Badshot Lea | |
Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea shown within Surrey |
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Population | 1,509 [1] |
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OS grid reference | SU865489 |
District | Waverley |
Shire county | Surrey |
Region | South East |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Farnham |
Postcode district | GU9 |
Dialling code | 01252 |
Police | Surrey |
Fire | Surrey |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
EU Parliament | South East England |
UK Parliament | South West Surrey |
List of places: UK • England • Surrey |
Badshot Lea is a village situated near Farnham, Surrey, England. It is located half-way in between Aldershot and Farnham, with excellent access to the A31. The village boundaries have traditionally been four bridges—three railway and one over a stream—which inspired the logo for the local village school. Though apparently pleasant, in recent years the village has been victim of several unsavory drugs related offences including stabbings,[2] dealing in broad daylight,[3] and the discovery of a cannabis factory.[4] Further serious crimes have been committed in the village including horse stabbing,[5] and repeated distraction burgulary[6]
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The village boasts an excellent range of quality facilities including an infant school, a nursery school, two public houses, a hairstylist, a barber, a Chinese take-away, a plant nursery, an army shop, a pottery shop, an army memorobilia store, "the Kiln" village hall (built in 1886[7]), an electrical substation, a sewage treatment facility, T.S. Swiftsure sea cadets centre, St Georges Church and hall, a cemetery, a pond dipping stage, sheltered housing, an animal sanctuary, and a Working men's club. There is a large garden centre named Squires with an aquatic department and cafe. Formally known as 'Badshot Lea Garden Centre' and owned by the Caffyn Parsons family, it was taken over by Squires in 2006. Its extensive pets and aquatics centre was opened in 1999 by Charlie Dimmock.[8]
The residents of Badshot Lea enjoy a broad range of local sporting facilities. These include a pavilion, two tennis courts, a cricket club, indoor and outdoor shooting ranges, a riding school, an equestrian centre, a dog agility club, two fishing ponds, a model car club with outdoor racing track, Badshot Lea Football Club, and a children's playground. An extensive leisure centre and Farnham RFU club sit just outside of the villiage boarder, close to Weybourne. The village is also surrounded by picturesque countryside that is ideal for walking, cycling, and running.
The village has a very long history with remains in, or close to, the village from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman and medieval periods. In 1967 the Badshot Lea Village school master and amateur archaeologist William (Billy) Rankine discovered the remains of a Neolithic Long Barrow burial mound in Badshot Lea. The site was excavated by the Surrey Archaeological Society and many finds are on display at Guildford Museum. Little remains of the original mound due to quarrying and the excavation of the Railway cutting in 1800s.[9] The burial mound was sited close to the Harrow Way.[10] The village also previously was surrounded by thriving farms, with a particular focus on hop growing; these played such an important role in the economic development of the village that hops feature in the village logo.
The Eastern end of village has suffered terrible flooding in times gone by. This led to the road near the Aldershot boundary being nicknamed the 'docks'.[11]
The village is surrounded by sand and gravel extraction quarries that provide significant employment to the local community. Older quarries were left to fill with water, providing local beauty spots and fishing lakes, newer quarries are backfilled with refuse.
Badshot Lea has a parish church, named after St George. The Foundation Stone was laid on 23 August 1902 by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Viscount Middleton. The stone can still be seen today, at the West end of the church. A year later the church was completed and was consecrated on 24 October 1903 by the Bishop of Winchester.
Following the demolition of the Old Parsonage, and construction of a new Vicarage in 1999, the funds released were used for the further development of the church. The Southern aisle of the church was not completed with the rest of the building. However, in 1999 a new Church Room was added, and opened on 10 October 1999 by Rt. Rev. John Gladwin, Bishop of Guildford. This room has greatly extended the activities undertaken by the church.
The church contains memorials to several stalwarts of the Badshot Lea community including
The church is now part of the Church of England Parish of Hale, and works in unison with the churches of St John and St Mark. It is in the Rural Deanery of Farnham, part of the Diocese of Guildford, in the Province of Canterbury. The church is closely linked to the 45 strong SATB choir the Carillon Singers [12].
Notable former residents of Badshot Lea include
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Badshot_Lea Badshot Lea] at Wikimedia Commons
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