Headley Down

Headley Down
Hampshire
Location
Grid reference:	SU840361
Location:	51°7’8"N, -0°47’58"W
Data
Post town:	Bordon
Postcode:	GU35
Dialling code:	01428
Local Government
Council:	East Hampshire
Parliamentary constituency:	East Hampshire

Headley Down is a sizable village in Hampshire, a mile east of its parent village, Headley (and effectily joined to it by a third village, Arford). Headley Down is bounded on two sides by Ludshott Common, a National Trust heathland reserve. It is just a mile from the borders of Surrey in the steep valley of a stream to the east.

The village began with a few buildings in the 1870s and became a thriving community that in the 20th century outgrew the parish centre of Headley.

Nearby are the villages of Grayshott to the east and Churt to the north.

History

The area was called Headley Down on maps as early as 1801, and from about the 1870s houses began to be built by people wishing to live or holiday in the healthy environment for which the Hindhead area was notable. It was also described as Headley Common on a map (of about 1868) of the large Wishanger Manor Estate, the records of which go back at least to 1167.

The side-roads in Headley Down were laid out in a grid system at least as early as 1909, rather than radiating out from a central point such as a church.

The Land of Nod estate predates Headley Down, possibly established in the early 18th century; an owner of the estate believed its name derived from an earlier incumbent by the name of Cane or Keyne, an excommunicant, and is a reference to the biblical story of Cain's banishment. The estate lies mainly to the north of the village. Kelly's Directory of 1895 lists J Henry Christian as a private resident of the Land of Nod.

Headley Down was formally named in March 1923 when the Post Office proclaimed that "the official name of the Telephone Call Office which has been established on Stone Hill will be Headley Down". A temporary wooden building in Carlton Road erected in the 1960s housed the post office, where it remained until incorporated into Whittle's store (subsequently Londis) in Eddeys Lane.

During the Second World War the area housed several camps for Canadian soldiers. Erie camp was a military detention centre and was built on the Land of Nod estate owned by Major L Whitaker; it was designated by the War Office as a "Military Prison and Detention Barracks" from at least 1946 to 1948. The camp was subsequently occupied by civilians and gradually replaced by an estate of 350 houses and named Heatherlands. The estate was completed by 1977. From early April 1944, 107 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (King's Own) trained with Churchill tanks on Headley Down in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. There were other military units based on Headley Down: on the current Windmill Estate, at the back of The Mount, and down Headley Hill Road and Barley Mow Hill.

In the 1950s Alfred Whittle opened a general store, butcher's and coal merchant in Eddeys Lane to accommodate Headley Down's increasing post-war population. The store and post office closed in 2015 after 65 years' service to the village.

"Penryn" was a home for children, mainly from London, in the post-war period until the 1980s when it was replaced by private housing, now called Penryn Drive.

Heatherlands estate houses approximately one fifth of the Headley parish population. In 2006, Heatherlands/Headley Down was considered to be the most deprived ward in East Hampshire. EHDC expressed the view that Headley's Parish Plan was not sufficiently inclusive of the whole parish. The Parish Council set out to explore ways to improve social inclusion and in 2007 produced a report with recommendations for action.

Community

St Francis Church and Hall

St Francis Community Church, an interdenominational church established in 1921 and dedicated in 1964.

• Amateur Dramatics: Headley Theatre Club
• Headley Down Community Association, a charity dedicated to the improvement of the local community
• Scouts: Headley Scouts (Scouts, Cubs and Beavers)
• Naturism - Headley Down has been the home of a naturist establishment for many years; the Haslemere Sun Club (established 1947) is in Pond Road

About the village

Ludshott Common, adjoining the eastern and southern boundary of the village, is one of the largest remaining areas of heathland in East Hampshire. A National Trust property, it covers 705 acres and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area due to the number of endangered species. Species thriving on the common include woodlark, nightjar and Dartford warbler. There is also a great variety of spider and butterfly species, including the silver-studded blue, grayling and green hairstreak.

Pond Road is so named for a pond that existed up until the 1970s when it was drained and subsequently attracted fly-tipping. Local residents remembered it had previously contained a wide variety of insect life, amphibians and fish, and attracted kingfishers. With the aid of local and county council grants it was re-established in 2003 and is now known as Fuller's Vale Wildlife Pond.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Headley Down)

• Headley Village
• Headley Theatre Club
• St Francis Community Church.
• Old Photos and Maps of Headley Down
• Headley Scouts
• Historical links and publications about Headley Down

References

• Hantsphere - heritage in place
• Smith, John Owen: 'All Tanked Up...: Canadians in Headley During Second World War' (1994) ISBN 978-1873855003