Badshot Lea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Badshot Lea |
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_(1).JPG) St Georges church |
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 Badshot Lea
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| Population | 1,509 (2011 Ward) |
| OS grid reference | SU865489 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Farnham |
| Postcode district | GU9 |
| Dialling code | 01252 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Badshot Lea is a village in Surrey, England. It is located very close to the town of Aldershot. The village is easy to reach from major roads like the A31 and A331.
You can also get to nearby train stations by bus. Badshot Lea is part of a larger built-up area called the Aldershot Urban Area. This area is one of the biggest in the UK. The village has a special logo inspired by four bridges around its edges. One of these bridges crosses the River Blackwater. This river separates Badshot Lea from Aldershot to the north.
Contents
History of Badshot Lea
Long, long ago, even before humans lived here, giant Mammoths roamed the area. Sometimes, their tusks are still found by archaeologists!
People have lived in or near Badshot Lea for thousands of years. We know this from things found from different time periods:
- The Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
- The Neolithic (New Stone Age)
- The Iron Age
- The Roman period
- The medieval period (Middle Ages)
In 1967, a school teacher and amateur archaeologist named William (Billy) Rankine found something amazing. He discovered the remains of a Neolithic Long Barrow. This is a very old burial mound, also called a tumulus.
Archaeologists from the Surrey Archaeological Society dug up the site. Many of the things they found are now on display at Guildford Museum. Sadly, not much of the original mound is left today. This is because of quarrying and building the railway in the 1800s. The burial mound was near an ancient path called the Harrow Way.
In the past, Badshot Lea was surrounded by many busy farms. They were especially known for growing hops. Hops are plants used to make beer. They were so important that hops are even part of the village's logo!
Some parts of the village, especially near Aldershot, used to flood badly. Because of this, a road there was even nicknamed 'the docks'!
During World War II, special concrete shelters called pillboxes were built near Badshot Lea. These were part of the GHQ Line. They were meant to help defend London if German forces tried to invade Britain. You can still see one of these pillboxes behind the rifle range.
Getting Around Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea is located on the A31 main road. This road connects the village to places like Guildford, London, and Portsmouth. The village is also at the end of the A331 road. This road links Badshot Lea to Farnborough and Camberley.
You can catch buses from companies like Stagecoach and Fleet Buzz. These buses can take you to Farnham, Aldershot, Guildford, and other nearby villages.
The village is about the same distance from both Aldershot and Farnham train stations. If you need to fly, the closest airport for business flights is Farnborough Airport. For bigger trips, London Heathrow Airport is about 31 miles (50 km) away. Gatwick Airport and Southampton Airport are also within reach.
Things to Do and See
Schools and Community Places
Badshot Lea has a few important places for the community:
- An infant school and a nursery school for younger children.
- "The Kiln" village hall, which was built in 1886.
- St George's Church, a Church of England church, and its hall.
- A cemetery.
- A pond where you can learn about pond life.
- An animal sanctuary.
- A working men's club.
- Two pubs, The Cricketers and The Crown, which are places for adults to relax.
- A large garden centre called Squires. It used to be called 'Badshot Lea Garden Centre'. It has a big section for pets and fish, and a cafe.
Help for Young People
The Bishop Sumner Educational Foundation offers grants to young people in the village. These grants can help students who are in full-time education.
Local News and Radio
For local news, people in Badshot Lea watch BBC South Today on TV. They can also listen to national radio stations. Local radio stations include BBC Surrey (on 104.6FM) and Eagle Radio.
Sports and Green Spaces
Badshot Lea has lots of places for sports and outdoor fun:
- A pavilion for football and cricket.
- Two tennis courts.
- A cricket club and nets.
- Indoor and outdoor shooting ranges.
- A riding school and an equestrian centre.
- A dog agility club.
- Two fishing ponds.
- A model car club with an outdoor racing track.
- The Badshot Lea Football Club.
- Four geocaches, which are like hidden treasures you find using GPS.
- A children's playground.
Just outside the village, there's a big leisure centre and the Farnham RFU (rugby) club.
The village is surrounded by green areas with paths, which are great for walks. To the north, there's a pond called King's Pond. This pond helps separate Badshot Lea from Aldershot.
Village Economy
Old Quarries and Nature
In the past, areas to the east and south of Badshot Lea were used to dig up sand and gravel. One of these old quarries, which closed in 2010, has been turned into something special. It is now a nature reserve called Tice's Meadow. This reserve is about 55 hectares (136 acres) big and was opened in 2018.
Important Buildings
St George's Church
Badshot Lea has a beautiful church called St George's Church. It is built from traditional stone. The first stone for the church was laid on August 23, 1902. You can still see this stone at the west end of the church today.
The church was finished a year later and officially opened on October 24, 1903. In 1999, a new room was added to the church. This room, called the Church Room, has allowed the church to host many more activities.
Inside the church, you can find memorials to several people, including:
- Elizabeth Allen, who was important in the Mothers' Union.
- Sarah Emmerson, who was the headmistress of the Infant School.
- William Garrett, who served in the Royal Navy.
St George's Church is part of the Church of England. It works together with other churches in the area. The church also has strong links with a choir called the Carillon Singers.
Weather in Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea has a mild climate, which means it doesn't get too hot or too cold. It has moderate rainfall and can often be breezy. The nearest place that officially records the weather is Alice Holt Lodge.
Famous People from Badshot Lea
Some notable people have lived in Badshot Lea:
- Lieutenant-Commander William Armstrong D.S.M. – An airman who helped find the famous World War II German battleship Bismarck.
- Lance Corporal Alan Davis – An expert in bomb disposal.
- John Henry Knight – An inventor, engineer, and local landowner.
- William Rankine – An archaeologist and schoolmaster.
- Rt. Rev. Humphrey Southern – An Anglican Bishop.
- Rev. Harry Topham – A cricketer and Anglican clergyman.
See also
In Spanish: Badshot Lea para niños
