Hedge End

Hedge End has seen a significant amount of development in recent years, although the area itself dates back to the Roman period. Land at Botley Common was donated to the men of Botley as pasture land in 1250 and this is where Hedge End was firstly established. Before 1588 with the introduction of the ‘Erections of Cottages Act’, a man could build his own house on common land as long as he could raise a roof over his head and a fire in a hearth between sunset and sunrise and claim the dwelling as his home. How planning regulations have changed!

Travellers would often pass through what was to become Hedge End on their journeys between Bitterne, then a main harbour and Portchester castle on to Portsmouth harbour. There are still visible remnants of these straight Roman roads when you travel between Botley and Wickham past the Meon Valley golf club.

Forward to the present day and Hedge End has several superstores including Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer, as well as the impressive Ageas Bowl the home of Hampshire Cricket Club and frequent International Cricket and Music venue. The area also has a large David Lloyd Health Club and various Leisure Centres. Schools in Hedge End are very popular too and many people move to Hedge End primarily for this reason. From Hedge End there are good travel links with easy access on to the M27 from two junctions, a railway station and ten minutes from Southampton Airport.