Warsash

Infobox UK place
official_name= Warsash
country= England
os_grid_reference=SU493062
latitude= 50.8532
longitude= -1.30101
post_town= SOUTHAMPTON
postcode_area= SO
postcode_district= SO31
dial_code=
region= South East England
civil_parish=
shire_district= Fareham
shire_county= Hampshire
constituency_westminster= Fareham

Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club. It is also home to the Warsash Maritime Academy, part of Southampton Solent University, which provides training for Merchant Navy Officers from around the world.

Warsash is in the borough of Fareham, and is part of the Fareham parliamentary constituency. The village lies in the Hook-with-Warsash parish.

History

Before the nineteenth century what is now known as Warsash was a number of separate hamlets; Warsash itself; Hook to the south at the mouth of the River Hamble; Newtown between Hook and Warsash and Chilling on Southampton Water. Hook was of earlier importance, as a 'dockyard' during the Hundred Years War. At the end of this war Hook's importance declined, and for the next 300 years it, Chilling and Warsash continued as hamlets making livings from fishing and smuggling. Newtown had in addition a number of salterns.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century the land around Hook had been acquired by the Hornby family to form the Hook Estate. This new estate was bordered to the north by the existing Warsash House estate.

In the nineteenth century Warsash started to expand in size and importance when shipbuilding moved across the river from Hamble-le-Rice. Along the coast Newtown was also expanding, the salterns had expanded into a chemical works and an iron smelting industry had started. By the mid 1800s the two communities had been linked by road, with housing along these roads filling the open space to create one community.

By the end of nineteenth century the lack of threat from the French had sent the shipbuilding industry into decline. The iron and chemical works were also declining. The main sources of income for the area were the burgeoning strawberry growing industry and traditional fishing and agriculture. Alongside these industries grew businesses providing refreshments and services to visitors to the area, especially those of the new leisure sailing pursuits. At the crossroads in the centre of the village there is an unusual clocktower built around 1900, an example of the prosperity the leisure industry brought.

t Mary's

The parish church, St Mary's, dates from 1871. The old vicarage site on Osborne Road has been redeveloped and new houses erected. In 2000, local sculptor Ian G Brennan was commissioned to produce a bas-relief carving to be fitted above the entrance to the vestry. The finished piece is made of lime-wood and shows various landmarks of the village and a large dove of peace. The approach to the church (Church Road) was previously an undeveloped laurel avenue. Many of the hedges have been replaced by fences or walls but several are still flourishing. At the end of the road the mounting block still survives, at the site of the old avenue gates.

Hamble-Warsash Ferry

Warsash is the eastern landing-place for the ferry crossing the River Hamble from Hamble-le-Rice. The ferry was once an important link in a historic route between Portsmouth and Southampton. The ferry now provides a link in local, national and international footpaths such as the Solent Way and cycle routes such as National Cycle Route 2.

Notable people from Warsash

*Alan Ball, Jr., the former England international footballer, lived in the village up until his death in 2007

External links

* [http://www.warsashacademy.co.uk/ Warsash Maritime Academy]
* [http://www.stmarywarsash.org.uk/index.php/HomePage/ St Mary's Parish Church]
* [http://www.warsash.hants.sch.uk/ Hook-with-Warsash primary school]
* [http://www.sculptor-iangb.com/church.htm Ian G Brennan's carving]

References

: [http://www3.hants.gov.uk/localpages/south-east/fareham/warsash.htm Hampshire County Council village description] : [http://www.warsash-lhs.org.uk/hook_with_warsash.htm Local History society]