Park Gate
| Park Gate | |
| Hampshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU517083 |
| Location: | 50°52’21"N, 1°15’55"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 7,811 |
| Post town: | Southampton |
| Postcode: | SO31 |
| Dialling code: | 01489 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Fareham |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Fareham |
Park Gate is a village embedded in the conurbation around Fareham in the very south of Hampshire. It merges into Locks Heath to the south, Segensworth to the east and Sarisbury to the west.
Within the area are numerous shops, predominantly fast food outlets and estate agents, all centered around Middle Road.
There are two churches here:
- Church of England: Duncan Road Church
- Roman Catholic: St Margaret Mary R.C[1])
Park Gate has three Public Houses: The Talisman,[2] (a reference to the Talisman strawberry which was grown locally); The Village Inn; and The Gate, the latter a new craft beer establishment that opened in 2020.
Currently, Park Gate and the surrounding vicinity are subject to large swathes of housing development and as such the village now has the unenvious record of being home to an above average number of estate agents, which form the majority of retail fronts.
History
Park Gate was developed around the railway station (called Swanwick), which was a distribution hub for local strawberries that were grown in the area. In 1913, at the peak of strawberry production, more than 3,000 tons of strawberries were sent from local fields every week to be distributed from the station. Strawberry distribution stopped in 1966, however, the railway station remains, and even though fruit and vegetables are still grown in the area, the present landscape is dominated by housing. The Station Master's House adjacent to the railway station has since become a restaurant.
In 1944, Park Gate played host to convoys of Canadian soldiers and tanks who were stationed along Botley Road adjacent to Fair View Terrace, waiting for their orders for the Normandy D-Day landings. During this time, there was an account of a V1 rocket landing in the Duncan Road area, causing some of the Canadian ammunition trucks to catch fire and explode.
In the late 1980's, Park Gate along with neighbouring Locks Heath, became a growth sector for Southern Hampshire with modern businesses moving to nearby Segensworth. With Junction 9 of the M27 within easy reach, Park Gate has become a base for commuting East to Portsmouth, West to Southampton and North to Winchester, Andover and Basingstoke.
One of the oldest surviving buildings in Park Gate, is the former Thresher's wine store, located at the junction of Botley Road, Bridge Road and Hunts Pond Road. Now in a serious state of disrepair, the building has stood in its location for more than 150 years, and was originally a general store.
Picture
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St Margaret Mary R.C. Church, Park Gate -
Park Gate Police Station -
Park Gate Primary School
