The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
Streets & Buildings
Micheldever Village
A33
This old toll road saw a revival in the 20th century with the invention of motorised transport and was reborn again as the A33. During the Second World War, older residents recall seeing the road full of military vehicles carrying troops and equipment to ports on the south coast in preparation for the D Day landings.
Duke Street
Duke Street runs from the Crease to Cowdown. It used to be called "Duck Street" because there used to be a Village Duck Pond where the Lord Rank Playing Field car park is now located. Some of the old photographs show a ditch to the right side of the road with small bridges over it to the houses. It still regularly floods near to the Lord Rank playing fields.
Rook Lane
Rook (formerly Brook) Lane runs from Church Street to Micheldever Cottage. From there it leads into a footpath known locally as “Coffin Walk”. This path leads to East Stratton village, and until the East Stratton church was re-built in its current site, the East Stratton dead had to be wheeled all the way to Micheldever Church for the funeral service, a last bumpy ride.
Winchester Road
Winchester Road in the area of the pub is a holloway (as is Sloe Lane). Historically it became a sunken lane through a process of the mud washing off a sloping track exposing the stones, which then were kicked out and on by hooves, boots and cartwheels - some probably thrown onto the bank. It was known as Annell Lane in the 1881 Census.