Marchwood

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Marchwood
St. John's church, Marchwood.
Settled	before 1086
Population (2001)
- Total	5,586
Time zone	GMT (UTC)
Postcode	SO40
Website: http://www.marchwoodparishcouncil.org.uk/

Marchwood

Marchwood within Greater Southampton

This article is about the village in the UK. For the CDP in the USA, see Lionville-Marchwood, Pennsylvania

Marchwood is a village located in Hampshire, UK. It lies between Totton and Hythe on the western shore of Southampton Water, next to the New Forest. The population of the village in the 2001 census was 5,586.

The name "Marchwood" is most probably from the Old English "merecewudu" meaning "smallage wood" ('smallage' is a term for wild celery). It is mentoned in the Domesday Book as "Merceode".

Despite being a village, Marchwood is the home of a refuse incinerator, a sewage works, a large military port and, from 2007, a new gas power station.

Marchwood is also home to Southampton F.C.'s training ground. It is twinned with the village of Saint-Contest, near Caen, Normandy, France.

The village also has two schools, an infant school situated in Twiggs Lane and a junior school in the village centre.

There are several shops in the village centre, including Alldays, a bakery, fish & chip shop, pharmacy and hairdresser, as well as the Roebuck inn and Cue T's.

Marchwood also has four churches which meet in it. The Parish church of St.Johns (see picture); The Gospel Church; and New Forest Community Church. There is also a Fijian church which meets in the army estate, mainly for those from Fiji posted in the military houses and barracks. The churches are active in the community: The New Forest Community Church run a local coffee shop in the village centre, the "sweet soul cafe"; The Gospel Church runs a Spiritual Guidance listening surgery and various youth and children's groups; and the Parish church has strong links with the local schools.

Marchwood is also home to a brand new combined cycle powerstation, it's under construction due to be completed summer 2009! The 842 megawatt facility will be built using the latest technology to ensure maximum energy efficiency and minimal impact on the environment. It will be one of the most efficient generators of electricity in the UK.

Until privatisation, Marchwood was home to one of the three principal research facilities of the CEGB, concentrating on heavy plant - the other facilities were at Leatherhead and at Berkeley.