Haslemere
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Haslemere | |
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  Haslemere shown within Surrey |
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| Population | 10,417[1] |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Waverley |
| Shire county | Surrey |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GUILDFORD |
| Postcode district | GU27 |
| Dialling code | 01428 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | South West Surrey |
| List of places: UK • England • Surrey | |
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately fifteen kilometres south west of Guildford.
Haslemere is surrounded by hills, with Blackdown (920ft) to the south and Gibbet Hill to the north (895ft). This was the site of executions in past centuries. Many of those hanged there were highwaymen, because the roads around Haslemere, particularly alongside the nearby Devil's Punch Bowl, were notoriously dangerous. Today, much of the heathland and woodland is owned and protected by the National Trust, and has become a popular attraction for walkers.
The town also marks the western end of the Greensand Way footpath which extends for 110 miles to Hamstreet in Kent.
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[edit] History
The earliest recorded mention of Haslemere was in 1221 (when it was spelt Haselmere). The name describes hazel trees standing beside a lake. The lake does not exist today, but there is a natural spring in West Street which is likely to have provided its source.
Haslemere became an important market town in the Middle Ages, having been granted a charter by Richard II in 1394. This right was confirmed by a new charter issued by Elizabeth I in 1596. Today, this special status is celebrated with the Charter Fair, held once every two years in the High Street. There is a bust of Elizabeth I in the newly developed Charter Walk, linking West street with the car park of Somerfield.
The town was one of the rotten boroughs, but recovered with the construction of the Portsmouth Direct Line, which connected Haslemere with London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour railway station. The town became a fashionable place to live and continues to be a popular commuter town, still served by Haslemere railway station.
St Bartholomew's Church was originally built in the 14th century, but rebuilt in 1871. It contains memorials to many of the most prominent local residents, including Alfred Lord Tennyson, who lived in nearby Lurgashall and is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows, featuring Sir Galahad and the Holy Grail.
Haslemere museum is at the northern end of the High Street. It was established by eminent surgeon Sir Jonathan Hutchinson in 1888 to provide educational opportunities to local people, and moved to its present location in 1926 — a house with a Georgian façade, but partly dating back to the 16th century. The museum has a permanent natural history collection as well as hosting talks from both local and national figures of interest.
[edit] Today
The unusually wide High Street is at the heart of Haslemere, with the Town Hall standing at its southern end. The High Street has a mix of public houses, shops (both national chains and independents), restaurants and estate agents.
Wey Hill offers the shopper an alternative experience with some more specialist shops. The town library is also situated here alongside a range of restaurants and take-aways. At the Lion Green end of Wey Hill are two of the town's three supermarkets, Tesco and Co-Op. The other is Somerfield, which is located on West Street.
The Heron's Leisure Centre is on the King's Road; it replaced the leisure centre at Lion Green at the end of the last century. The Heron's facilities include a 25m swimming pool, children's pool, jacuzzi, hot-tub, sauna, steam room, a fitness suite, squash, tennis courts and a skate-park.
Haslemere also has a theatre/cinema that seats 340 known as the Haslemere Hall Haslemere Hall on Bridge Road, just off West Street. The hall holds performances by local theatre groups including The Haslemere Thespians The Haslemere Theatrical Society and the Haslemere Players which do two musicals each year, it also hosts popular music concerts from opera to rock. The hall screens films shortly after their general release, 6 times monthly.
[edit] Politics
Haslemere had an Urban District Council (including the villages of Shottermill, Grayswood and Hindhead) until 1974, when the area became part of the new Waverley District Council. Haslemere, including its satellite settlements, retains a Town Council with lesser powers. The two leading political parties in Haslemere are the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
[edit] Mayor
The council elects a ceremonial mayor for a term of one year.
- 1976-78 Bob Bleach
- 1978-79 John Bowing
- 2005-06 Michael Dover
- 2006-07 Brian Howard
[edit] Dolmetsch Early Music Festival
The town is significant musically, and largely through the contribution of an immigrant family: Arnold Dolmetsch, musician and instrument maker, was born in France in 1858, and it was his family who revived the descant recorder and began the revival of many other instruments of early music, at the very beginning of the revival of historically informed performance which came to fruition in the late 20th century. The family settled in Haslemere and his son, Carl Dolmetsch, took over the business. The family firm still manufacture viols, recorders and harpsichords today. Their presence in the town inspired the International Dolmetsch Early Music Festival held every year in the town.
[edit] Famous inhabitants
Haslemere’s Member of Parliament (MP) from 1722 to 1754 was General James Oglethorpe, who founded the Colony of Georgia in British North America. More recently, Neil Drysdale, an American based thoroughbred horse trainer was born here in 1947.[2]
Previous notable inhabitants include Arnold Dolmetsch (born 1858 - died 1940). He was a French-born musician and instrument maker who spent much of his working life in England and established an instrument-making workshop in Haslemere.[3] Sir Robert Hunter, one of the founders of the National Trust, lived in Three Gates Lane between 1883-1913.[4] Today David Steward, guitarist of The Eurythmics, lives here.[citation needed] Real estate entrepreneur Richard White also lives near the centre of the town. Jonny Wilkinson used to live in Haslemere and played Rugby for them but later moved to Farnham.
[edit] Twinning
Haslemere has embraced the European project through its twinning:
