 men, that influenced the growth of Horndean and helped it to become a focal point in the 18th century.
In 1816 the enclosure of 2000 acres of largely common land added to Horndean’s post Napoleonic War problems and Horndean figured in the ‘Swing’ riots and disturbances of 1830-31. By this time Horndean Village had a population of 300 and Catherington 1100. The most prominent development in the 19th century was the growth of Gales Brewery between 1847 and 1896.
The arrival of the Portsmouth and Horndean Light Railway was the first of the many changes in 20th century. The installation of mains supplies of water, electricity and mains drainage occurred during the 1920s and 30s. By 1939 Horndean Civil Parish had a population of 3000 which increased when people were evacuated from London and Portsmouth during the Second World War. In 1948 the Grain store Catherington Lane development of the Merchistoun Road estate was commenced. The building of the Hazleton Estate was started in 1950s. The A3(M) was opened in 1979.
Today the shops combine a mixture of old and new, with the traditional centre and the modern precinct providing facilities for the growing community.
Attractions:
Links: