Southwick, Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southwick |
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 The Golden Lion Inn |
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 Southwick
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| Population | 315 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PORTSMOUTH |
| Postcode district | PO17 |
| Dialling code | 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Southwick /ˈsʌðɪk/ is a small village in Hampshire, England. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the city of Portsmouth. Many homes and farms in Southwick have a style that reminds people of the Middle Ages. This gives the village a very old and charming feel.
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A Look at Southwick's Past
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Southwick started as the home of Southwick Priory in the 1100s. A priory was a type of monastery where monks lived. Later, during the English Reformation, the king closed down many monasteries. This event was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After this, the land, including the village, was given to a person named John White.
Southwick House and World War II
A new large house, Southwick House, was finished in 1813. Sadly, a fire badly damaged this house in 1838. It was then fixed up and rebuilt by 1841.
During World War II, the government took over Southwick House and some of the land. It became a very important place. It was the headquarters for Dwight Eisenhower, who was a top general. From here, he planned Operation Overlord, which was the huge D-Day invasion of Normandy. This was when Allied forces crossed the English Channel to fight in France.
Since the war, the house has been used by different parts of the armed forces. It is still used by them today.
Unique Village Ownership
Southwick is special because almost the entire village is still owned by the Southwick Estate. This means that most of the houses are rented from the estate. You can easily spot this unique ownership! All the houses, except for the main manor houses, have front doors painted dark red. This is a rule in their rental agreements.
The only houses that don't have red doors are the White House, where the local vicar lives, and Church Lodge. Church Lodge is the only house in the old village that is privately owned.
The village church, called St James, is a very old building. It is known as "St James without (meaning outside) the priory gate." It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important historically.
Modern Southwick Life
The Defence School of Policing and Guarding is located nearby at Southwick Park. This is where military police are trained.
In 2011, the bus services to the village stopped. The only shop in the village is called Southwick Village Stores. It is located across from the church.
The Golden Lion public house (a pub) was a popular spot during World War II. It was an unofficial meeting place for officers. Famous leaders like Eisenhower, General Bradley, and even Jan Smuts visited the pub. Montgomery, Prince Philip, and Earl Mountbatten also spent time there.
Village Changes Over Time
In 1931, the area that was the Southwick civil parish had 486 people living there. On April 1, 1932, the parish was combined with another area to form "Southwick and Widley." Some parts of it also became part of Havant.
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See also
In Spanish: Southwick (Hampshire) para niños
