Purbrook

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Purbrook
latitude =
longitude =
civil_parish =
population = 9,281
shire_district = East Hampshire
shire_county = Hampshire
region = South East England
constituency_westminster=
post_town = Waterlooville
postcode_district = PO7
postcode_area = PO
dial_code = 023
os_grid_reference =

Purbrook is a village located in Hampshire, England. Purbrook is on the outskirts of Waterlooville and has a population itself of 9,281 and takes up 7.7% of Havant borough's population.

History

Waterlooville and Cowplain did not exist before the year 1815. Before then the area was part of the Forest of Bere, which stretched from the border of Sussex to Winchester. Today Queens Inclosure at Waterlooville is one of the last remnants of the forest.

On the southern fringe of the forest was the little village of Purbrook. Its name is a corruption of Pucanbroc, which means the brook of the water-sprite.

Early in the 19th century a windmill was built in Purbrook. Purbrook church (St Johns) was built in 1858. In 1869 Purbrook industrial school opened in Stakes Road. At it vagrant boys learned trades such as shoemaking.

Purbrook Park House was built in 1770. It was rebuilt in 1837. In the 1920s the house became a grammar school and later a comprehensive school. It is now known as Purbrook Park School. The school is a Language College.

Community

There are several schools in Purbrook:

*Purbrook Park School
*Purbrook Junior School
*Purbrook Infant School
*Morelands Primary School

There is also a popular recreation ground known as Purbrook Heath. There is a children's park, bowls area, tennis courts, several cricket pitches, a football cage and a basketball court all located in 'The Heath'. There is also The Rowans Hospice located opposite the tennis courts. There is a long road that runs right through it, which is called Purbrook Heath Road. It runs straight through and then bisects off to Southwick and Portsdown Hill.

Fort Purbrook is also another main attraction just located off Portsdown Hill. It is occasionally open for craft fairs. It is home to an activity centre. Some of the activities are archery, indoor Rock Climbing and rifle shooting.

There are also many newsagents, fish and chip shops and pubs.

Papers

The only local newspaper Purbrook have is The News.

References