Fair Oak
| Fair Oak | |
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 Fair Oak War Memorial showing the present 'fair oak' behind . |
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 Fair Oak
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| Fair Oak shown within Hampshire | |
| Population | 9,900 (parish) 10,212 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU494188 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Eastleigh |
| Postcode district | SO50 |
| Dialling code | 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council |
Fair Oak, Hampshire is a large village on the outskirts of Eastleigh, and near Southampton and Winchester. Its parish incorporates the neighbouring village of Horton Heath (being called Fair Oak and Horton Heath), which lies to the south.
Fair Oak takes its name from a tree in the Square which was felled and replaced on 30 February 1843. A fair took place under the tree in June every year until 1918, and local historians believe this provided the tree, and subsequently the village around it, with its name.
Documentary evidence exists of a settlement in the area called Cnolgette in 901 AD.
The village has a history of sand quarrying, with some of the newer parts built over old restored quarries. In November 1830 during the Swing Riots a group of labourers destroyed the Threshing machines in and around the village.
The central church of St Thomas was originally built in 1863 to serve as a chapel of ease for Fair Oak cemetery. At this time the village was part of the parish of Bishopstoke with its church of St Mary.
Fair Oak was established as a civil parish in its own right in 1894, covering an area of 1,680 acres (680 ha) which previously formed the eastern end of the Bishopstoke parish. In 1908, Fair Oak was described thus:
The village of Fair Oak consists of widely scattered houses and farms reaching from Crowdhill on the north to Horton Heath on the south. From Crowdhill, part of which is in Fair Oak, a fine view can be gained of the surrounding country, the Itchen valley stretching away to the south-west towards the Solent, and the chalk downs which lie round Winchester sweeping away to the north.
At this point Crowdhill consisted of a Wesleyan chapel and approximately three houses, with Stocks Farm lying between Crowdhill and the centre of Fair Oak itself, where St Thomas' Church had a number of houses grouped around it. An inn, smithy, and church schools were nearby, and some cottages adjoined the road to Knowle Hill. Horton Heath was included in the civil parish and at that time, consisting of a post office, the Rising Sun Inn, Hammersley Farm and a Union Chapel, was considered "a detached portion of Fair Oak village".
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Wikipedia