Coordinates: 51°14′06″N 1°39′54″W / 51.2350°N 1.665°W
| Tidworth | |
.png)  Tidworth
 Tidworth shown within Wiltshire |
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| Population | 9,500 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Wiltshire |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Tidworth |
| Postcode district | SP9 |
| Dialling code | 01980 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Devizes |
| List of places: UK • England • Wiltshire | |
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east of Amesbury. Its population is approximately 9,500.
Contents |
History
Tidworth was listed in the Domesday Book as Todeorde, in the Andover Hundred, in "Hantscire". It was once the family home of the Studd family.
Tidworth used to be administratively divided into North Tidworth and South Tidworth, with the northern part of the town in Wiltshire and the southern part in Hampshire. When the boundary between the two counties was redrawn in 1992, the old distinction vanished and all the town became part of Wiltshire. The separate parts remained as two separate civil parishes until April 1, 2004.
Today
In recent years the population of Tidworth has increased in both the civilian and military quarters (Tidworth is home to the 1st Mechanised Brigade). The military mainly because many units are being relocated to Tidworth as the army centralizes its forces around the major training areas of the country, due to both economic and practical purposes. The civilian population of Tidworth increases as people search for somewhere to live near Andover and Salisbury without having to pay the prices to purchase a house within the desired town. Its situation near the A303, and hence the M3, make it attractive to commuters.
The barracks at Tidworth are named after British Army battles in India and Afghanistan (e.g. Aliwal, Assaye, Bhurtpore, Candahar, Delhi and Lucknow.
Tidworth has a small commercial area, containing: 2 supermarkets (Lidl and a large Tesco opened in December 2007), 2 hairdressers, 2 veterinary surgeries and various takeaway outlets. This area is based upon Station Road (so named because there was once a railway station there). At the base of this hill is a dental surgery (completed in 2005) which serves Tidworth and the surrounding area (approx. 5000 people). In 2003 a new medical centre was completed, the cost being split between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS and it serves both the armed forces and their dependants within the surrounding area.
Tidworth has one of the lowest crime rates per thousand in Wiltshire and between the years of 1990 and 2004 only one major crime took place.[citation needed]
Zouch, Avon and Mathews are exclusively married quarters for NCOs in the armed services living in Tidworth or one of the many other military bases nearby. Officers' married quarters are mainly housed in South Tidworth.
Council and private housing is contained within Hilltop Avenue, Forest Drive, Gason Hill and Manor Bridge.
Culture
The musician James Blunt was born in Tidworth.
The Studd family of the Ashes fame owned and lived in Tedworth House.
The musician Yousseph "Chico" Slimani performed at the Tidworth Festival in July, 2006.
Tidworth Polo Club is the second largest in the country and frequently plays host to royals such as Princes William and Harry
External links
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