HISTORY OF CHINEHAM

Recent archaeological finds during the construction of Great Binfields school revealed previous occupations dating back to 2000 BC.  An old Anglo-Saxon settlement dating back to 600-800 AD was also discovered

Records go back to the reign of Edward the Confessor when Chineham estate formed a detached part of the Parish of Monk Sherbourne.  At the time of the Doomsday Book, around 1086, Aghemund held the manor of Chineham from Hugh De Port who owned Monk Sherbourne.  Adam De Port then granted the manor of Chineham to William (with permission from the Priory and Convent of Monk Sherbourne).  William's son inherited the manor from his father.

More historical and local information can be found on the Chineham Parish Council web site.  

Recent History of Chineham

Chineham village was made up of about 70 dwellings during the 1960's and most of these were sited along the Reading Road . The middle of the village was a two-pump garage and a village shop. The church then was a little wooden one but the heart of Chineham then was a small village hall. This however fell eventually down during the late 60's with no funds available to rebuild it. The Toll House was at the end of the village.

The many changes to Chineham began in the 1970's. The A33 bypass was built, closing off the portion of Reading Road from the railway bridge (near the Crockford Road roundabout) and the housing construction began.
During the 1980's, and at the very beginning of out-of-town shopping, the Chineham Distict Shopping Centre was built and Chineham also got to have it's new village hall.

Although house building slowed for a while, the late 80's the 90's proved to be quite a time for developers. The garage and village shop are now gone. Many of the original dwellings have given way to larger ones, several 'estates' have been completed and some are still in development.

Chineham has been able to retain an enviable portion of open space, copses and greenery assisting to ensure that it is still a desirable place in which to live. The trend for high density housing, changes to brownfield classification and the overall growth in Basingstoke has however played it's part in producing the Chineham most of us are familiar with today.