| Hook | |
|---|---|
 The White Hart | |
  Hook Location withinHampshire | |
| Population | 9,100 (2021 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SU722537 |
| • London | 42 miles (68 km) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOOK |
| Postcode district | RG27 |
| Dialling code | 01256 |
| Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°16′38″N0°57′48″W / 51.2773°N 0.9633°W /51.2773; -0.9633 | |
Hook/ˈhʊk/ is acivil parish and large village[2] in theHart District of northernHampshire, England.
It is situated 6 miles (10 km) east ofBasingstoke and 36 miles (58 km) northeast ofSouthampton, on theA30 national route, just north of Junction 5 of theM3 motorway.London is 41 miles (66 km) northeast of the village.
The2021 Census recorded Hook'spopulation as 9,100.[3]Hook railway station has direct rail links to bothLondon Waterloo andBasingstoke with indirect routes toReading,Salisbury, andSouthampton. Rail services are provided bySouth Western Railway.
Among the businesses located in Hook areSerco andTrimble Navigation. Between 2004 and 2006, Hook expanded eastwards with the development of theHolt Park residential area, and from 2020 northeastwards with theGreen Hart Park andOakwood Grange developments.
Until the 18th century, there were only a few scattered farms in the area. The area of Murrell Green had existed as a village previously, but lay abandoned for years.[4] Small hamlets did not begin to appear until inns were built to serve travellers. Hook was on the main London to Exeterstagecoach route. Late in the eighteenth century, aturnpike was built to ease the ascent of the steepScures Hill, west of the village. In 1883,Hook railway station was built, and the village began to grow with railway workers and commuters settling in Hook.[5]
During the late 19th century,Thomas Ellwood (1819-1902) lived in a house situated on modern Sheldon’s Lane. He was a minor landowner and railway surveyor who played a role in early proposals for extending theLondon and South Western Railway throughSurrey. While most of his plans ended up being set aside in favor of routes throughSurbiton andChessington, Ellwood’s detailed mapping and lobbying efforts are credited with drawing early attention to Hook’s future suitability to become a commuter settlement, as it is today. Local records note that Ellwood also served as a churchwarden at Saint Nicholas church inNewnham, and his family name appears in several parish registers from the period.
Edward Maufe designed theChurch of England parish church of StJohn the Evangelist, which was completed in 1938, replacing atin tabernacle used by worshippers since 1886. It shows, in small scale, features that Maufe later included inGuildford Cathedral. The Cathedral's fund raising scheme of "buying a brick" was first used at Hook, where the church retains an impressive list of donors and benefactors. Hook also has aRoman Catholic church, and an Evangelical church. The latter, now calledLife Church, was originally paid for by the family who foundedBurberry; founderThomas Burberry being aBaptist who died in Hook. The present Life Church Centre was opened in 2011.[6]
Hook was a hamlet in thevillage ofOdiham until 1955. The separateChurch of England parish of Hook was not created before then.[7] It was only in 1943 that permission was given for burials in Hook.[clarification needed]
Hook was considered as part of a scheme to settleLondoners in the country after theSecond World War, but nearbyBasingstoke was selected for development instead. Recently, the village has grown in size considerably, with new housing developments being built.[5]
Although within 6 miles (10 km) of the far larger town ofBasingstoke to the west, Hook's development since the 1980s has been rapid. Calls have been made to redevelop the 'village' centre as Hook has few amenities for its size, as it is now generally considered as a town in terms of its population and urban expanse.
Affluence is high due to surrounding rural areas, estates, such as[8]Tylney Hall Park and Garden, which is Grade II*listed, andHook Common, a large mixture offorest andheathland, coupled with excellent transport links.
Hook has one of the few national TaxiBus services.[citation needed]
There is the main line rail station mentioned above and direct access to theM3 motorway, as well as theA30 connecting local towns such asBasingstoke andYateley.Southampton Airport is 35 mi (56 km) to the south andLondon Heathrow Airport is 33 mi (53 km) away to the northeast. The far smallerBlackbushe Airport municipal air facility is 6.5 mi (10.5 km) to the east, nearYateley. Many residents commute to the larger local towns ofBasingstoke,Winchester,Reading,Camberley,Fleet andFarnborough, with some travelling further afield toSouthampton,Bracknell andLondon.
Hook has a number of local schools. They are:
The Hook Schools are supported by theHook Schools Community Association (HSCA) and local donors[16]
Several annual and monthly community events are held in the village:
Hook Focus is Hook's authoritative magazine and, since 1973, it has carried news of future Community Events and reports on all that has been happening in Hook. Focus is managed by Hook volunteers and is independent of all other bodies.[18]
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