Waterlooville

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 50.88
longitude= -1.03
official_name= Waterlooville
population = Approx 10,000
shire_district= Havant
shire_county = Hampshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Havant
constituency_westminster1=East Hampshire
post_town= Waterlooville|postcode_district = PO7 & PO8
postcode_area= PO |dial_code= 023
os_grid_reference= SU682092

Waterlooville is a town in Hampshire, England approx 8 miles north of Portsmouth.

The town has a population itself of about 10,000 and is surrounded by Purbrook, Blendworth, Cowplain, Lovedean, Clanfield, Catherington, Crookhorn, Denmead, Hambledon, Horndean and Widley. It forms part of the South Hampshire conurbation. The old A3 London to Portsmouth road still goes through the town.

The town is twinned with Maurepas, Yvelines in France and Henstedt-Ulzburg in Germany.

History

Legend has it that it was named after the pub that stood at the centre of town, then known as Waitland End. The "Heroes of Waterloo" was named because on its opening day a long column of weary soldiers, who had just disembarked at Portsmouth returning home from the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, decided to stop there and celebrate their victory. According to local legend, many of them settled there; at any rate the pub was renamed in their honour and the area around the pub became known as Waterlooville.

The original "Heroes" pub was at a crossroads near the main bus-stop. A new pub has taken the name and is located at the northern end of the shopping precinct.

One of the local electrical shops, called Eric Jacksons ltd, has been open since 1928 and is the oldest retailer in the town. The business now in its 3rd generation was started by Eric, then Michael and is now run by Peter Jackson.

The town centre was closed to traffic in 1981 when Maurepas Way was constructed to take traffic away from the main shopping area. An underpass was constructed for pedestrians walking up along the Hambledon road. Between 1982-3 the old road was then fully converted to a pedestrian precinct.

In 2002 the local council allowed developers to build the Hambledon Road Retail Park and associated car park over the established primary pedestrian route. This resulted in pedestrians and cyclists having to negotiate the busy car park in order to do their regular business in town.

Near the town centre is the rebuilt St Georges church. During the 1950s and 1960s the surrounding area saw extensive growth in housing, large suburban public and private housing estates were constructed. This resulted in the original Victorian church failing to cope with the population growth. Plans for a new church were started and in 1970 the new church was built on the site of the old church. Parts of the old church were retained.

Community

Waterlooville has an Air Training Corps unit, number [http://www.2260atc.org.uk 2260 (Waterlooville) Squadron] , located in [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=467845&y=109185&z=3&sv=467500,109500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf Forest End] , near the town centre. Offering young people aged 13-20 an insight into aviation and the Royal Air Force as well as flying and gliding in RAF aircraft, shooting, orienteering, camps and visits to RAF stations across the world.

Transport

The main shopping precinct is served by First in Hampshire & Dorset bus routes 40/X40, 41, 45 and 45A, and Stagecoach services 37 and 39. The A3 Bus Corridor priority route (being constructed between 2003-2007) serves the town. As of 2006, the shopping precinct is closed to all road traffic other than buses. [ [http://www.hants.gov.uk/a3buscorridor/section3.html Latest news - Section 3 - Waterlooville Town Centre ] ]

The nearest train station is located in Havant and is on the main train route between London and Portsmouth. South West trains provide a direct bus link to Petersfield railway station via Horndean, enabling quick access to fast London-bound trains.

Sport

The town's senior non-league football side is Havant & Waterlooville F.C. Havant & Waterlooville F.C. was drawn against Liverpool FC in the FA Cup in the 2007/08 season. Liverpool won the match 5-2, after Havant & Waterlooville had taken the lead with a goal from Richard Pacquette in the 8th minute.

Politics

The town is within the Borough of Havant and includes the Waterloo, Hart Plain, Cowplain, and Stakes wards.

The town is partly within two parliamentary constituencies East Hampshire, the current MP being the Conservative Michael Mates, and Havant with the MP being David Willetts, also a Conservative. Under a planned reorganisation, Waterlooville will be part of the new Meon Valley consituency.

GEC Marconi built a site at Waterlooville for their Underwater Systems in the early 1980s. Which involved the Stingray anti submarine torpedo. A peace camp was set up near the constrcution site. After complition of the GEC building, a free music festival was held at Old Park Farm in Waterlooville called Torpedo Town. A second Torpedo Town festival was held in August 1987 at Bramdean Common near Winchester.

Education

Waterlooville contains six primary schools: [http://www.stakeshill.hants.sch.uk/ Stakes Hill Infant School] , [http://www.hants.gov.uk/school/hulbert/ Hulbert Junior School] , Wait End Primary, Purbrook Junior School, Queens Enclosure Primary and [http://stpeterswaterlooville.org/ St. Peter's Catholic Primary] .

It contains three secondary schools: [http://www.oaklands.hants.sch.uk/ Oaklands Catholic Secondary School] , Purbrook Park School (Language College) and The Crookhorn College of Technology.

There are two colleges, Oaklands Catholic Sixth Form College and South Downs College.

Notable residents (past and present)

The X Factor (TV series), contestants 'Same Difference', live in the town.

External links

* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/localpages/south_east/waterlooville/ Waterlooville local information]
* [http://www.2260atc.org.uk 2260 (Waterlooville) Squadron Air Training Corps]
* [http://www.localhistories.org/waterlooville.html A brief history of Waterlooville]
* [http://www.stgeorgesnews.org/ St Georges Church]

References