Ringwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ringwood |
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 The Original White Hart Pub, Market Place, Ringwood |
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 Ringwood
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| Population | 13,943 14,181 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU1505 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RINGWOOD |
| Postcode district | BH24 |
| Dialling code | 01425 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Ringwood is a lively market town in south-west Hampshire, England. It's located right by the River Avon and is very close to the beautiful New Forest. This historic town is northeast of Bournemouth and southwest of Southampton.
Ringwood was first settled by the Anglo-Saxons a very long time ago. It has been a busy market town with a weekly market since the Middle Ages.
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History of Ringwood
Ringwood has a long and interesting history. It was first mentioned in a document from the year 961. In this document, King Edgar gave a large piece of land in a place called Rimecuda to Abingdon Abbey.
The name "Ringwood" comes from old words. Wuda means 'wood', and rimuc might mean 'border' or 'rim'. So, Ringwood could mean "border wood." This name probably refers to its location on the edge of the old Ringwood Forest or on the border of Hampshire.
Ringwood in the Domesday Book
In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, Ringwood (then called Rincvede) was owned by the King. Most of its land had become part of the New Forest. Before 1066, a powerful person named Earl Tostig owned Ringwood.
Over the centuries, Ringwood changed hands many times. It was owned by various important people, including different Earls and even several Queens of England.
Life in Medieval Ringwood
In 1108, it was noted that people living in Ringwood had special rights. They could let their farm animals graze in the New Forest. For this, they paid the King a yearly fee.
A mill in Ringwood was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Later, there were two mills. In 1226, King Henry III allowed Ringwood to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays. This market helped the town's economy grow.
In 1337, the Earl of Salisbury, who was the lord of Ringwood, was allowed to hold a yearly fair. This fair took place on Saint Andrew's Day (November 30th). Another fair was also held on Saint Peter's Day (June 29th) in the 1500s.
The Duke of Monmouth and Alice Lisle
After the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, a man named James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth was captured near Ringwood. He had been hiding in a ditch, dressed as a shepherd. He was then taken to a house in Ringwood, which is now called Monmouth House. There, he wrote a letter to King James II, asking for forgiveness. However, he was not forgiven and was later put on trial and executed.
Another important event after the Battle of Sedgemoor involved an elderly local lady named Alice Lisle. She gave shelter to two men who were trying to escape after the battle. When her home, Moyles Court, was searched, the men were found. Alice was arrested and sentenced to death. Her sentence was later changed, and she was beheaded. She is buried at St Mary's Church in Ellingham. Today, there's a pub near Moyles Court named "The Alice Lisle" in her memory.
Modern Ringwood History
The Town Hall in Ringwood was built in 1868. In the 1800s, Ringwood was famous for its "Ringwood" woollen gloves. There was also a large factory that made linen collars and cuffs.
During World War II, an air force base called RAF Ibsley was located near Ringwood, in the hamlet of Poulner. After the war, this site was used for motor-racing. Today, it's an area with quarry lakes.
Geography of Ringwood
Ringwood is located on the east bank of the River Avon in Hampshire. The wider Ringwood area includes several small villages and hamlets. These include Poulner, Hangersley, Hightown, Crow, Kingston, and Bisterne.
Economy and Business
Ringwood still has a lively weekly market in its traditional market place. For many years, there was also a cattle market, but it closed in 1989. The area where the cattle market used to be, called The Furlong, is now a modern shopping area with a supermarket, coffee shops, and fashion stores.
Ringwood is also home to the Ringwood Brewery. This brewery makes different types of cask ales, which are traditional British beers. It also owns several pubs in the local area. The brewery was taken over by Marston's Brewery, but they plan to keep the Ringwood Brewery and its brands going.
Politics and Local Government
Ringwood is part of the New Forest West area for national elections. The person who represents this area in the UK Parliament is called an MP.
Locally, Ringwood is represented by councillors on the Hampshire County Council and the New Forest District Council. These councils make decisions about services like roads, schools, and waste collection.
Ringwood Town Council
The Ringwood Town Council was formed in 1974. It helps serve the local community of about 14,000 people. The town is divided into three areas, and councillors are elected from these areas every four years. The councillors choose a Mayor every two years, who leads the council.
The Town Council provides many services for the town. These include looking after allotments (small plots of land for growing food), the local cemetery, recreation grounds, and public open spaces. They also organize events and provide youth services. The council's office is in the Ringwood Gateway building in the town centre.
Education in Ringwood
Ringwood has several schools for different age groups. The main secondary school is Ringwood School, which is a national teaching academy.
For younger students, there are state primary schools like Ringwood Junior, Poulner Junior, Ringwood CofE Infants, and Poulner Infants.
There is also a Waldorf school, called the Ringwood Waldorf School. This school offers a special type of education for students aged 3 to 18 years. Another independent school in Ringwood is Moyles Court School, which is a day and boarding school for ages 3 to 16.
Sports and Fun Activities
Ringwood offers many opportunities for sports and leisure.
- Football: Ringwood has a Non-League football club called Ringwood Town F.C., which plays at Long Lane.
- Rugby: The Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club plays at Parsonage Barn Lane. They have teams for adults and all mini and junior ages.
- Cricket: There are two Cricket clubs: Ringwood Cricket Club and Ellingham Cricket Club.
- Judo: Ringwood also has a long-standing and active Judo club.
- Sailing: The Spinnaker Club is a sailing club located on Blashford Lake. They offer racing and training programs for both adults and children. Many sailors from this club have won national and international championships.
- Slot Car Racing: Millstream Model Centre & Raceway is a large centre for slotcar racing in the UK.
Transport Links
Ringwood is well-connected by road, and has a history with rail and bus services.
Road Travel
The main road that goes through Ringwood is the A31. This road travels west towards Dorchester and east towards Southampton, passing through the New Forest. A bypass was built around the town in two parts, making it easier for traffic to flow. The A338 is another important road, heading north to Salisbury and south to Bournemouth.
Railway History
Ringwood railway station first opened in 1847. It was part of the line that connected Southampton and Dorchester. Later, a new link was created to Christchurch. The line to Christchurch closed in 1935, and the Ringwood station stopped operating completely in 1964. There have been discussions about possibly rebuilding part of the railway line in the future.
Bus and Coach Services
You can find several bus stops at Meeting House Lane, near The Furlong Car Park. National Express Coaches provide services to and from London Victoria, Heathrow Airport, and Gatwick Airport twice a day. The Morebus route X3 runs between Salisbury and Bournemouth, stopping in Ringwood twice an hour. There are also less frequent bus services to nearby Brockenhurst and Poulner.
Church of St Peter and St Paul
A church in Ringwood was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The church was rebuilt in the 1200s. However, the entire church was knocked down and rebuilt again in 1853. Inside the church, you can find a 15th-century brass monument of John Prophete, who was a Dean of Hereford and York.
Filming Location
The swimming pool, sports hall, and outside scenes for the BBC comedy TV show The Brittas Empire were filmed in Ringwood. They used the Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre, which was known as Ringwood Recreation Centre at the time.
Twin Towns
Ringwood has a special connection with another town in a different country. This is called "twinning."
Pont-Audemer, France
