Stubbington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stubbington is a large Hampshire village which is located between Southampton and Portsmouth on the south coast of England. It is part of the borough of Fareham but is part of the parliamentary constituency of Gosport.
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[edit] History
Both Stubbington and neighbouring Crofton were mentioned in the Domesday Book (the 11th century UK census) as small districts belonging to the estates of Titchfield Abbey. During the 19th century, Stubbington engulfed Crofton and the small fishing village of Hill Head. The Crofton name still remains in the name of many local facilities, such as the Crofton School (secondary) and Crofton Old Church.
At the start of the 20th century, the village still consisted of just a few dozen cottages and farms. By 1939, the population had risen to around 2,500 and a number of small shops had opened surrounding the village green. This remains the central focus of the village to the present day, with a war memorial situated on the central village green.
[edit] The Church
The 'Crofton Old Church' at Crofton is one of the oldest known inhabited sites in the area. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and it is thought to date back to the reign of King Alfred in the 9th Century. It is believed to have caught the eye of Samuel Pepys in 1662 and was extensively renovated during the 13th Century. A new church (Holy Rood) was built in Stubbington which took over the function of Crofton Church in 1878.
[edit] The War Memorial and Village Pump
In 1922 a wooden War Memorial was built to commemorate those from Stubbington and Hill Head who fell in the First World War. Their names were carved into the roof of the memorial although over the years they have been worn away. The Memorial takes the form of a shelter over the village pump, and today it is one of few pre-war structures standing in the vicinity of Stubbington Village Centre. The names carved into the roof of the memorial have now been cleaned and can be seen clearly.
[edit] Present day
Today, the population of Stubbington has risen to over 15,000, with new housing estates taking over a number of the surrounding fields. The village has a number of modern shops as well as a range of other facilities, including a doctors, dentist, library, community centre and five schools. The former Royal Navy site of HMS Daedalus lies between Stubbington and neighbouring Lee-on-the-Solent.
[edit] Famous Residents
Dippy Dave - Gentleman of the road often seen cycling a small brown bike with stereo attachment. Reputedly run over by a juggernaut in 1994.
Hamish - Elderly gentleman with an eye for young boys. Pretends to be blind when crossing the road, sporting a white cane. His house was a knock n run hotspot during the early 90`s.
GT Man - So named after his GT bicycle. Eccentric, schizophrenic old coot. Subject to continued abuse from local teenagers. Known to fly into an abusive tirade with the slightest provocation, for instance when kicked. Popular saying - "Have i left anything?"
Mrs Deacon - Environmentalist whose sterling work in the sanitation of the village has been recognized by the Queen. Often spotted early in the morning with a branch of a tree in her hand, pushing leaves around. Once asked Barry if he had cooking facilities for a dead pigeon she found in the bin.
