Widley

Widley is an area of the Greater Portsmouth conurbation in the South East of England near Waterlooville and Purbrook. It is on the dip slope of the South Downs just north of the ridge called Portsdown Hill.

Widley
Widley
Location within Hampshire
OS grid referenceSU671068
District
  • Havant
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWATERLOOVILLE
Postcode districtPO7
Dialling code023

Widley is served by the A3(T), trunk road which runs from Portsmouth to London. The main A3 to London (at this point the A3(M) motorway) is very close by, making it commutable by road. Widley is served by Cosham or Havant rail stations.

Widley has three local pubs within walking distance. The George Inn sits on the top of Portsdown Hill and is considered a fine real ale pub. Further west, approximately ten minutes by foot away from the George, lies the Churchillian. Further North on the A3 lies the Hampshire Rose which is considered a family pub serving pub food and international lagers.

History

The Norman manor of Widley was held by the De Port and St John families of Cosham, and later passed to the Earls of Albemarle. In 1293, Isabel countess of Albemarle died without heirs and the manor passed back to the St John family. Later it was in the ownership of the Clynton and Uvedale families although the latter lost the manor temporarily in 1605, when accused of recusancy. It stayed in their family until 1766, when it was sold, and then passed by sale rather than inheritance.[1]

The original village of Widley stood approx 1 mile to the west of the current centre, around the site of the present Widley Farm. The settlement moved to be sited on the then newly built Cosham to Horndean turnpike road at the time of the building of the Portsdown forts and Christ Church, which was built as a place of worship for soldiers based in the forts.

The new church of St Mary Magdalen was built in 1849. Remains of the village's former chapel can be found close to Widley Farm; members of Charles Dickens' family are buried in the graveyard.

Governance

Politically, the majority of Widley is part of Purbrook Ward of Havant Borough Council. However, a small strip to the south is part of the City of Portsmouth unitary authority and the most western parts (including Widley Farm) are in the Southwick and Widley parish of Winchester City Council.

Fresh water supply in Widley is supplied by Portsmouth Water. Waste water is serviced by Southern Water. The nearest post office is Purbrook, situated within the One Stop Shop at 10-12 London Road, Purbrook or Cosham Post Office at 13 High Street Cosham. The nearest fire stations are Cosham (full-time station) and Waterlooville (part-time station).

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References
  1. "Parishes: Widley Pages 171-172 A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1908". British History Online.
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