| Marchwood | |
|---|---|
| — Village — | |
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| Coordinates: 50°53.5′N 1°27′W / 50.8917°N 1.45°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South East |
| County | Hampshire |
| District | New Forest |
| Settled | before 1086 |
| Elevation | 0-66 ft (0-20 m) |
| Population (2001) | |
| - Total | 5,586 UNIQ324ba9e83,944d5a0-ref-00,000,000-QINU |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC) |
| Postcode | SO40 |
| Area code(s) | 023 |
| Twin Cities | |
| - Saint-Contest | France |
| Website | http://www.marchwoodparishcouncil.org.uk/ |
Marchwood is a village located in Hampshire, United Kingdom. It lies between Totton and Hythe on the western shore of Southampton Water, next to the New Forest. The population of the village in the 2001 census was 5,586[1].
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History
The name "Marchwood" is most probably from the Old English "merecewudu" meaning "smallage wood" ('smallage' is a term for wild celery). It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Merceode". Some people[who?] claim that the name comes from the fact that much of the land around the village, and some within it, is 'marsh' and it was called 'marsh wood'. This, however, seems to be local folk lore made up by those over the years who felt that living in a village named after wild celery was not a good enough status! There is no fact for this folk lore to be based on in the history of the village or its name.
Marchwood acquired a military port during World War II which played a vital role in the Normandy Landings and continues to service Britain's overseas military interests. In 2006, Greenpeace protesters held up ships leaving for the war in Iraq[2].
Industry
Despite being a village, Marchwood is the home of a refuse incinerator (and the remains of a previous incinerator), a sewage works, a large military port and a brand new natural gas fuelled combined cycle power station which is under construction and due to be completed by the end of 2009[3], replacing an older station which was dismantled during the 1980s. The 842 megawatt facility will be one of the most efficient generators of electricity in the UK at 58% fuel efficiency. Until privatisation, Marchwood was home to one of the three principal research facilities of the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), concentrating on heavy plant - the other facilities were at Leatherhead and at Berkeley.
Facilities
The village has two schools, an infant school situated in Twiggs Lane and a junior school in the village centre. The nearest secondary school is Applemore College in Dibden Purlieu.
There are several shops in the village centre, including a branch of Co-op, a bakery, two take-aways, a pharmacy and hairdresser, as well as 3 pubs and a snooker hall.
Transport
Marchwood is most easily accessed by road via the A326 road (Marchwood Bypass) which runs from the M27 motorway, past Totton, Marchwood and Hythe, as far as the village of Holbury. One bus route serves the village, going to Southampton via Totton in one direction and to Calshot and Fawley in the other. Marchwood railway station opened beside Main Road on 20 July 1925 but the station was closed by the Beeching Axe on 14 February 1966 and has remained closed since[4]. As of 2009, a set of manual level crossing gates are still used on Main Road.
Religion
Marchwood has four Christian churches. The Parish Church of St. John's; The Gospel Church; New Forest Community Church and Fijian church, which meets in the army estate, mainly for those from Fiji posted in the military houses and barracks. The churches are active in the community: The New Forest Community Church run a local coffee shop in the village centre, the "sweet soul cafe"; The Gospel Church runs a Holistic Spiritual Life Guidance surgery, and various youth and children's groups; and the Parish church has strong links with the local schools.
Sport
Marchwood is home to Southampton F.C.'s training ground. There is also Lloyds recreation ground which is home to a host of football clubs, as well as 2 tennis courts.
Twin settlements
It is twinned with the village of Saint-Contest, near Caen, Normandy, France.
External links
- Marchwood Parish Council
- Marchwood Fete
- Marchwood in the Domesday Book
- BBC News - Marchwood: An unknown hero
References
- ^ a b Census resuls from newforest.gov.uk, page 31.
- ^ Greenpeace article on Marchwood protest
- ^ Marchwood Power Limited
- ^ "Disused Stations". Subterranea Britannica. http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/m/marchwood.
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