St Mary Bourne
| St Mary Bourne | |
 Thatched Cottage and The George Inn |
|
  St Mary Bourne |
|
| Population | 1,377 (parish 2011 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU422503 |
| Civil parish | St Mary Bourne |
| District | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Shire county | Hampshire |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ANDOVER |
| Postcode district | SP11 |
| Dialling code | 01264 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | North West Hampshire |
Coordinates: 51°15′N 1°23′W / 51.25°N 1.39°W
St Mary Bourne is small village and civil parish in northwest Hampshire. It lies in the valley of the Bourne Rivulet, a tributary of the River Test 5 miles (8 km) northeast of the town of Andover.
Governance
The village of St. Mary Bourne is part of the civil parish of St. Mary Bourne,[1] and is part of the Burghclere, Highclere and St. Mary Bourne ward of Basingstoke and Deane borough council.[2] The borough council is a Non-metropolitan district of Hampshire County Council.
Geography
The village is in a rural area of downland, with a mixture of farms and woodlands nearby. The Bourne Rivulet flows through the centre of the village and has been known to flood.
Landmarks
It has many thatched houses and in the south part of the village is the flint and stone church of St Peter. The church is particularly notable for its 12th century Tournai marble font
Culture and community
There is a local amateur dramatic society, and two golf clubs, both of which are based around pubs. These societies, along with the cricket club and other local organisations, are representative of the community in microcosm. The farms, pubs (local pubs include the Coronation Arms, the Bourne Valley Inn and The George Inn) and the partly volunteered shop aren't the only businesses in the village. There's one of the world's leading watercress companies - Vitacress. There's a business improvement consultancy, a garage, a recruitment company, an agency for marketing responsible tourism, and a maker of curtains and soft furnishings. There is also a primary school. Most locals commute, heading off to railway stations 5 or more miles away. Just as many drive to Newbury, Whitchurch, Basingstoke, Winchester or Andover.
Notable people
A local celebrity is James Blunt, the singer, who spent much of his life in St. Mary Bourne.[3]
Writer and game designer James Desborough also lives in the village.
Gallery
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Village Street
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St Peter's Church
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The railway bridge over the B3048
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Thatched cottage
Further reading
- Reverend Stephen Pakenham, with additional material by Canon Martin Coppen The Story of St Peter's Church, St Mary Bourne: A Short Guide for Visitors, 2009 (available from the church)
- A Full Church Guide (available from the church)
References
- ↑ "Hampshire County Council’s legal record of public rights of way in Hampshire" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ↑ "Basingstoke and Deane Wards info". 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ↑ "Chart-topper drops in on fete". Andover Advertiser. 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Mary Bourne. |
- St Mary Bourne Village Centre
- The Parish of St Mary Bourne
- St Mary Bourne Parish Council
- Stained Glass Windows at St. Peter, St Mary Bourne, Hampshire
- 'Parishes: St. Mary Bourne', A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 (1911), pp. 295-299
- St Peter’s, St Mary Bourne
