infobox UK place
country = England
static_
static_image_caption=
latitude= 51.16276
longitude= -0.94939
official_name= Holybourne
population=
civil_parish= Alton
shire_district= East Hampshire
shire_county = Hampshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district=
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SU735409
Holybourne is a small village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1.3 miles (2.2km) northeast of Alton, just off the A31 road.
The nearest railway station is 1.3 miles (2.2km) southwest of the village, at Alton.
The village has a population of around 1,500, and is also where Treloar College for physically handicapped secondary school pupils has one of its sites. Holybourne also has a pub - "The White Hart" - and a small store.
History
Holybourne is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Haliborne".
The name is thought to be derived from the Old English "Haligburna" which means "sacred stream", referring to the small stream whose spring is near Holybourne Church whence it runs through the village. [Coates, Richard: 1989: Place Names of Hampshire: Batsford:: ISBN 0-7134-5625-6 quoted on http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsgaz/hantsgaz/hgazsrcs.htm]
English author Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) bought a house in "Holybourne" in 1865. She died suddenly when visiting the house on 12 November 1865.
Holybourne Church
The Church of the Holy Rood in Holybourne has foundations dating from the 12th century,[cite web|url=http://www.johnowensmith.co.uk/churches/holyboui.htm|title=Holybourne: Church of the Holy Rood|work=List of Churches in the area covered by East Hampshire District|author=John Owen Smith|accessdate=2008-01-16] and the nave, west end and lower part of the tower appear to date from this time. The chancel was added later, completing the building by the 13th century. However, two centuries later the floor of the building was raised, possibly because of nearby springs. The north aisle was replaced in 1879.]Holybourne Youth Theatre
Holybourne Theatre is an amateur dramatic group with over half a century of experience, that puts on a wide variety of productions each year. [cite web|url=http://www.holybourne.com/organisations/org_theatre.htm|title=Holybourne Theatre|work=Holybourne.com|year=2007|accessdate=2008-01-06] Starting each year, the pantomime in January and February plays over three weekends. During spring and summer the Youth theatre presents productions like "Alice in Wonderland", "Wind in the Willows", "Kes", "Blood wedding" and even Shakespeare. There is an autumn production by the adult theatre (from 16 years old and upwards); these have included "The Crucible" and "My country's good". Holybourne Youth Theatre is open to children from school year 1 to 11 (6 to 16 years old), and offers the chance to participate in all aspects of theatre work. Classes run all day Saturday and are split into four different age groups. The Youth Theatre have played an integral part in Holybourne Theatre since 1978, staging their various Youth Theatre productions. providing the chorus for the pantomime as well as putting on "end of term" shows for parents demonstrating Saturday morning activities. The Youth Theatre is a great social environment, builds confidence, develops skills and many have gone on to study drama at a higher level as a result. All classes are supervised by CRB checked adults.
Holybourne Theatre's history goes back to the foundation of the Holybourne Dramatic club in January 1948, the month that British Rail was born. The first play on the present site was performed in November 1950 in a Nissen hut left over from the war, the hut lasted as our theatre until the new one was ready for its first production in 1971. The First production in the new theatre at Holybourne was "Cat on the Fiddle" by John Dole and the first night was Thursday 6 May 1971 when Sir Michael Redgrave opened the theatre.
References
External links
* [http://www.holybourne.com/ Holybourne]
