The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
Playing Field
Welcome to the Playing Fields
The playing field used to be located opposite Rose Cottage in Duke Street. Football competitions were held between surrounding villages at the field every Easter between 1920 and 1939, at the end of which the silver Challenge Cup was presented to the winning team. The cup was first presented by the Earl of Northbrook.
The winners of the cup were:
Football Tournament
1920 Overton
1921 Sutton Scotney
1922 Whitchurch
1923 Twyford
1924 Micheldever
1925 Whitchurch
1926 Whitchurch
1927 County Police, Winchester
1928 Micheldever
1929 Winchester Water & Gas Company
1930 The Worthies
1931 Itchen valley
1932 Ropley
1933 Overton
1934 St Peters
1935 Whitchurch
1936 Mitcheldever. The mis-spelling is on the cup
1937 Faringdon
1938 All Saints Old Boys, Winchester
1939 Micheldever
Since Micheldever were the last winners of the cup, it is still in our possession today.
In 1934 Lord and Lady Rank acquired a number of farms and pieces of land around Micheldever, and the family gave the village the current playing field. This is called the “Lord Rank Playing Field”.
The site opposite Rose Cottage was developed in 1962.
Football cups 1937
Stall at Village Fete