Basingstoke
344654
224795223
2008-07-10T13:17:30Z
195.212.199.56
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name = Basingstoke
|latitude = 51.2667
|longitude = -1.0876
|population = 80,477 [[Unparished area]] 2006<ref name="hantsgovfactsandfigures">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/factsandfigures/basingstokepop2005-12.html | title = Basingstoke & Deane Population Forecasts| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-05-13}}</ref>
* 152,573 Borough (Census, 2001)
|shire_district = [[Basingstoke and Deane]]
|shire_county = [[Hampshire]]
|region = South East England
|constituency_westminster = [[Basingstoke (UK Parliament constituency)|Basingstoke]]
|post_town = [[Basingstoke]]
|postcode_area = RG
|postcode_district = RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24
|dial_code = 01256
|os_grid_reference = SU637523
|website = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/
}}
'''Basingstoke''' is a [[town#England and Wales|town]] in northeast [[Hampshire]], [[England]]. It lies across a [[valley]] at the source of the [[River Loddon]]. It is <span style="white-space:nowrap">48 miles (77 km)</span> southwest of [[London]], <span style="white-space:nowrap">30 miles (48 km)</span> north of [[Southampton]] and 16 miles (25 km) southwest of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. In 2006 it had an estimated population of 80,477. It is part of the borough of [[Basingstoke and Deane]] and part of the [[constituency#United Kingdom|parliamentary constituency]] of [[Basingstoke (UK Parliament constituency)|Basingstoke]].
Often mistaken for a [[New town#United Kingdom|new town]], Basingstoke is an old [[market town]] expanded in the 1960s as part of a tripartite agreement between [[London County Council]], [[Hampshire County Council]] and Basingstoke Borough Council. It was developed rapidly, along with [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]] and [[Tadley]], to accommodate part of the [[London overspill|London 'overspill']] as perceived under the [[Greater London Plan]], 1944.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Stokes
| first = Eric
| coauthors =
| title = Basingstoke – Expanding Town
| publisher = The Workers’ Educational Association
| date = 1980
| pages = pp. 15}}</ref>
Basingstoke market was mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] and Basingstoke remained a small market town until the 1950s. It still has a regular market, but is now bigger than Hampshire County Council's definition of a market town.<ref name="ruralfaqs">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/factsandfigures/ruralfaqsgeneral.html#5| title = Rural Hampshire FAQs| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-01-12}}</ref>
Basingstoke is prosperous, with an above-average standard of living and low [[unemployment]].<ref name="b&dkeyfacts">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/factsandfigures/basingstoke.html| title = Basingstoke & Deane Key Facts| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-04-07}}</ref> It is an economic centre, and the location of the UK headquarters of [[Sun Life Financial|Sun Life Financial of Canada]], [[The Automobile Association]], [[Ericsson Mobile Platforms]], [[GAME (retailer)|GAME]], [[Motorola]] and [http://www.sonybiz.net Sony Professional Solutions (Europe)]. Other industries include drug manufacture, [[Information Technology|IT]], [[Telecommunication|communications]], insurance and electronics.
==Geography and administration==
Basingstoke is at {{coor dms|51|16|0|N|01|05|15|W|}}, {{gbmapping|SU637523}}. Situated in a valley through the [[North Downs]], it is a major interchange between [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]], [[Winchester]], and [[Alton, Hampshire|Alton]], and lies on the natural [[trade route]] between the southwest of England and [[London]].
===Politics===
The [[Basingstoke (UK Parliament constituency)|Basingstoke parliamentary constituency]] was formed under the 1885 [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885|Act]] and is currently served by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) Mrs [[Maria Miller]], who was elected in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]].<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Maria Miller MP | publisher = They WorkForYou.com | url = http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/maria_miller/basingstoke| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
[[Basingstoke and Deane]] [[Borough status in the United Kingdom#England and Wales|Borough]] Council, which has its offices in the town, is a Conservative-led council, having 31 Conservative, 14 [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]], 11 [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and three Independent councillors (at August 2007).<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = The Council and its Meetings | publisher = Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council | url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/council/councillors/councilmeetings.htm| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref> Basingstoke is part of a two-tier local government structure and returns county councillors to [[Hampshire County Council]]. When the cities of Southampton and [[Portsmouth]] attained unitary authority status in 1998, Basingstoke became Hampshire's largest settlement.<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Hampshire County Council library service, Best Value Inspection 2001| publisher = Hampshire County Council | url = http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/BVIR/AC0D8291-8C93-4141-9347-E1DB6121A44E/HampshireCC01.pdf| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Combined feasibility and building design project appraisal| publisher = Hampshire County Council | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/scrmxn/c20001.html| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
===Physical geography/geology===
The precise size and shape of Basingstoke today are difficult to identify, as it has no single official boundary that encompasses all the areas contiguous to its development. The unparished area of the town represents its bulk, but several areas that might be considered part of the town are separate parishes, namely [[Chineham]], [[Rooksdown]], and [[Lychpit]]. The unparished area includes Worting, which was previously a separate village and parish,<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Victoria County History, Worting Parish| publisher = British History Online | url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=56798&strquery=worting| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
extending beyond Roman Road and Old Kempshott Lane, which might otherwise be considered the town’s ‘natural’ western extremity. The ward boundaries within the parliamentary constituency are not (as of August 2007) coterminous with the parish boundaries.
Basingstoke is situated on a bed of [[cretaceous]] [[Chalk Formation#Stratigraphy and paleontology|upper chalk]] with small areas of clayey and loamy soil, inset with combined [[Clay-with-Flints|clay and flint]] patches. [[Loam]] and [[alluvium]] [[recent]] and [[pleistocene]] sediments line the bed of the river Loddon. A narrow line of [[tertiary]] [[Reading beds]] run diagonally from the northwest to the southeast along a line from [[Sherborne St John]] through [[Popley]], [[Daneshill]] and the north part of [[Basing]]. To the north of this line, encompassing the areas of Chineham and Pyotts Hill, is [[London clay]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Stokes
| first = Eric
| coauthors =
| title = Basingstoke – Expanding Town
| publisher = The Worker’s Educational Association
| date = 1980
| pages = pp. 45}}</ref>
===Divisions and suburbs===
[[Basingstoke Districts|Main Article on Basingstoke wards (Wikipedia)]]
Basingstoke's expansion has absorbed much surrounding farmland and scattered housing, transforming it into [[housing estate]]s or local districts. Many of these new estates are designed as almost self-contained communities, such as [[Lychpit]], [[Chineham]], [[Popley]], [[Winklebury]], [[Oakridge, Hampshire|Oakridge]], [[Kempshott]], [[Brighton Hill]], [[South Ham]], [[Black Dam]] and [[Hatch Warren]]. The [[M3 motorway|M3]] acts as a buffer zone to the south of the town, and the [[South Western Main Line]] constrains the western expansion, with a [[green belt]] to the north and north-east, making Basingstoke shaped almost like a kite. As a result, the villages of [[Cliddesden]], [[Dummer]], Sherborne St John and [[Oakley, Hampshire|Oakley]], although being very close to the town limits, are considered distinct entities. Popley, Hatch Warren and Beggarwood are seeing rapid growth in housing.<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services| publisher = Hampshire County Council | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-docs/070717-excsed-R0710180838.html| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Report of the Director of Environment| publisher = Hampshire County Council | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-docs/031111-exemss-R1106153251.html| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
Nearby towns: [[Hook, north Hampshire|Hook]], [[Tadley]], [[Whitchurch, Hampshire|Whitchurch]],
Nearby villages: [[Aldermaston]], [[Baughurst]], [[Bramley, Hampshire|Bramley]], [[Kingsclere]], [[Oakley, Hampshire|Oakley]], [[Old Basing]], [[Overton, Hampshire|Overton]], [[Ramsdell]], [[Silchester]].
==History==
===Early Settlements===
[[Image:071774 77ed6671.jpg|thumb|right|The remains of the 16th-century Chapel of the Holy Trinity at the [[Chapel of the Holy Ghost, Basingstoke|Holy Ghost Chapel]]]]
The [[hillfort]] at [[Winklebury]] (<span style="white-space:nowrap">2 miles (3 km)</span> west of the town centre), known locally as Winklebury Camp or Winklebury Ring<ref name="winkleburyring">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2005 | url = http://www.forthill.hants.sch.uk/folders/community/history_of_winklebury_ring/a_brief_history_of_winklebury_ring.cfm | title = A brief history of Winklebury Ring| format = | work = | publisher = Fort Hill Community School| accessdate = 2007-05-09}}</ref> dates from the [[Iron age]] and there are remains of several other earthworks around Basingstoke including a [[long barrow]] near Down Grange.<ref name="hampshiretreasures">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/vol02/page029.html | title = Hampshire Treasures Vol 2| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-05-09}}</ref> Nearby, to the west, Roman Road and Kempshott Lane mark the course of a [[Roman roads in Britain|Roman road]] that ran from [[Winchester]] to [[Silchester]]. Further to the east, another Roman road ran from [[Chichester]] through the outlaying villages of [[Upton Grey]] and [[Mapledurwell]]. The [[Harrow Way]] is an [[Ancient trackway|ancient route]] that runs to the south of the town.
===Etymology===
The name Basingstoke (A.D 990; Embasinga stocæ,<ref name="anglosaxons">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=874 | title = Anglo-Saxon Charters| format = | work = | publisher = Sean Miller| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref> [[Domesday Book|Domesday]]; Basingestoches) is believed to have been derived from the town's position as the outlying, western settlement of Basa's people, the [[Basingas]].<ref name="placenames">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/ins/epntest/keytoepn.html | title = English Place Names| format = | work = | publisher = The University of Nottingham| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref>{{Ref_label|A|a|none}} Basing, now [[Old Basing]], a village a few miles to the east, is thought to have the same etymology, but is considered by some to be the older settlement.<ref name="oldbasingpc">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.oldbasing.gov.uk/profile.html#history | title = Old Basing & Lychpit Parish History| format = | work = | publisher = Old Basing & Lychpit Parish Council| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref>
===Market Town===
[[Image:Basingstoke St Michael's church.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[St. Michael's Church, Basingstoke|St. Michael's Church]]]]
Basingstoke is recorded as being a market site in the [[Domesday Book]], and has held a regular Wednesday market since 1214.<ref name="marketsandfairs">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/gazweb2.html | title = Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs| format = | work = | publisher = Centre for Metropolitan History| accessdate = 2007-05-09}}</ref>
During the [[First English Civil War|Civil War]], and the [[siege]] of [[Basing House]] between 1643 and 1645, the town played host to large numbers of [[Roundheads|Parliamentarians]]. During this time, [[St. Michael's Church, Basingstoke|St. Michael's Church]] was damaged whilst being used as an explosive store<ref name="stmichaels">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.stmichaelsbasingstoke.org.uk/ChurchBuilding.html | title = St Michael's Church – the building| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref> and [[lead]] was stripped from the roof of the [[Chapel of the Holy Ghost, Basingstoke|Chapel of the Holy Trinity]]<ref name="hampshiretreasures2">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/vol02/page035.html | title = Hampshire Treasures Vol 2| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref> leading to its eventual ruin. [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell]] is believed to have stayed in the town towards the end of the siege and wrote a letter to the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] addressed from Basingstoke.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Baigent
| first = Francis J.
| coauthors = James Millard
| title = A History of the Ancient Town and Manor of Basingstoke
| publisher = C.J. Jacob
| date = 1889
| pages = pp. 565}}</ref>
The cloth industry appears to have been important in the development of the town until the 17th century along with [[Malt#Maltings|malting]].<ref name="vchonline">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=56764 | title = Victorian County History – Hampshire Vol 4| format = | work = | publisher = British History Online| accessdate = 2007-05-29}}</ref>
[[Brewery|Brewing]] became important during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the oldest and most successful was May's Brewery, established by Thomas and William May in 1750 in Brook Street.
===Victorian History===
The [[London and South Western Railway]] arrived in 1839 from London, and within a year it was connected to Winchester and Southampton. in 1848 a rival company built a branch from Reading, and in 1854 a line was built to [[Salisbury]].<ref name="railwayhistory">{{cite web | last = | first = | author = Christopher J. Tolley | coauthors = | year = 2001| url = http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/cjt-brhc.htm | title = Basingstoke's Railway History in Maps | format = | work = | publisher = accessdate = 3/5/2008}}</ref> In the 19th century Basingstoke began to move into industrial manufacture, Wallis and Haslam (later [[Wallis & Steevens]]),<ref name="wallishistory">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/history/wallis_and_steevens/index.html | title = Wallis and Steevens – A Timeline| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-06}}</ref> began producing agricultural equipment including [[threshing machines]] in the 1850s, moving into the production of stationary [[steam engines]] in the 1860s and then [[traction engine]]s in the 1870s.
Two traders who opened their first shops within a year of each other in the town, went on to become household names nationally: Thomas [[Burberry]] in 1856 and Alfred Milward in 1857.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Hawker
| first =Anne
| coauthors =
| title = The Story of Basingstoke
| publisher = Hampshire County Museum Service
| date = 1999
| pages = pp. 69}}</ref> Burberry became famous after he invented [[Gabardine]] and Milward founded the Milwards chain of shoe shops, which could be found on almost every high street until the 1980s.<ref>{{Citation
| title = Milward’s celebrates 125 years of footwear
| newspaper = Hants & Berks Gazette
| year = 1982
| url = }}</ref>
[[Image:022428 75e6afad.jpg|thumb|left|London Street includes a variety of architecture from the 17th to the 20th century]]
Ordinary citizens were said to be shocked<ref>{{cite book
| last = Baigent
| first = Francis J.
| coauthors = James Millard
| title = A History of the Ancient Town and Manor of Basingstoke
| publisher = C.J. Jacob
| date = 1889
| pages = pp. 552}}</ref> by the emotive, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] tactics of the [[Salvation Army]] when they arrived in the town in 1880, but the reaction from those employed by the breweries or within the [[On-licence|Licence]] trade quickly grew more openly hostile. Violent clashes became a regular occurrence{{Ref_label|B|b|none}} culminating on Sunday [[27 March]] [[1881]] with troops being called upon to break up the conflict after the [[Mayor]] had read the [[Riot Act]]. The riot and its causes led to questions in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] and a period of notoriety for the town.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Baigent
| first = Francis J.
| coauthors = James Millard
| title = A History of the Ancient Town and Manor of Basingstoke
| publisher = C.J. Jacob
| date = 1889
| pages = pp. 551-553}}</ref>
In 1898 [[John Isaac Thornycroft]] began production of [[Traction engine#Steam wagon|steam-powered lorries]] in the town and [[Thornycroft|Thornycroft’s]] quickly grew to become the town’s largest employer.<ref name="thornycrofthistory">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2005 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/thornycroft/ | title = Thornycroft of Basingstoke| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-06}}</ref>
===Recent History===
Basingstoke was among the towns and cities targeted during the [[Second World War]], and suffered bomb damage including St Michael's Church. After the war, it had a population of 25,000.
As part of the London Overspill plan, Basingstoke was rapidly developed in the late 1960s as an 'expanded town', along with places such as [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]] and [[Swindon]]. Basingstoke town centre was completely rebuilt. At this time many buildings of historic interest (including a bomb-damaged methodist church) were replaced by a large red brick [[shopping mall|shopping centre]] and [[concrete]] [[multi-storey car park]]. Many office blocks and large estates were built, including a [[ring road]].
The shopping centre, following money issues, was built in phases. The first phase was completed by the 1970s and was later covered in the 1980s, and was known as ''The Walks''. The second phase was completed by the early 1980s, and became ''The Malls''. The third phase was abandoned and the site was later used to build [[The Anvil, Basingstoke|The Anvil]] concert hall.
[[Image:Festival place Basingstoke.jpg|thumb|right|The new shopping centre Festival Place]]
In 2003 Basingstoke was voted ninth in the [[Crap Towns]] survey, a humorous, but [[unscientific]] guide to the worst places to live in Britain though was not in the top ten of the 2004 survey.
Later that year, the [[Basingstoke Gazette]] launched its "Basingstoke – A Place to be Proud of" campaign, aimed at changing people’s perception of the town.<ref name="sloganlaunch">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2003 |
url = http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/campaigns/2003/10oct/031013pride.shtml| title = Gazette aims to put pride back into Basingstoke| format = | work = | publisher = HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk| accessdate = 2007-08-26}}</ref> The campaign is ongoing ([[As of August 2007]]) and marked by the presentation of annual awards to individuals, organisations or businesses nominated by the public for commendable local achievement.<ref name="proudnominate">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 |
url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/community/proud/| title = Place to be proud of awards| format = | work = | publisher = Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council| accessdate = 2007-08-26}}</ref>
The central part of the shopping centre was rebuilt in 2002 and reopened as [[Festival Place]]. This has bought a dramatic improvement to shoppers opinions of the town centre, but it is unclear if it has softened the towns overall image.<ref name="centralbascommittee">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 |
url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/CommitteeDocs/Committees/Central%20Basingstoke%20Vision%20Single%20Issue%20Panel/20070410/Minutes%20of%20the%20Meeting%20held%20on%2010%20April%202007.doc | title = Central Basingstoke Vision, Single Issue Panel Meeting No 5| format = | work = | publisher = Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council| accessdate = 2007-05-08}}</ref>
Further work to improve the image of the town continues with the latest Central Basingstoke Vision project coordinated by the Borough Council.<ref name="centralvision">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6593147/drugs_jail_and_rr | title = The Libertines – Drugs, Jail and R&R| format = | work = | publisher = Rolling Stone.com| accessdate = 2007-05-14}}</ref>
In the mid 1990's, numerous reports described sightings of the Beast of Basingstoke, a [[british big cats|big cat]] believed to be a lion or a puma, possibly two. Local legend suggests the animal was shot and killed, although no official news sources document any capture or killing of the beast.<ref>http://www.basingstoke.me.uk/</ref>
==Demographics==
{|class="toc" align=left border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-right: 10pt"
!Year!!Population<ref name="visionofbritian">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10135758&c_id=10001043&add=N | title = A Vision of Britain Through Time | format = | work = | publisher = Great Britain Historical GIS Project | accessdate = 2007-06-05}}</ref>
|-
||1801||align=right|2,589
|-
||1841||align=right|4,066
|-
||1871||align=right|5,574
|-
||1891||align=right|7,960
|-
||1911||align=right|11,259
|-
||1921||align=right|12,415
|-
||1931||align=right|13,865
|-
||1951||align=right|16,978
|-
||1961||align=right|25,980
|-
||1971||align=right|52,608
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-style:italic; font-size:90%; border:3px;"
!colspan="4"|'''Basingstoke & Deane Compared'''
|-
|'''[[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK census]]'''||'''Basingstoke and Deane'''||'''[[South East England]]'''||'''England'''
|-
|Total population||152,573||8,000,645||49,138,831
|-
|Population density||2.41||4.20||3.77
|-
|White||96.6%||95.1%||90.9%
|-
|Asian||1.2%||2.3%||4.6%
|-
|Mixed race||1.0%||1.1%||1.3%
|-
|Christian||74.0%||72.8%||71.7%
|-
|No religion||17.0%||16.5%||14.6%
|-
|Good health||74.3%||71.5%||68.8%
|-
|Employed full time||51.0%||43.2%||40.8%
|-
|Owner Occupier with mortgage or loan||48.7%||41.9%||38.9%
|-
|Travelling less than 10km to work||64.2%||63.0%||67.5%
|}
The borough of Basingstoke was merged with other local districts in 1974 to form the borough of [[Basingstoke and Deane]]. Since then most census data has been for the larger area: before 1974, census information was published for the town as a separate entity.
Figures published for the most recent [[United Kingdom Census 2001|UK census in 2001]] for the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane, give a population of 152,573 and a population density of 2.41 persons per [[hectare]].<ref name="nationalstatistics">{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276977&c=basingstoke+and+deane&d=13&e=16&g=449607&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 | accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref> The number of women at 50.48% slightly exceeded that of men.<ref name="nationalstatistics1">{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276977&c=basingstoke+and+deane&d=13&e=16&g=449607&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=77| accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref>
96.56% of the population were white, 1.22% Asian or Asian British, 1.02% mixed race, 0.58% Black or Black British and 0.61% Chinese or other ethnic group. With regard to religion, 74.02% of the population were [[Christian]], 16.98% had no religion and 7.22% did not respond. Other religions in total accounting for less than 2%. Amongst other findings were that 74.33% felt they were in good health, 50.98% were economically active full time employees (over 10% higher than the National Average) and 48.73% were buying their property with a mortgage or loan (almost 10% higher than the national average).<ref name="nationalstatistics">{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276977&c=basingstoke+and+deane&d=13&e=16&g=449607&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 | accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref>
Amongst the working population, 64.2% travelled less than 10km to work.<ref name="nationalstatistics2">{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276977&c=basingstoke+and+deane&d=13&e=16&g=449607&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=121| accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref> The biggest percentage of employees, 17.67% worked in real estate, renting and business activities.<ref name="nationalstatistics3">{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276977&c=basingstoke+and+deane&d=13&e=16&g=449607&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=119| accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}</ref>
==Facilities==
[[Image:The Malls Basingstoke.JPG|thumb|left|View of The Malls from Basingstoke Train Station]]
''[[Festival Place]]'', a new shopping centre, opened in autumn 2002, adding a huge boost to the town centre,<ref name="proud">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2004/9/10/22938.html| title = The Place to be proud of!| format = | work = | publisher = Thisishampshire.net
| accessdate = 2007-05-09 }}</ref> transforming the former The Walks Shopping Centre and the New Market Square. Aside from a wide range of shops, there is also a range of cafés and restaurants as well as a large multiple-screen [[Vue (cinema)|Vue]] cinema (formerly [[Ster Century]] until their takeover in 2005).<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Completed acquisition by Vue Entertainment Holdings | publisher = Office of Fair Trading | url = http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/Mergers_home/decisions/2005/vue| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
Central Basingstoke has two further shopping areas: [[The Malls, Basingstoke|The Malls]] and the Top of Town. The Malls area has declined since the opening of Festival Place and the closure of its [[Allders]] department store, though it is still home to several major retailers. The leasehold was purchased in 2004 by the St Modwen development group in partnership with the Kuwait property investment company Salhia Real Estate, with provision for redevelopment<ref name="mallssold">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3044488| title = St Modwen buys Basingstoke’s Malls with Key Kuwaiti partner| format = | work = | publisher = Property Week.com
| accessdate = 2007-05-09 }}</ref> and a 55,000 square metre [[Primark]] store opened on the previous Allders site, in the Malls shopping centre, in March 2008. The store, which employs 204 people, is in the top 25 largest Primark stores in the country.<ref name="primark news">{{cite web | last =Martin | first =Kate | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2008 | url = http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2128524.mostcommented.primark_opens_in_basingstoke.php| title = Primark Opens In Basingstoke| format = | work = | publisher = www.basingstokegazette.co.uk
| accessdate = 2007-11-28 }}</ref> [[Image:uk-basingstoke.jpg|thumb|right|View from Basingstoke railway station forecourt; the chrome yellow buildings of Crown Heights stand on the site of older office buildings that have been demolished to build apartments. The former [[IBM]] offices in the background are now being converted into flats.]]
The Top of Town is the historic heart of Basingstoke, housing the town's ''Willis Museum''<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Willis Museum | publisher = Hampshire County Council | url = http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hampshire-museums/willis-museum| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref> in the former [[City and town halls|Town Hall]] building and the ''Haymarket Theatre'' in the former [[Corn exchange]]. There are also several locally run shops, as well as the [[Post Office Limited|post office]], and the [[Marketplace#Marketplaces and street markets|market place]].
The town's [[nightlife]] is split between the new Festival Square, and the traditional hostelries at the Top of Town, with a few local community [[pub]]s outside the central area. The town has four nightclubs, two in the town itself, one on the east side and one <span style="white-space:nowrap">2 miles (3 km)</span> out to the west.
In Portchester Square is the Basingstoke Sports Centre<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Sports Centre | publisher = Basingstoke & District Sports Trust Limited| url = http://www.sportscentre.org.uk/home.html| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref> which has a subterranean swimming pool, [[sauna]], [[jacuzzi]] and steam room. Above ground there is a gym, aerobics studios, squash courts and main hall. There is also a playden for young children. Basingstoke town centre is also home to a modern concert hall, ''[[The Anvil, Basingstoke|The Anvil]]''.<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = The Anvil | publisher = Anvil Arts| url = http://www.theanvil.org.uk/| accessdate = 2007-08-26 }}</ref>
===Sports and Leisure===
Outside the town centre, there is a leisure park featuring the ''Aquadrome'' swimming pool, which opened in May 2002.<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Aquadrome opens its shores to swimmers| publisher = This is Hampshire.net| url = http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2002/5/29/64320.html| accessdate = 2007-12-18 }}</ref> The park also includes an ice rink, Bowling Alley, [[Bingo (UK)|Bingo]] club and a ten screen [[Multiplex (movie theater)|cinema]], as well as a restaurant and fast food outlets. The leisure park is home to the [[Milestones Museum]] which contains a network of streets and buildings based on the history of [[Hampshire]].
Basingstoke has its own [[Football (soccer)|football]] team, [[Basingstoke Town F.C.|Basingstoke Town Football Club]] who ([[as of August 2007]]) play in the [[Conference South|Blue Square Conference South]]. The [[Basingstoke R.F.C.|Basingstoke Rugby Football Club]] play in Rugby Football Union's Powergen South West League 1, and the [[Basingstoke Bison]] [[ice hockey]] team play in the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. Basingstoke also has a swimming team, known as the [http://swimbluefins.org/ Basingstoke Bluefins]. The diversity of sporting activity in the area is illustrated by organisations such as Basingstoke Demons Floorball Club and Basingstoke Bulls Korfball Club. The home ground of [[Basingstoke & North Hants Cricket Club]], Mays Bounty was until 2000 used once a season by Hampshire County Cricket Club. Players such as [[Shane Warne]] and [[Sachin Tendulkar]] as well as Ashes winners [[Michael Vaughan]], [[Steve Harmison]] and [[Matthew Hoggard]] have graced the ground<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Hampshire v Yorkshire, CGU National League, May’s Bounty, Basingstoke 13 June 1999 | publisher = cricket-online.org| url = http://www.cricket-online.org/scorecard_la.php?la=11974| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Hampshire v Yorkshire, County Championship, May’s Bounty, Basingstoke 2-4 June 1992 | publisher = cricket-online.org| url = http://www.cricket-online.org/scorecard_fc.php?fc=39698| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Hampshire v Durham, County Championship, May’s Bounty, Basingstoke 14-16 June 2000 | publisher = cricinfo.com | url = http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2000/ENG_LOCAL/CC1/SCORECARDS/14-18JUN2000/HANTS_DURHAM_CC1_14-17JUN2000.html| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref> It was also where celebrated commentator and playwright [[John Arlott]] watched his first match.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Arlott
| first =John
| coauthors =
| title = Basingstoke Boy
| publisher = Willow Books, Harper Collins
| date = 1990
| pages = pp.26}}</ref> But in August 2008 County Cricket will return to May’s Bounty.[http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/sporthome/display.var.1972615.0.august_fixture_for_county_at_bounty.php].
[[Image:072043 5a7ffcf1.jpg|thumb|right|Eastrop Park, with [[Fanum House]] in the background]]
===Education===
Basingstoke has two large [[further education]] colleges: a [[sixth form college]], [[Queen Mary's College]] (QMC); and [[Basingstoke College of Technology]] (BCOT). There are also many large [[secondary school]]s in the area. Whilst not having its own university-level institution, a small campus of the [[University of Winchester]] is located in the town. Basingstoke is within <span style="white-space:nowrap">30 miles (48 km)</span> of six [[university|universities]], namely [[Thames Valley University]] (TVU), the [[University of Winchester]], the [[University of Reading]], the [[University of Southampton]], [[Southampton Solent University]] and [[Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College]] in [[Farnham]].
===Media===
Basingstoke has its own radio station: [[107.6 Kestrel FM|Kestrel FM]]. [[2-Ten FM]], broadcast from [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] also provides local radio coverage. The town also has good coverage from [[digital radio]]; the [[BBC]], Independent National and Now Reading [[multiplexing|multiplexes]] can be received in the town,<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = DAB Digital Radio Coverage Maps | publisher = MDS975.co.uk| url = http://www.arar93.dsl.pipex.com/mds975/txmaps/DABmaps01.html| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref>
and the outskirts can receive London and South Hampshire stations as well.<ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Digital Radio Now, Station Finder | publisher = digitalradionow.com| url = http://www.digitalradionow.com/statf.php?pcode=rg21+7qd#results| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = | title = Radio stations in the South Midlands and Thames Valley | publisher = radio-now.co.uk| url = http://www.radio-now.co.uk/smids.htm| accessdate = 2007-08-27 }}</ref>
There are three local newspapers: the [[Basingstoke Gazette]], [[Basingstoke Observer]] and the Basingstoke Independent. The town is also covered by the [[Hampshire Chronicle]].
==Transport==
[[Image:Basingstoke station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Basingstoke railway station]], as seen from Alençon Link]]
Basingstoke is at Junction 6 of the [[M3 Motorway]], which skirts the town's southern edge, linking the town to London and to Southampton and the south-west. The central area of the town is encircled by a [[ring road]] constructed in the 1960s named The Ringway and bisected from east to west by the A3010, Churchill Way. Major roads radiate from the Ringway like spokes from a hub. The [[A33 road|A33]] runs northeast to Reading and the [[M4 Motorway]]. The [[A30 road|A30]] runs east to Hook and southwest to Winchester. The A339 runs southeast to Alton and northwest to Newbury. Basingstoke has a reputation for having a large density of roundabouts. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}
The [[South Western Main Line]] [[Rail transport in Great Britain|railway]] runs east and west through the centre of the town and [[Basingstoke railway station]] linking it to the [[South West England|South West of England]], [[Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] (the fastest train Basingstoke to London takes 45 minutes), Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth, and via the [[Eastleigh to Fareham Line]] and [[West Coastway Line]] to Portsmouth and Brighton. The [[West of England Main Line]] to Salisbury and Exeter diverges at [[Worting Junction]], to the west. The Basingstoke Branch<ref name="basbranchmap">{{cite web | last = Crawford| first = Ewan| authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2002 | url = http://www.railscot.co.uk/Basingstoke_Branch/frame.htm | title = Basingstoke Branch| format = | work = | publisher = Ewan Crawford| accessdate = 2007-08-26}}</ref> runs north-east to [[Reading railway station|Reading]], providing services to Oxford, Birmingham, the north of England and Scotland. The town was also the terminus of the defunct [[Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway]].
Most [[bus]] services in the town operate from Basingstoke Bus Station. The majority are provided by the [[Stagecoach Group]] through their [[Stagecoach in Hampshire]] sub-division. Countrywide Travel<ref name="Countrywide">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2005 | url = http://www.countywidetravel.co.uk/| title = Countrywide Travel Bus Company| format = | work = | publisher = Countrywide Travel| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref>
and [[Reading Transport Ltd|Newbury Buses]] also operate over individual routes and [[cango]] operate a service linking villages between Basingstoke and Alton.
A [[Park and Ride]] service provided by Courtney Coaches<ref name="Courtney">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.courtneycoaches.com/main.htm| title = Courtney Coaches Limited| format = | work = | publisher = Courtney Coaches Limited | accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> links Basingstoke leisure park with Basing View, via Basingstoke Railway Station. This service uses distinctive purple [[Optare Solo]] buses, and provides a daytime service at roughly 10-minute intervals throughout the week. Currently (2007), a complimentary peak time service is also provided by MEPC Coaches<ref name="MEPC">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.mepc.co.uk/chinehampark/Travel/Bybus.aspx | title = MEPC Chineham Park| format = | work = | publisher = MEPC| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> between Chineham Business Park and the railway station. [[National Express]] offers direct coach services to London and Southampton from the bus station.
Separate provision for cyclists from other road traffic was not part of the remit of the 1960s town redevelopment, and until recently provision for cyclists was very poor.<ref name="transportprov">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1996 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/scrmxn/c19733.html | title = Public attitudes on Transport Issues| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> A Basingstoke Area Cycling Strategy was developed in 1999<ref name="cyclestrat">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2000 | url = http://www.hants.gov.uk/scrmxn/c29946.html| title = Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport| format = | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> and subsequently an extensive cycle network has been developed<ref name="cyclemap">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/25DA32B0-8691-4D42-BCBF-C70B7AE51637/0/cycle_map.pdf | title = Basingstoke Cycle Network Map| format = pdf | work = | publisher = Hampshire County Council| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> mainly utilising on-road routes or off-road routes that run parallel with and directly alongside roads. Basingstoke was linked to Reading on the [[National Cycle Network]] route 23 in May 2003 and the route was extened south to Alton and Alresford in April 2006. A Basingstoke Bicycle Users Group meets quarterly to discuss local cycling issues.<ref name="BBUG">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/services/transport/cycling/BBUG.htm| title = Basingstoke Bicycle Users Group| format = | work = | publisher = Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref>
The closest [[international airport]] to Basingstoke is [[Southampton Airport|Southampton]], about <span style="white-space:nowrap">25 miles (40 km)</span> away. [[Blackbushe Airport|Blackbushe]] (<span style="white-space:nowrap">9 miles (14 km)</span>) and [[Farnborough]] (<span style="white-space:nowrap">11 miles (18 km)</span>) have [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority|Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)]] Ordinary Licences, allowing for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. Other [[General Aviation|General Aviation (GA)]] airfields in the area are at Popham,<ref name="pophamairfield">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.popham-airfield.co.uk/Index.htm
| title = Popham Airfield home page| format = | work = | publisher = Chris Thompson, Popham Airfield| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> (<span style="white-space:nowrap">7 miles (11 km)</span>) and [[Lasham airfield|Lasham]] (<span style="white-space:nowrap">5 miles (8 km)</span>). Prior Permission Required (PPR) sites are near [[Brimpton]]<ref name="brimpton">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.brimpton-airfield.co.uk/| title = Brimpton Airfield| format = | work = | publisher = Brimpton Flying Club| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> and Hook. Lasham is particularly well known for its gliding school.
Though there are no navigable waterways within the immediate area, plans to reconnect the town with the surviving section of the [[Basingstoke Canal]] have been mooted several times in the past and this remains a long term aim of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society.<ref name="lastfive miles">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/last5m.htm| title = Basingstoke Canal – The last 5 miles| format = | work = | publisher = Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> The Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath follows the canal route for <span style="white-space:nowrap">2 miles (3 km)</span> from [[Festival Place]] to [[Basing House]].
== Nearest Places ==
{{geocompass
|hub = Basingstoke
|type= ex
|NN = [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
|NE = '''[[London]]''', [[Wokingham]], [[Yateley]]
|EE = [[Fleet, Hampshire|Fleet]], [[Farnborough]], [[Aldershot]], [[Guildford]]
|SE = [[Farnham]], [[Alton, Hampshire|Alton]]
|SS = '''[[Portsmouth]]''', [[New Alresford]],'''[[Fareham]]'''
|SW = '''[[Southampton]]''', [[Winchester]]
|WW = [[Andover]]
|NW = [[Newbury]]
}}
== Cultural references==
In the 1887 [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] [[comic opera]] ''[[Ruddigore]]'', the word "Basingstoke" is used as a code word by Sir Despard Murgatroyd to soothe his new wife, Mad Margaret, when she seems in danger of relapsing into madness. Margaret suggests this course of action herself:<blockquote>Well, then, when I am lying awake at night, and the pale moonlight streams through the latticed casement, strange fancies crowd upon my poor mad brain, and I sometimes think that if we could hit upon some word for you to use whenever I am about to relapse—some word that teems with hidden meaning—like "Basingstoke"—it might recall me to my saner self.
</blockquote>
First published in 1895, [[Thomas Hardy]] referred to Basingstoke as "Stoke Barehills" in ''[[Jude the Obscure]]'' – Part Fifth, Chapter 5<br>
:"There is in Upper [[Wessex]] an old town of nine or ten thousand souls; the town may be called Stoke-Barehills. It stands with its gaunt, unattractive, ancient church, and its new red brick suburb".
:"The most familiar object in Stoke-Barehills nowadays is its cemetery, standing among some picturesque mediaeval ruins beside the railway; the modern chapels, modern tombs, and modern shrubs having a look of intrusiveness amid the crumbling and ivy-covered decay of the ancient walls."
[[Carl Barât]], co-founder of [[The Libertines]] rock band, was born in Basingstoke and responded to a request for a description of the town with the succinct question "Have you seen [[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]?".<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite web | last = Binelli| first = Mark| authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6593147/drugs_jail_and_rr | title = The Libertines – Drugs, Jail and R&R| format = | work = | publisher = Rolling Stone.com| accessdate = 2007-05-14}}</ref>
In ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (book)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' by [[Douglas Adams]], just after Ford Prefect has explained to Arthur Dent that they hitched a lift on a spaceship Arthur replies: "Are you trying to tell me that we just stuck out our thumbs and some green bug-eyed monster stuck his head out and said, Hi fellas, hop right in. I can take you as far as the Basingstoke roundabout?".<ref>{{cite book
| last = Adams
| first = Douglas
| title = The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
| publisher = [[Pan Books]]
| date = 1979
| pages = pp. 43
| isbn = 0330258648}}</ref>
==Filmography==
The 1998 film ''[[Get Real]]'' was filmed at various locations around the town.<ref name="getreal">{{cite web | last = Shaw| first = Pete| authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.bensilverstone.net/bslocations.asp| title = Get Real, Basingstoke filming locations| format = | work = | publisher = bensilverstone.net| accessdate = 2007-08-26}}</ref>
The British sitcom ''[[Blessed (TV series)|Blessed]]'' referred to Basingstoke in an episode that aired during the last quarter of 2005. When the main character met an upper-class couple who had named their children "[[India]]" and "[[Ireland]]" to reflect their supposed mystical natures, he ironically replied that he had named his own children "Basingstoke" and "[[Milton Keynes]]".
Basingstoke’s [[North Hampshire Hospital]] was one of two hospitals used for the filming of [[Channel 4]]'s hit comedy ''[[Green Wing]]''.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Raphael
| first = Amy
| title = Green Wing's midwife and surgeon
| publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]]
| date = [[March 29]] [[2006]]
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/03/29/btvpile29.xml&sSheet=/arts/2006/03/29/ixartleft.html
| accessdate = 2006-12-26 }}</ref>
==Twinned towns==
Basingstoke is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with<ref name="twinning">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/_twinning | title = Basingstoke & Deane Twinning| format = | work = | publisher = Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Alençon]], [[France]], since 1968
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Braine-l'Alleud]], [[Belgium]], since 1979
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Euskirchen]], [[Germany]], since 1986
==See also==
*[[:Category:Basingstoke]]: listing of Basingstoke-themed articles
*[[List of famous residents of Basingstoke]]
*[[Basingstoke Canal]]
==Notes==
<div class="references-small">
'''a.''' {{Note_label|A|a|none}} The [[List of generic forms in British place names]] shows a toponomic interpretation of the various [[Old English language|Old English]] elements within the names Basing and Basingstoke. ‘’Bas’’ is taken as a personal name, ‘’ingas’’ as 'people of' and ‘’stoc’’ as 'dependent farmstead' or 'secondary settlement'.
'''b.''' {{Note_label|B|c|none}} In summarising to Magistrates at the trial of those members of the public said to have rioted against the Salvationists, defence counsel stated that ‘’Until this body known as the Salvation Army was formed here, the number of summonses which had come before the Magistrates was comparatively unknown. They now had a large number of assault cases to hear.’’ ‘’The army perfectly well knew that their conduct was leading to disturbances in the town’’. The case against the defendants was dismissed.<ref>{{cite book | first = | last = | title = The Salvation Army at Basingstoke. Report of the proceedings before the Magistrates on May 3rd and 9th, 1881| publisher = | location = Basingstoke | year = 1881 | id = }}</ref>
</div>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/ Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council]
* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/localpages/north_east/basingstoke/ Local info on Basingstoke from Hampshire County Council]
* [http://www.thisishampshire.net/hampshire/basingstoke/ Local news (from the ''Basingstoke Gazette'')]
* [http://www.basingstokebusinessnews.co.uk Local Business News for Basingstoke and Deane'')]
* [http://www.zetrox.com/ringb/index.html Basingstoke Roundabout]
* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/willis/ The Willis Museum] The museum of Basingstoke History
* [http://www.100megsfree.com/fraught/main.html The Cannon Cinema Basingstoke] The History of the Cannon Cinema, Basingstoke
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