St Mary Bourne

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= St Mary Bourne
latitude= 51.25
longitude= -1.39
civil_parish= St Mary Bourne
population = 1,226 (parish 2001 Census)
shire_district= Basingstoke and Deane
shire_county= Hampshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= North West Hampshire
post_town= ANDOVER
postcode_district = SP11
postcode_area= SP
dial_code= 01264
os_grid_reference= SU422503

St Mary Bourne is small village and civil parish in northwest Hampshire. It lies in the valley of the Bourne Rivulet, a tributary of the River Test 8km (5 miles) northeast of the town of Andover.

The village is in a rural area of downland, with a mixture of farms and woodlands nearby. It has many thatched houses and in the south part of the village is the flint and stone church of St Peter. The church is particularly notable for its 12th century Tournai marble font There is a local amateur dramatic society, and two golf courses, both of which are based around pubs. These societies, along with the cricket club and other local organisations, are representative of the community in microcosm. A local celebrity is James Blunt, the singer, who spent much of his life in St. Mary Bourne. cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2005 | url = http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2005/8/5/92947.html | title = Chart-topper drops in on fete| format = | work = | publisher = Andover Advertiser| accessdate = 2007-06-20] There is also a primary school.

The farms, pubs (local pubs include the Coronation Arms, the Bourne Valley Inn and The George Inn) and the partly-volunteered shop aren't the only businesses in the village. There's one of the world's leading watercress companies - Vitacress. There's a business improvement consultancy, a thriving garage, a blacksmith, a recruitment company, an agency for marketing responsible tourism, and a maker of quality curtains and soft furnishings.

Most locals commute, heading off to railway stations 5 or more miles away. Just as many drive to Newbury, Whitchurch, Basingstoke, Winchester or Andover.

James Blunt the well known singer grew up here, and his parents still live there.

References

External links

* [http://www.communigate.co.uk/hants/stmarybournevillagecentre/] St Mary Bourne Village Centre
* [http://www.stmarybourne.org.uk/index.htm] The Parish of St Mary Bourne
* [http://www.stmarybourne-pc.gov.uk/default.asp] St Mary Bourne Parish Council