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Bishop's Waltham | |
---|---|
Market town | |
Bishop's Waltham High Street | |
Location within Hampshire | |
Population | 6,723 (2011 Census)[1] |
OS grid reference | SU554174 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Southampton |
Postcode district | SO32 |
Dialling code | 01489 |
Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
Ambulance | South Central |
UK Parliament | |
Bishop's Waltham (or Bishops Waltham) is a medieval market town situated at the source of the River Hamble in Hampshire, England.[2] It has a foot in the South Downs National Park and is located at the midpoint of a long-established route between Winchester and Portsmouth. It is home to the ruins of Bishop's Waltham Palace, a Scheduled Ancient Monument under English Heritage management, and a well-preserved high street with many listed buildings which now house independent shops.
Bishop's Waltham's long history includes a roll call of Medieval and Tudor kings and queens who visited the town to stay at the palace. The name of the town is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words: "wald" (forest) and "ham" (settlement).[3]
Modern day Bishop's Waltham has a population of over 6,723[4] and is the largest settlement in the Winchester district outside the city itself. It is home to an infant and junior school.