Otterbourne

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Otterbourne
Hampshire
Otterbourne Church - geograph.org.uk - 28424.jpg
ST Matthew, Otterbourne
Location
Grid reference: SU468226
Location: 51°0’4"N, 1°20’1"W
Data
Population: 1,539  (2011)
Post town: Winchester
Postcode: SO50
Dialling code: 01962
Local Government
Council: Winchester
Parliamentary
constituency:
Winchester
Website: Otterbourne Parish Council

Otterbourne is a village in Hampshire, about four miles south of Winchester and eight miles north of Southampton. The 2011 census recorded a population of 1,539, in 626 dwellings.

The village has three public houses in the village: the White Horse Inn, the Otter, and the Old Forge. There is also a school, a post office and village shop. Before the 21st century, the post office and village shop were located opposite Cranbourne Drive at the bottom of Otterbourne Hill, but the local garage started competing and forced closure, and a new shop later opened up the hill.

History

The village of Otterbourne, on the stream known as the Otter Bourne, stands on the old Roman road between Venta Belgarum (Winchester) and Clausentum (Southampton). It appears in the Domesday Book as Otrebourne.

The scientist Sir Isaac Newton lodged at Cranbury House in his twilight years, and John Keble, a leader of the Oxford Movement, settled down as vicar of the parish church, St Matthew's, around 1838.>

Map showing Otterbourne dated 1607

At that time, Otterbourne's novelist Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823–1901) was 15 years old; her writings were influenced by Keble's sermons. In her day, she was a major celebrity, publishing more than 100 novels.

Already by 1840, however, the London to Southampton railway opened (later the South West Main Line), passing by the village. Within half a century, old Otterbourne had been abandoned, and the village moved half a mile east to its present location.

Society

  • Otterbourne Brass,[1] performs in Otterbourne Village Hall each Christmas and concerts in and around the surrounding area.

Outside links

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Otterbourne)

References