Aldershot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aldershot |
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 (clockwise from top:) Cambridge Military Hospital, equestrian statue of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Aldershot Post Office, Brickfields Country Park, Wesleyan Chambers, Smith-Dorrien House and Royal Garrison Church |
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 Coat of arms |
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 Aldershot
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| Population | 37,131 (Rushmoor Borough Council data) |
| OS grid reference | SU865505 |
| • London | 31.8 mi (51.2 km) |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALDERSHOT |
| Postcode district | GU11, GU12 |
| Dialling code | 01252 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Aldershot (/ˈɔːldərʃɒt/ awl-DƏR-shot) is a town in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It is located on heathland in the far north-east of the county, about 31 mi (50 km) south-west of London. The town has a population of 37,131 people. The larger Aldershot Urban Area, which includes other towns like Camberley and Farnborough, has a population of 243,344. This makes it the thirtieth-largest urban area in the UK.
Aldershot is famous as the Home of the British Army. This connection helped it grow quickly from a small village into a busy Victorian town.
Discovering Aldershot's Past
The name Aldershot might come from the alder trees that grew in the area. 'Alder-holt' in Old English means a small wood of alder trees. Aldershot was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a big survey of England. A map from 1607 also showed Aldershot as a market town.
Before 1850, Aldershot was a quiet place. It had a lot of open common land and not many people lived there. In the 18th century, the main road through Aldershot was known for highway robberies. Some stories even say that the famous outlaw Dick Turpin was active in the area.
The Army Arrives in Aldershot
In 1854, during the Crimean War, the Aldershot Garrison was set up. This was the first permanent training camp for the British Army. Because of this, Aldershot's population grew very fast. It went from 875 people in 1851 to over 16,000 by 1861, including about 9,000 military personnel.
A kind lady named Mrs Louisa Daniell came to the town at this time. She started a Soldier's Home and Institute to help soldiers and their families. Later, in July 1945, some Canadian troops caused trouble in the town centre.
In 1974, Aldershot and Farnborough joined together to form the Borough of Rushmoor.
After a special campaign in 2009, the British Government allowed veteran Gurkha soldiers and their families to live in the UK. Many Gurkha soldiers had been based in Aldershot. Because of this, Aldershot now has a growing Nepalese population. Between 2001 and 2011, the Nepalese population in Rushmoor grew to about 6,000 people. This makes up 6.5% of the total population.
Aldershot Military Tattoo
The Aldershot Military Tattoo was a big annual event that started in 1894. In the 1920s and 1930s, it was called the Aldershot Command Searchlight Tattoo. It showed off displays from all parts of the military. Sometimes, as many as 500,000 people came to watch. The Tattoo helped raise money for military charities. By the late 1930s, it raised about £40,000 each year.
The modern version of the Tattoo, called the Army Show, was stopped in 2010 due to budget cuts. It came back briefly in 2011 and had 20,000 visitors. In 2012, it was a smaller, free event called the Aldershot Garrison Show, held on Armed Forces Day. Since 2013, it has been a general Military Festival with events across the town.
A Sad Day in 1972
On 22 February 1972, Aldershot experienced a sad event. A car bomb attack happened at the 16th Parachute Brigade headquarters. Seven people who worked there, including catering staff, a gardener, and a chaplain, were killed. Another 19 people were hurt. A memorial garden was created in 2012 to remember the 40th anniversary of this event.
Aldershot Military Town
Aldershot Military Town is a special area between Aldershot and North Camp. It is a military town where many soldiers and their families live. It has barracks, sports fields, and other military buildings. Some famous landmarks here include the Aldershot Observatory, Aldershot Military Cemetery, and the Royal Garrison Church.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were very interested in Aldershot becoming a military town in the 1850s. They even had a wooden Royal Pavilion built where they often stayed. In 1860, Prince Albert started the Prince Consort's Library, which is still there today.
Many famous people have been connected to the Military Town. Charlie Chaplin made his first stage appearance here when he was just 5 years old in 1894. Winston Churchill also spent time here when he was in the Army in the late 1800s.
The area also has several military museums. These include the Royal Army Physical Training Corps Museum and the Aldershot Military Museum. The RAMC Memorial remembers 314 men from the Royal Army Medical Corps who died in the Second Boer War.
Plans are in place to build about 3,850 new homes in the former Military Town area. This project, called the Aldershot Urban Extension, will also include two new primary schools and more secondary school places. In 2013, the Ministry of Defence announced a £100 million plan to expand Aldershot Garrison. This will bring 750 more service personnel and their families to Aldershot.
Amazing Landmarks to See
Wellington Statue
A huge statue of the first Duke of Wellington riding his horse, Copenhagen, stands on Round Hill. It is behind the Royal Garrison Church. The statue is 30 ft (9.1 m) tall and 26 ft (7.9 m) long, weighing 40 tons! It was made by Matthew Cotes Wyatt using bronze from cannons captured at the Battle of Waterloo.
The statue was first put up in London in 1846. However, many people thought it looked too big for its spot. Queen Victoria even said it spoiled the view from Buckingham Palace. In 1885, the statue was moved to Aldershot.
Aldershot Observatory
The Aldershot Observatory is a round, red-brick building with a dome-shaped roof. Inside, there is an 8-inch telescope used for looking at the stars. The observatory and telescope were a gift to the British Army from a pioneer in aviation, Patrick Young Alexander, in 1906.
The Wesleyan Church
The old Wesleyan church on Grosvenor Road has a 100-foot tower. You can see it from many miles away! The church opened in 1877 and could seat 1,150 people. It closed in 1988. Today, the building has been turned into offices, a dental surgery, a gym, and homes.
Aldershot Buddhist Centre
The Aldershot Buddhist Centre is a Buddhist temple and community place. It serves the many Buddhists in Aldershot and the surrounding area. It is known as the UK's first Buddhist community centre. With many Nepalis moving to the area, there was a need for a place for their spiritual and community needs. The 14th Dalai Lama officially opened the centre in June 2015.
Union Building
The Union Building is one of the oldest permanent buildings in Aldershot. It was built in 1629 as a sub-manor house. Later, it was used as a workhouse and a school. In 1854, the Army bought it as part of the new Aldershot Camp. It was used as a hospital and for other purposes before being turned into flats.
Getting Around Aldershot
Aldershot railway station is on the Alton Line. You can catch trains to London Waterloo, Alton, Guildford, and Ascot.
Aldershot is also close to major roads like the M3 and the A3. The A31 goes east towards Guildford, and the A331 goes north towards Farnborough and the M3.
Bus services are provided by Stagecoach South. You can catch buses from various stops around the town centre. National Express coaches also run services between London Victoria and Portsmouth.
The nearest airport is Farnborough Airport, about 5 miles (8.0 km) away. Heathrow is 29 miles (47 km) away, and Gatwick is 43 miles (69 km) away.
Learning in Aldershot
Aldershot has many schools for different ages. Two new primary schools are being built as part of the new housing development. There will also be more secondary school places at Alderwood and Wavell schools.
There are infant schools like Talavera, Wellington Primary, and Bell Vue Infant School. Junior schools include Newport County, Talavera, Wellington Secondary, and St Joseph's Primary. Aldershot has one secondary school, Alderwood School. Other local secondary schools include Ash Manor School, Farnham Heath End School, All Hallows Catholic School, and The Wavell School. Rowhill School is a special school for secondary-aged students. There are also private schools nearby, such as Salesian College and Farnborough Hill School.
Fun and Games in Aldershot
Aldershot has great places for entertainment. The Princes Hall is a popular venue for shows and events. The West End Centre on Queens Road is also a good spot for small theatre shows, music, and comedy.
Music and Dance
The Beatles in Aldershot
Did you know the Beatles once played in Aldershot? On 9 December 1961, their agent tried to get them noticed by London agents. He set up a show at The Palais Ballroom. However, the show wasn't advertised well, and only 18 people showed up! The local newspaper didn't even print the advertisement.
The other band that was supposed to play didn't turn up either. But The Beatles and their friends still had fun after the show, playing football with bingo balls and dancing. The noise got so loud that the police had to stop the party. Later, Paul McCartney joked about the gig, saying it was "the night we couldn't get arrested, but it wasn't for the lack of trying." Soon after this, Brian Epstein became their manager.
Rock Music
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Aldershot had a cool underground rock music scene. Some well-known bands from this time include Reuben, Vex Red, Inter, and Hundred Reasons.
Hardcore Music
The Palace club (also known as The Rhythm Station, Cheeks, and Vox) was a big part of the hardcore music scene from 1992 to 1995. It held weekly events and helped local DJs and MCs become famous. Because Aldershot is between Southampton and London, the club became a very popular place for hardcore music, and it was often sold out.
Shopping
The main shopping streets in Aldershot, Union Street and Wellington Street, were made pedestrian-only in the 1970s. This was when the Wellington Centre, a covered shopping mall, was built.
The Westgate Leisure Park opened in 2012–2013. It has a Cineworld cinema, a Morrisons supermarket, and several restaurants like Nando's and Pizza Express. There is also a Tesco superstore nearby.
Parks and Green Spaces
Aldershot has many parks and open spaces for sports, play, and relaxation. These include Aldershot Park, Brickfields Country Park, the Municipal Gardens, Manor Park, and the Princes Gardens. The last three are very close to the town centre.
Because of the Army's history in the area, a lot of land has been kept for leisure and for protecting nature. On the border with Surrey, you can find Rowhill Nature Reserve, which is popular for nature lovers, dog walkers, and joggers.
Sports in Aldershot
Aldershot has many sports facilities. These include the Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy, Aldershot Tennis Centre, Aldershot Bowling, Aldershot Pools and Lido, and Alpine Snow Sports (a dry ski centre).
Athletics
Aldershot is home to one of the most successful athletics clubs in the UK and Europe: Aldershot, Farnham & District A.C. This club has helped many athletes become Olympians, including Zola Budd and Steph Twell. They are especially good at middle and long distance running. Their home is the Aldershot Military Stadium.
Swimming
Opened in 1930, Aldershot Lido is a traditional outdoor swimming pool. It holds 1.5 million gallons of water and is on a 10-acre (4.0 ha) site. The Lido became an Olympic venue in 1948. It hosted the swimming event for the Modern Pentathlon during the London Olympic Games that year. The pool has shallow areas for children, a large fountain, a diving area, and water slides. There is also an indoor pool for swimming all year round.
Football
The local professional football team is Aldershot Town. They play in the Football Conference. Before 1992, the club was called Aldershot, but it closed down. The current club was formed soon after and has been promoted five times in its first 16 seasons. They returned to the Football League in 2008.
Since 1927, the main football ground in the town has been the Recreation Ground, also known as "The Rec". It can hold 7,100 fans, with 2,000 seats.
Many successful footballers have come from the Aldershot area. These include Johnny Berry, who played for Manchester United and won three league titles. His career ended after injuries in the Munich air disaster in 1958. Other players include Craig Maskell, Bruce Rioch, and Joe Ralls. Current Burnley Goalkeeper Nick Pope also played for Aldershot on loan.
On 25 October 2011, Aldershot Town played Manchester United at the Recreation Ground in the League Cup. They lost 3–0, but it was their most successful run in the competition.
Cricket
Aldershot Cricket Club is based at Aldershot Park. They play in the Thames Valley Cricket League. Army cricket matches have also been played at the Officers Club Services Ground. This ground has even hosted first-class matches for Hampshire County Cricket Club.
Hockey
Aldershot Cricket Club shares its facilities with the successful Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club.
Rugby Union
The local rugby club is Aldershot and Fleet RUFC (A&F or the Stags). It started in 1991 as a pub team. In 2003, they moved to Aldershot Park and changed their name. They have a growing junior section and won the RFU "Seal of Approval" Club of the Year award for the southern region in 2008. They now play in the Hampshire 2 league.
Motor Racing
Aldershot Stadium in Tongham used to host Stock car racing and speedway races. The last meeting there was in 1992. The site was then used to build the A331 Blackwater Valley Road.
Now, motor sport takes place again at the Aldershot Raceway, Pegasus Village, Rushmoor Arena.
Olympics Connection
Aldershot hosted three of the five events in the modern pentathlon at the 1948 London Olympics. The swimming was held in Aldershot Lido, fencing was at Maida Gymnasium, and the cross-country horse riding was at Tweseldown. All of the Olympic equestrian events, except one, were also held in Aldershot.
In 2008, Aldershot Military Town was chosen as the official training camp for the British Olympic team before the 2012 London Olympic Games. However, in 2010, Team GB decided to train at Loughborough University instead.
Famous People from Aldershot
Many interesting people have connections to Aldershot:
- Holly Aird, an actress known for Waking The Dead.
- Amelle Berrabah, a singer and former member of the Sugababes.
- Johnny Berry, a Manchester United footballer and 'Busby Babe'.
- Grace Dent, a food critic.
- Arthur English, an actor and comedian.
- Martin Freeman, an actor famous for The Office, The Hobbit, and Sherlock.
- Ian McEwan, a well-known novelist.
- DanTDM (Daniel Robert Middleton), a popular YouTube personality and gamer.
- Ben Norris (comedian), a stand-up comedian.
- Alex Reid, a mixed martial arts fighter.
- Alfred Toye, who was born in Aldershot and received the Victoria Cross during World War I.
- James Wade, a professional darts player.
Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Rushmoor, the borough Aldershot is in, is twinned with several towns around the world:
Dayton, Ohio, United States (since 2019)
Gorkha Municipality, Nepal (since 2020)
Meudon, France (since 1974)
Oberursel, Germany (since 1989)
Rzeszów, Poland (since 2019)- Sulechów, Poland (since 2001)
Images for kids
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See Also
In Spanish: Aldershot para niños
