Hampshire

Hampshire /ˈhæmpˌʃə/ is one of the forty-seven counties of England, United Kingdom, with Winchester as its capital. Located in the South-East region, it limits to the north with Berkshire, to the east with Surrey and West Sussex, to the south with the English Channel and the Strait of Solent -which separates it from the Isle of Wight-, and to the west with Dorset and Wiltshire. Its population in 2010 was 1,743,700. Historically it has been called in many different ways: Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, Old Hampshire or Southampton County.

The county is bordered to the west by the counties of Dorset and Wiltshire; to the north, with the county of Berkshire; to the east, with the counties of Surrey and West Sussex; and to the south, with the sea. It occupies an approximate area of 3,769 km² (1,400 sq mi). From north to south it measures 65 km (47 miles), and from east to west 90 km (53 miles). The ceremonial county includes the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton which are administratively independent. However, the cities of Christchurch and Bournemouth, located within the historical limits of the county, have been part of the county of Dorset since 1974.

Hampshire is one of England's top holiday destinations. There are a number of attractions and resorts close to the coast, including the Portsmouth Seaside, Beaulieu Motor Museum, and Thruxton Speedway. Within its boundaries is the entire New Forest National Park, as well as much of the recent South Downs National Park. In the north-east corner is Aldershot, the main camp of the British Army after 1850, and Farnborough, famous for its air show. Hampshire has a long history of the sea and two of England's largest ports, Portsmouth and Southampton, lie on its shores. The writers Jane Austen and Charles Dickens were born in this county, as well as the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, who was instrumental in the Battle of Al-Amein in World War II, was also born there. Hampshire is fortunate to have some of the best natural scenery in the country, and an easily accessible coastline, therefore offering a wide variety of leisure and sporting activities.

History

The first traces of human life in this area date back to the Neolithic. Early settlers built hill forts, such as Winklebury, and farmed the valleys of the county. Hampshire was part of an area called by the Celts as Gwent or Y Went, which also included the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset. During the Roman conquest of Britain, Hampshire was one of the areas first occupied by invading Roman troops. The southern part of the county, known as Meon, and in particular the valley of the river Hamble, was occupied by the tribe of the Jutes (495), until the arrival of the Saxons in the year 530. Hampshire is one of the first "shires" (counties) Saxons, of which there is evidence from the year 755. After the advance of the Saxons to the west, Hampshire became the center of the kingdom of Wessex. The city of Winchester was the capital of the country at the time of Anglo-Saxon rule. Numerous Saxon kings are buried in Winchester.

Beer and cider are brewed in Winchester and textile production has been traditional since the Middle Ages. In the spaces where there is no forest, the peasants are dedicated to agriculture, especially cereals and dairy production.

After the Norman conquest, the county was favored by the Norman kings who established the "New Forest" as a royal hunting ground. Starting in the 12th century the ports of the county began to gain in importance. They served to trade with the European continent, especially wool and textiles made in Hampshire. The first fishing industries were established as well as the first shipyards.

The port of Southampton has been the starting point for some of the most famous ships in history such as the Mayflower that carried the first settlers to the United States and the Titanic i>.

Hampshire played an important role during World War II as Portsmouth Harbor was home to one of the largest British Navy bases. In addition, the designers of the Spitfire and other aircraft were based in Southampton, which resulted in the city being bombed on several occasions.

Hampshire was the starting point for some of those who would later settle the east coast of what is now the United States in the 19th century XVII, giving its particular name to the state of New Hampshire. Isle of Wight and Southampton counties in Virginia reflect the origins of some of Jamestown's earliest settlers.

Government

With the exception of the unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton which are governed by Hampshire County Council with seat in Winchester, with several metropolitan boroughs not below it, and for most counties, parish councils or municipal councils at the local level. The Hampshire districts are as follows:

1. Gosport,
2. Fareham,
3. Winchester,
4. Havant,
5. East Hampshire,
6. Hart,
7. Rushmoor,
8. Basingstoke and Deane,
9. Test Valley,
10. Eastleigh,
11. New Forest,
12. Southampton
13. Portsmouth.

The county also contains two national parks, the first government covering the New Forest, and therefore this area is run by a national park authority as well as the New Forest District Council; the second national park is more recent called the South Downs, encompassing the gypsum downs to the east of Winchester, encompassing a large number of local government areas across three counties Hampshire, West and East Sussex.

Education

The school system in Hampshire (including Southampton and Portsmouth) is very large. Geographically within the Hampshire LEA there are twenty-four independent schools, Southampton has three and Portsmouth has four. There are 14 continuing education centers within the Hampshire district, including 5 rated "extraordinary" By Ofsted: Alton College, Farnborough Sixth Form College, Peter Symonds College, Queen Mary's College, and South Downs College.

There are four universities, the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Winchester (which also had a small campus in Basingstoke until 2011).

Culture, arts and sports

View of Southampton Piers

Due to Hampshire's long association with pigs and boars, the province's natives have been known as the Hampshire Pigs since the 17th century XVIII. Hampshire has several literary connections, being the birthplace of authors such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, and the residence of others, such as Charles Kingsley. Austen lived most of her life in New Hampshire, where her father was rector of Steventon, Hampshire, and wrote all of her novels in the county. Hampshire also has many visual arts connections, claiming the painter John Everett Millais to be a native of the area, and the towns and countryside have been the subject of paintings by Laurence S. Lowry and Joseph Mallord William Turner. Selborne is home to the Oates Museum, about explorer Lawrence Oates, and showbiz comedians Peter Sellers, Benny Hill, Carl Barat and David Craig.

Hampshire is home to many orchestras, bands and groups. Musician Laura Marling is originally from Hampshire. The Hampshire County Youth Choir is based in Winchester, and has had successful tours of Canada and Italy in recent years. The Hampshire County Youth Orchestra (with its associated chamber orchestra and string orchestra) is based in Thornden Hall.

The game of cricket developed largely in the South East of England, with one of the first teams being formed in Hambledon in 1750, with the "Hambledon Club", many of the rules were created cricket initials. Hampshire County Cricket Club today is a success with a first-class team, captained by Dimitri Mascarenhas. The county's main casualty is the Rose Bowl, where several ODIs have been featured and after a redevelopment of the ground, its first Test match will take place in 2011. Notable players include England such as current batsman Kevin Pietersen. Hampshire have also been captained by Australian Shane Warne.

Hampshire's relatively calm waters have allowed the county to develop into one of the busiest sailing areas in the country, with many yacht clubs and various manufacturers on the Solent. The sport of windsurfing was invented on Hayling Island, which is located in the southeast of the county.

Hampshire has several association football teams, including Championship Southampton F.C., Portsmouth F.C. and npower League Two of Aldershot Town F.C. Portsmouth Football Club and Southampton Football Club have traditionally been fierce rivals. Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 1939 and 2008 and the Football League title twice, in 1949 and 1950, but it has spent much of the last 50 years outside the top division, at one point spending two seasons in the top division. Fourth Division (the lowest division at high levels of soccer). Southampton, meanwhile, won the FA Cup in 1976, reached the final in 2003 and spent 27 uninterrupted years in England's top division (1978-2005). Aldershot Football Club became a member of the Football League in 1932 but never progressed beyond the Third Division and on 25 March 1992 declared bankruptcy and was forced to resign from the league. A new football club, Aldershot Town Football Club was formed almost immediately, beginning life in Division 3 of the Isthmian League. In 2008, Aldershot Town were crowned the Conference National champions and were promoted in the Football League.

Hampshire also has a number of non-Football League teams: Basingstoke Town, Eastleigh, Farnborough and Havant & Waterlooville plays in the Conference South. Bashley plays in the Southern Football League Premier Division.

Thruxton Circuit is Hampshire's premier motor racing venue, with the National Motor Museum housed in the New Forest next to Beaulieu Palace House. The Farnborough Airshow is a popular international event, held every two years.