Thornhill, Hampshire

Infobox UK place
map_type = Southampton
country = England
official_name= Thornhill
latitude = 50.9089
longitude = -1.3304
unitary_england= Southampton
lieutenancy_england= Hampshire
post_town= SOUTHAMPTON
postcode_area= SO
dial_code= 023
constituency_westminster=Southampton Itchen
region = South East England
postcode_district= SO19
static_

static_image_caption=Warburton Road, Thornhill

Thornhill is a suburb of Southampton, United Kingdom. Situated on the Eastern border of the City and bounded by three major roads; the area is effectively an island. According to the [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/census2001.asp 2001 Census] the population was 9,460. The under 16s represent 23.4% of the population, 5% more than the City figure of 18.2%; the over 65s represent 17.4%, again, higher than the city average of 14.5%.

History

In 1954 the [http://www.localhistories.org/southampton.html boundaries of Southampton] were extended to include Millbrook, Redbridge, Harefield and part of Thornhill. Thornhill was a small estate of private homes, which was massively expanded in the 1960s by the building of council properties. A large proportion of the occupiers of the original houses are retired accounting for the previously mentioned higher than normal numbers. After the introduction of The right to buy scheme in the late 1980s, a considerable number of the council properties were purchased from the City Council. Owner-occupiers represent 43.9% of properties according to the 2001 census compared to 47.5% local authority tenure. The remainder are made up of Housing Association and privately rented homes. [http://www.direct.gov.uk/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/HomeBuyingSchemes/BuyingSchemesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4001398&chk=VXclp7]

Thornhill Today

There are three junior schools on the Estate, [http://www.hightown.southampton.sch.uk/school/p35.htm Hightown Primary School] , [http://www.kaneshill.southampton.sch.uk/school/ Kane's Hill Primary School] and [http://www.thornhill-pri.southampton.sch.uk/ Thornhill Primary School] . The [http://www.eastpointcentre.co.uk/index.htm Eastpoint Centre] , a leisure, conference and sports facility is in fact the faculty buildings of Hightown Secondary school, which closed in the mid 1980s, meaning that all secondary schools pupils have to commute to one of several in bordering estates.

Youth schemes such as the [http://www.thornhillhistoric.org/festival/ Thornhill Festival] , which allows musical talent from the area to show case their talents, [http://www.thornhillchurch.org.uk/whatson/events.php?quicklink=impact Impact] and two active youth-clubs are also available providing the activities for the higher than average number of young people in the area.

There are two churches, [http://www.thornhillbaptist.org.uk/ Thornhill Baptist] in Thornhill park Road and St. Christopher's Parish Church on Hinkler Road which is adjacent to the main shopping area (which includes the all usual social amenities) and is located in the centre of the estate. The main road through the estate is Hinkler Road, named in honour of its most famous resident, as is the pub! - Bert Hinkler who flew solo from England to Australia in 1928.

Recognised as an area of social deprivation, Thornhill is one of 39 areas around the country chosen in 1999 for the New Deal for Communities [http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=617] . This is controlled by a board of 12 local residents and 8 representatives of relevant agencies (Police, Primary Health Care, City Council, Chamber of Commerce etc) and is now known as [http://www.thornhillplusyou.co.uk/default.asp Thornhill Plus You (TPY)] which has almost £50 Million pounds to invest in the area over a 10 year period which commenced in 2000. This is being spent on a large number of diverse projects which are detailed on the TPY website.

Antelope Park

The Antelope Park which has a run-down office block and Jewson's regional headquarters is to be transformed into a £25m complex - featuring The Range, Gala Bingo and KFC, with Jewsons being relocated to a new building at the rear of the site. Other shops are subject to confirmation [http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/display.var.1434964.0.from_an_eyesore_to_a_25m_marvel.php]

Around Southampton