Fleet - Hampshire - England   
Local Information Links

Fleet, in the county of Hampshire, is a picturesque town about 40 miles southwest of London and is the administrative and commercial centre of Hart District Council. The town is 85 metres above sea level, as measured by the Basingstoke Canal (full details below) which runs through the town and is just one of the town's leisure amenities. Hart District Council is responsible for a population of 86,700 according to the 2001 census. If you have any questions relating to Fleet you could do no better than e-mailing the very helpful staff at Fleet Library who will be able to answer most of your questions. Fleet Library also offers residents and visitors alike FREE Internet access.

Fleet got its' name, around 1324 (the Accounts of the Crondall Hundred), from the stream (La Flete) that ran into the Fleet Pond (220 acres) when it was known as 'The Flete Pond' in the 'Hundred of Crondall' and the 'Tithing of Crokeham' (now Crookham). Unfortunately Fleet Pond, due to development and silting, is now only 52 acres in extent. Fleet Pond Nature Reserve was 133 acres until the Brookly Wood was added in 1997 to extend it to 141 acres. 'Flete Pond' used to be a huge fish pond which belonged to the monks of Winchester and kept them supplied with fresh fish. In 1649 in the 'Survey of the manor of Crondall' there is mention of a 'Fleet Farm'.
The residential and commerical development of Fleet stems from the arrival of the railway in 1840 which brought visitors from London to enjoy the Fleet Pond and the surrounding pine and silver birch woods. The beautiful scenery also inspired many of the vistors to settle in the area. Fleet was developed using the grid pattern layout so familiar in American towns and cities. The industrial side of Fleet is located mainly in its 4 business parks where the majority of the companies are in IT and high tech. Both residents and industry are well served by a good shopping centre - which currently has FREE parking on the high street. It has 3 supermarkets, a 'shopping mall' and a seemingly endless supply of banks, building societies and estate agents.

Our local Conservative MP, pictured right, is the Rt. Hon. James Arbuthnott.

The above photo of Fleet Oatsheaf Cross Roads is courtesy of Location Map Services.

Details of the NEW unique full colour map of Fleet and Church Crookham.

Development of Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Church Crookham - Plans and Protests

Area Maps

Hart District Council

Hampshire County Council

Health

Businesses and Services

Basingstoke Canal

Local Events, Clubs and Organisations

Schools

  • Tavistock Pre-school Tavistock Pre-school can offer children and parents the very best pre-school care. The school caters for children from age 2 years and 9 months up to the time they are ready to start school.

Transport

Local Military

  • The 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles -- Fleet and Church Crookham says 'Good-bye to the Gurkhas - The 5th August 2000 in Fleet, Hampshire UK was a sweltering afternoon as the town's populace bid farewell to the much loved 1st Battalion of the Gurkha Rifles where they had been stationed for the last 29 years. They marched along the length of Fleet Road with their band at the head of 150 Gurkha soldiers. As the band played their quick march the spectators broke into a handclap to match the beat of the drums and this lasted all the way up Fleet Road - it was quite an emotional moment raising goose pimples on the back of ones neck. As the Gurkhas neared the end of their march 2 Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters from the local base at Odiham flew low overhead. The Gurkhas then marched into the local park where the town's mayor said an official goodbye and handed over a silver statute of a stag which is the 'mascot' of the local town council. The Colonel of the Gurkhas then handed over a silver kukri dagger for which the Gurkhas, when in battle, never replace in its scabbard unless they have drawn blood. These are the troops the Argentinians feared most in the Battle of the Falkland Isles in 1982. They have recently been in combat in Kosovo and East Timor. They leave Fleet at the end of August and do their next tour of duty in Brunei. Their barracks will then be developed as a housing estate - as if the area hasn't got enough of them already.

If you know of a link that could be added to this list please contact Stan Googe by e-mail:   info@fletel.co.uk

If you require any other information about Fleet that you are unable to find from these links please do not hesitate to ask and I shall do my best to help.

hr-thin[1].gif

Fletel Business Services
Bryslan House,Upper Street, FLEET GU51 3PE, U.K.
Tel : 44 1252 622415     Fax : 44 1252 620729
Please click here to e-mail us     www.fletel.co.uk

hr-thin[1].gif

    Last updated 16th January 2005

    Copyright © 2004 Fletel Business Services