Micheldever
| Micheldever | |
 Thatched cottages in Micheldever |
|
  Micheldever Micheldever shown within Hampshire | |
| Population | 800 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU5146639068 |
| District | Winchester |
| Shire county | Hampshire |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WINCHESTER |
| Postcode district | SO21 |
| Dialling code | 01962 774 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Winchester |
Micheldever /mɪtʃəlˈdɛvər/ is a village in Hampshire, England, situated 6 miles (10 km) north of Winchester.
It lies upon the River Dever /ˈdiːvər/. The river, and village, formerly part of Stratton Park, lie on a Hampshire grass downland, underlain with chalk and flint. Parts of the river now disappear in summer through lack of replenishment, evaporation and, more specifically, the porous nature of the bedrock.
Micheldever Parish is the most northerly in the borough of The City of Winchester. The parish incorporates Micheldever, Micheldever Station (a separate village), East Stratton, West Stratton, and Weston Colley.
The village has a church (St Mary the Virgin; Church of England), a telephone exchange, a shop, a Church of England primary school, and a pub (The Half Moon And Spread Eagle).
In the late 1980s the butcher's shop closed and, before that, the bakery also closed. The post office closed in 2008.
A renowned photograph by Bill Brandt, Micheldever Nude (1948), was taken inside Micheldever House, the home of the photographer's father, L. W. Brandt. L. W. Brandt died in 1965, aged 89, and is believed to be buried in Micheldever churchyard.
The oldest property in Micheldever village itself lies on The Crease, Duke Street. Shillingbury (88) and Corner Cottage (89) make up the old Hall House built circa 1453. Made from traditional materials and methods The Crease lies to the south east of St. Mary The Virgin church. Local folklore has for a long time believed it to be a Pilgrim’s Hospice. However, although the land was owned by the Abbot and Monks of Newminster, it is more likely to have been a wealthy Yeoman. Shillingbury forms the main hall, cross passage and first bedchamber. Corner Cottage forms the parlour and second bedchamber together with an extension to join it to the old Forge.
The building is the only house to have been built using a jetty without a cantilever. The hall contains a rare “Jointed Cruck”, an arched beam from one side of the house the other. In the 16th century the hall was floored. The large carved beam that supports the floor is thought to have come from Hyde Abbey.
Transport
The village is served by Micheldever station – located 2 miles (3 km) to the north – on the main railway line between London and Southampton. Micheldever Station is the only station between Basingstoke and Winchester; its remote existence explained its original name of Andover Road; the town of Andover not receiving its own station until much later. Micheldever Station was the starting point for the first automobile journey in Britain, in 1895.
Micheldever is located 3 miles (5 km) from the A303 to the West Country, and 5 miles (8 km) from Junction 8 of the M3 motorway. The village lies approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) off the A33 road, originally a Roman road which, until the opening of the M3 extension in 1985, was the main route for traffic between Southampton and London.
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Micheldever. |
- The Half Moon and Spread Eagle
- Comprehensive details
- Illustrated details of the church
- Micheldever Church of England Primary School
- Map sources for Micheldever
