St Andrew's, Medstead: The Village

The Village

The village of Medstead is situated in north-east Hampshire, to the east of Winchester, west of Alton and south-east of Basingstoke. Located on a plateau on the Hampshire Downs between the valleys of the Itchen, to the west, and Meon, to the east, it is one of the highest villages in Hampshire, at over 700 feet (210 metres) above sea level. The views from the village are magnificent and far-reaching, particularly to Winchester and the south west from Common Hill and Chalky Hill.

It is a rural community, agriculture is predominantly arable, with some livestock and, as smallholdings have gradually disappeared due to changing economic circumstances, increasing equestrian activities.

Today, there is a significant equestrian presence in the village, with three riding establishments and nearly sixty private yards. It is estimated nearly 200 horses are liveried around the parish, which has 105 horses per 1000 people, compared to a UK average of 17.

The village population of around 2000 has grown steadily from 350 in 1811, 776 in 1921, and 1,200 in 1966.

The village centre is clearly defined by the area around the High Street. At one end lies the Church, the Church Hall, which was previously the village school, the Castle of Comfort public house, Medstead Hardware and Post Office and the Handy Stores.

At the other end lies the Convent Of St. Lucy and the village green with its sports pavilion and village hall.

Medstead is not a compact settlement: the 10 mile (16.3 km) parish boundary covers an area of about 4.4 miles² (7.2 km²), and the village stretches along the roads which radiate from the centre, with areas of farmland in between.

Along South Town Road lies the village cemetery, a garden centre, the United Reformed Church, a builders' merchant, physiotherapist, the Watercress Medical Group surgery, and, almost on the boundary with Four Marks, a butcher, saddler, bicycle shop, café and Medstead & Four Marks Station, on the Watercress Line heritage railway.

Along Roe Downs Road lies Medstead Church Of England Primary School and Preschool & Nursery, the tennis and bowls clubs and, at Red Hill, an equestrian supplier.

School, Pre-School & Childcare

Our church has close links with Medstead Church Of England Primary School. The school provides high quality primary education for children aged between 5 and 11 years old. On the same site is the registered and highly regarded Medstead Preschool & Nursery for children over 2 years, 9 months old.

The Roman Catholic Convent of St. Lucy also runs a nursery school for children aged 2 years, 9 months to 5 years old.

Medstead toddlers group meets once a week on Thursday mornings during term time in the Village Hall. Please contact Julie Burton on 01420 562546 for more details.

Bentworth toddlers group meets in Bentworth School Hall from 10.00am to 11.30am every Monday during term time. Parents and toddlers from all the villages in the Benefice are welcome to come and use the play equipment and to meet other parents at this social gathering. Please contact Katy Davis on 01420 561399 for more details.

A Crazy Craft Kids Club meets in Wield Village Hall from 10.00 to 12.00pm on the first Saturday of every month, for children aged up to 11 years old. Please contact Jo on 01420 561571 or Tracy on 01420 562740 for more details.

A related Crafty Monkeys drop-in group, for children aged up to 5 years old, meets every Friday, except bank holidays, in Preston Candover Village Hall from 1.00pm to 2.30pm, with a picnic area available, for those who book in advance, from noon to 1.00pm. Please contact Tracy on 01420 562740 for more details.

Churches

The Anglican Parish Church of St. Andrew's lies at the heart of the village and provides the parish with a healthy life of worship, prayer, study, community activities and events.

Besides St. Andrew's, there are two other churches in Medstead: the Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Lucy, on the High Street and the United Reformed Church on South Town Road.

You will receive a warm welcome at whichever congregation is appropriate to you.

Medstead Parish Council

Medstead Parish Council consists of nine members. It meets, every two months, on the third Tuesday at 7.45pm in the Village Hall. The Annual Parish Meeting is usually held on the third Tuesday of April, each year. All meetings are open to the public.

Following the fire which caused extensive damage to the Village Hall in December 2009, meetings have been relocated, initially to Medstead Bowls Club. Please contact the Parish Clerk for more details.

Village Events

Medstead holds a traditional annual Village Fête in July on the Village Green and in the Village Hall, with a parade, stalls, beer tent, tea and cakes and entertainment throughout the afternoon. Medstead Fête raises money for local village causes under the auspices of a Fête Committee.

May Day
In the nineteenth century celebrating May Day was a major village festival, a gala day with stalls and booths erected on the Village Green and dancing between rows of rustic poles, garlanded with flowers and leafy boughs.

Central to the celebration was the Jack in the Green, a colourful figure covered in greenery and foliage and accompanied by attendants, playing music, dancing and singing, celebrating the coming of summer.

Village Clubs, Organisations, Retailers & Services

Medstead has a number of active social and interest groups: the Toddlers, Gardeners Club, Women's Institute, Guides, Brownies and Scouts, and sports clubs such as cricket, tennis, table tennis and bowls, to name but a few.

The Medstead Parish Plan's Medstead Guide page provides a comprehensive guide to our village social groups and organisations, retailers and a directory of local services.

Village History

Read more about the history of Medstead:
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St Andrew's Parish Church, Medstead

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