View source for Wickham, Hampshire

{{Short description|Village and parish in Hampshire, England}}
{{distinguish|Wickham Market|High Wycombe}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|50.90|-1.19|display=inline,title}}
| population = 2,173
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| area_total_km2 = 1.188
| official_name = Wickham
| civil_parish = Wickham and Knowle
| shire_district = [[City of Winchester|Winchester]]
| shire_county = [[Hampshire]]
| region = South East England
| constituency_westminster= [[Fareham and Waterlooville (UK Parliament constituency)|Fareham and Waterlooville]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Location of Fareham and Waterlooville |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4048/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref>
| post_town = FAREHAM
| postcode_district = PO17
| postcode_area = PO
| dial_code = 01329
| os_grid_reference = SU572115
| static_image_name = St Nicholas Wickham.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Nicholas’s Church in Wickham
}}
'''Wickham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|k|əm}}) is a village in the [[civil parish]] of [[Wickham, Hampshire#Wickham and Knowle civil parish|Wickham and Knowle]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/62168.html|title=Wickham and Knowle|publisher=Mapit|accessdate=28 March 2023}}</ref> in the [[City of Winchester|Winchester]] district, in the county of [[Hampshire]], England. It is about 3 miles north of [[Fareham]]. In 2021 it had a population of 2,173.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/hampshire/E63006440__wickham/|title=Wickham|publisher=City Population De|accessdate=28 March 2023}}</ref> At the 2001 census, it the parish a population of 4,816, falling to 4,299 at the 2011 Census.<ref name=ONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130629&c=Wickham&d=16&e=62&g=6432358&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1482337117551&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=21 December 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=NeighbourhoodStatistics|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223153917/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130629&c=Wickham&d=16&e=62&g=6432358&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1482337117551&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wickham has one of the oldest continuous historic market squares lined with historic buildings and is designated a [[Conservation Area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]].<ref>[http://www.winchester.gov.uk/Documents/LDF/adoption/Appendix1.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925040858/http://www.winchester.gov.uk/Documents/LDF/adoption/Appendix1.pdf|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://www.winchester.gov.uk/Documents/LDF/adoption/mapWickham.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925041640/http://www.winchester.gov.uk/Documents/LDF/adoption/mapWickham.pdf|date=25 September 2006}}</ref> Most of the square is taken by parking spaces.

It was the fording place of the [[River Meon]] on the [[Roman road]] between [[Noviomagus Regnorum]] ([[Chichester]]) and [[Venta Belgarum]] ([[Winchester]]), and the inferred divergent point of the route to [[Clausentum]] ([[Bitterne]]). The Roman road from Wickham to Chichester is still followed today by local roads, passing behind Portsdown Hill to the north of Portsmouth Harbour and then onwards via [[Havant]]. In contrast, the route to Winchester is mostly likely lost through neglect in the Dark Ages, before present field patterns emerged.

Nearby sites have been connected to Romano-British industry, mainly pottery kilns focused around the limit of navigation of the [[River Hamble]], near [[Botley, Hampshire|Botley]], and a ford on the Clausentum road.

Wickham has been suggested as an alternative to [[Nursling]] (on the [[River Test]]) or [[Neatham]] (near [[Alton, Hampshire|Alton]]) for the Roman station Onna listed in the [[Antonine Itinerary]]. However, no definite location for Onna has been determined.

It was the birthplace of [[William of Wykeham]], founder of [[Winchester College]] and [[New College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannia.com/bios/wmofwkhm/early.html |title=Biography of William of Wykeham (1324–1404), Bishop of Winchester |publisher=Britannia.com |access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref>

The Admiralty Shutter Telegraph Line had a [[Semaphore line#U.K.|station]] at Wickham.

The village was an [[Wickham (Hants) railway station|intermediate station]] on the [[Meon Valley Railway]], a late Victorian route, until the line closed in 1955. At one time this railway was conceived as a direct route from London to the [[Isle of Wight]]. The closed line is now established as a cycle path and bridleway along the valley of the River Meon.

A traditional gypsy horse fair is held annually every 20 May, or another day if a Sunday, in the village square.

==History==

===Early settlements===
The Romans established a settlement at Wickham, on the road from the Roman centres of Chichester and Winchester. Iron works have been found northeast of the village, and various Roman finds to the southwest.

It was in Saxon Britain that the first written mention of the village appears, in a Royal Charter document dated 826. Recent excavation (1965–70) at the Manor House showed its grounds had dwellings and huts, evidence of Saxon settlement.

===Post-Norman Conquest===
After the [[Norman Conquest]], King William granted the Manor of Wickham to Hugo de Port, and the village appeared in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, as part of the Titchfield Hundred. The present church of St Nicholas dates from 1126 and was run by the Canons of Titchfield. In 1269, King Henry III granted a charter to Roger de Scures, the Lord of The Manor at the time, for markets to be held on a Thursday. It is from this time that the layout of the village as we now know it began to emerge.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wickhamsquare.co.uk/about-wickham/history-2/ |title = History}}</ref> Wickham also had a fair which attracted buyers and sellers from a wide area. Wickham fair (often referred to Wickham Horse Fair) is still held each year on 20 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/photographs/news_galleries/2015_photos/may/wickham_horse_fair/|title=Wickham Horse Fair}}</ref>
The Church of St Nicholas in Wickham was built in the early 12th century (although there has probably been a church on the site since the 7th century when the people of Hampshire were first converted to Christianity), however the church was largely rebuilt in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://portsmouth.anglican.org/who_we_are/deaneries/bishops_waltham/churches/st_nicholas_wickham/|title=St Nicholas, Wickham – Portsmouth Diocesan Website}}</ref>

===Industrialisation and Victorian Wickham===
In the 18th century, there was a [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]] industry in Wickham and in the 18th and 19th centuries a brewing industry. Both needed a supply of fresh water, which was readily available from the [[River Meon]]. In 1801, Wickham had a population of 901 and compared to most of the villages in Hampshire it was a large community. In 1820, [[Chesapeake Mill]] was built with timber taken from an American ship {{USS|Chesapeake|1799|6}}, which was captured in the [[War of 1812]]. Sir [[Richard Grindall]] who commanded {{HMS|Prince|1788|6}} at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]] is buried in Wickham churchyard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/wickham.html|title=A History of Wickham, Hampshire}}</ref>

In 1903, a branch railway was built from Fareham through Wickham, to Droxford and Alton. It was closed to passengers in 1955 and the line converted to a footpath. The [[Wickham (Hants) railway station|original station]] platforms can still be found.

In 1978, Wickham was twinned with the French village of [[Villers-sur-Mer]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Remoleur |first=Marie-Madeleine |date=2021-08-21 |title=À l'occasion du 77e anniversaire de sa libération, Villers-sur-Mer célèbre son nouveau jumelage avec Leopoldsburg |url=https://actu.fr/normandie/villers-sur-mer_14754/a-l-occasion-du-77e-anniversaire-de-sa-liberation-villers-sur-mer-celebre-son-nouveau-jumelage-avec-leopoldsburg_44276749.html |access-date=2025-07-19 |language=fr}}</ref> Wickham Vineyard opened in 1984.

In 1990, an old brewery and village hall in Wickham were converted into flats called Riverside Mews. The brewery had shut in 1910 and the buildings were given to Wickham Parish Council to use as a village hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breweryhistory.com/Breweries/HantsWickhamBrewery.htm|title=Brewery History Society Hampshire Wickham Brewery Co Ltd}}</ref>

==Culture and events==

===Wickham Festival===
[[Image:Oysterband wickham 20060805.jpg|thumb|left|The Oysterband headlining the first Wickham Festival in 2006]]

Farmland north of Wickham serves as the venue for the award-winning<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/kilimanjaro-live-named-national-promoter-of-the-year-at-live-uk-music-business-awards/063148 |title = Kilimanjaro Live named National Promoter of the Year &#124; News &#124; Music Week}}</ref> [[Wickham Festival]], which is an annual four-day music event. The first [[Wickham Festival]] was held from 3 to 6 August 2006 in the Community Centre and environs. Artists performing included Daby Blade from Senegal, [[Spiers and Boden]], [[Los Pacaminos]], [[Richard Thompson (musician)|Richard Thompson]], [[Shooglenifty]], [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]], [[Oysterband]], [[Fiddlers' Bid]], [[Osibisa]], [[Flook (band)|Flook]], [[Steeleye Span]] and [[Alabama 3|The Larry Love Showband]].

After briefly moving to [[Stokes Bay]] in 2008 and 2009, the festival returned to Wickham in 2010, where it has remained ever since.<ref>http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/wickham-festival-to-return-with-the-levellers-1-1245668 | Portsmouth News | Wickham Festival To Return with the Levellers</ref> Wickham Festival has expanded over the years, and has featured performances from such artists as [[James Blunt]], [[10cc]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[The Proclaimers]], [[KT Tunstall]], [[Hugh Cornwell]] and [[Lightning Seeds]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/eastleigh|title=Wickham Festival}}</ref>
  {{Clear}}

===Taste of Wickham===

Taste of Wickham is a food festival, first held in Wickham's medieval square in 2014. The festival offers local produce, barbecues, tasters and cookery demonstrations, and has attracted crowds of over 4,000 people to the village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/thousands-visit-taste-of-wickham-festival-1-6310324|title=Thousands visit Taste of Wickham Festival}}</ref> Taste of Wickham returned in 2015, with increased numbers of stalls, crafts and musical displays.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wickhamsquare.co.uk/event/4968/ | title=Taste of Wickham 2015}}</ref>

===Wickham horse fair===

England's biggest and oldest horse fair takes place in Wickham on 20 May every year. It is one of just two major horse-trading events in the country and can trace its history back to the year 1269, making it one of the oldest fairs of this type in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/wickham-horse-fair-2022-is-it-today-where-is-it-full-list-of-road-closures-why-is-it-always-on-may-20-full-list-of-road-closures-will-pubs-close-and-how-long-has-it-been-going-for-3699151|title=Wickham Horse Fair 2022}}</ref> Ever since, crowds have gathered annually in the village to trade secrets, meet with friends and parade their stock. The fair includes bareback parades with ponies decorated with ribbons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/12960783.Historic_Wickham_horse_fair_starts_today/|title=Historic Wickham horse fair starts today}}</ref>

==Shopping==
[[File:Chesapeake Mill - geograph.org.uk - 178198.jpg|thumb|[[Chesapeake Mill]]]]
Wickham's village square has bars, restaurants, shops and hotels. Bay Tree Walk is a shopping walk. The [[Chesapeake Mill]] is a former water mill which is a retail centre.

==Sport and leisure==
Wickham has a community centre "Wickham Community Centre".

Wickham has a tennis club. The village has a public skatepark and a floodlit astroturf pitch located behind the Community Centre.

The [[Meon Valley Railway Line]] is a 17.5&nbsp;km (11&nbsp;mi) recreational bridleway that runs through the village. The trail follows part of the bed of the former Meon Valley Railway (Alton to Fareham), which closed in 1968. It ends at West Meon due to removal of the former viaduct across the Meon Valley, and the presence of tunnels further north.

==Wickham and Knowle civil parish==
Known as Wickham civil parish until its name was changed in 2022 to Wickham and Knowle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wickham and Knowle Parish Council |url=https://wickhamparishcouncil.org/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Wickham and Knowle Parish Council |language=en-US}}</ref>

Wickham Common is an area of [[common land]] a mile south-east of Wickham village.<ref>{{Cite web |editor-last=Page |editor-first=William |title=A History of the County of Hampshire, Volume 3 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol3/pp233-236 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk |publisher=[[Victoria County History]] |place=London |page=233 |via=[[British History Online]]}}</ref> It is a mix of [[grassland]] and [[woodland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wickham Common |url=https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/finder/wickhamcommon |access-date=25 October 2023 |website=Hampshire Countryside Service}}</ref> Wickham Common is also the name of a hamlet on Forest Lane, south of the common.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wickham Common {{!}} OS Maps |url=https://explore.osmaps.com/location?lat=50.891333&lon=-1.169226&zoom=15.6421&style=Standard&type=2d&locationName=U2FsdGVkX19Cj5ntPmJjiVdxNT7DoYNNrt9qOPRodic9OBS0dylVByqCChKXWhqb&locationCoordinates=-1.1696752859940998,50.89070698857518&locationBbox=-1.1732,50.8881,-1.1589,50.8929 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=explore.osmaps.com}}</ref>

Main roads running through the parish are the [[A32 road|A32]], the [[A334 road|A334]] and the B2177 (former A333).

== Notable people ==

* [[Arthur Churcher]] (1871–1951), British Army officer and Mayor of Windsor
* [[Mary Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Lymington]] – first female [[Lord Mayor of London]].<ref>{{Citation|chapter=Kellett-Bowman, Dame (Mary) Elaine, (8 July 1923–4 March 2014)|date=2007-12-01|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u22750|title=Who Was Who}}</ref>
* [[Amelia King]], initially banned from joining the [[Women's Land Army]] because she was black, was eventually allowed to join in October 1943, and worked at Frith Farm in Wickham until 1944, living in accommodation in the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Latherow |first=Tamisan |date=2020-08-18 |title=Breaking the Colour Bar: Amelia King and the Women's Land Army |url=https://merl.reading.ac.uk/blog/2020/08/breaking-the-colour-bar-amelia-king-womens-land-army/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=The Museum of English Rural Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Vice Admiral [[Thomas Revell Shivers]] (1751–1827)

==References==
{{Commons category|Wickham, Hampshire}}
{{Reflist}}
*Sharp, Thomas (1946) ''The Anatomy of the Village'', Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin

{{Winchester}}
{{Winchester wards and parishes}}

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[[Category:Villages in Hampshire]]
[[Category:City of Winchester]]