OS grid reference SU646319 Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county Hampshire Dialling code 01962 | Civil parish Ropley Country England Local time Wednesday 4:17 PM District East Hampshire UK parliament constituency East Hampshire | |
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Population 1,526
1,602 (2011 Census Census) Weather 7°C, Wind SW at 18 km/h, 75% Humidity | ||
Ropley bells
Ropley is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of 4,684 acres (1,896 ha), situated 4 miles (6.4 km) east from New Alresford, with Ropley Dean served by a station just over 1 mile (1.6 km) from the village shops. It is 6.7 miles (10.8 km) southwest of Alton, just off the A31 road. It lies within the diocese of Winchester.
Contents
- Ropley bells
- Map of Ropley Alresford UK
- Ropley station featuring a faceless thomas the tank engine
- History
- Present day
- Education
- Governance
- Station
- References
Map of Ropley, Alresford, UK
The ancient Pilgrims' Way from Winchester to Canterbury passes through the village. It is distinguished by its general absence of pavements in favour of boundary walls, hedges and mature trees.
Ropley station featuring a faceless thomas the tank engine
History
In the Domesday Book Ropley was part of the "Hundred of Bishops Sutton" (or "Ashley"). Ropley is noted as having provided the honey for William the Conqueror's mead.
By the 13th century the land was owned by the Gervase family who gave some land to William of Wykeham in the 14th century, who was a Bishop of Winchester and the founder of Winchester College; he later gave land in Ropley to the College. In the 15th century some of the land in Ropley was acquired by Magdalen College, Oxford
There are numerous old buildings in the village:
The post office was opened in 1851 when the population was 818. In 1870, the population was 796
St Peter's Church of England church lies in the village. Its World War I memorial lists 40 people who died whilst the World War II tablet lists a further 10 people. The Grade-II listed church was severely damaged by a major fire on 19 June 2014 which gutted the building and destroyed the roof.
Present day
Ropley holds an annual Boxing Day walk. Ropley pram race on the last bank holiday in May.
In June 2014 Ropley Church was completely destroyed in an electrical fire.
Education
The village contains one primary school, Ropley CofE Primary School. The school was founded in 1826 and moved to its present site in 1829.
Governance
Ropley in elections every four years elects one representative to Hampshire County Council, this is currently:
Ropley elects one representative to East Hampshire District Council, this is currently:
Station
Ropley has its own restored railway station on the Mid Hants Railway running between Alton and New Alresford with 100-year established garden topiary by the station house side. Here a village industry is carried on: maintaining the locomotives. The Locomotive Shed and engineering works are by the station, tours can be booked. Trains from here run May excluding first week-September excluding last week, Tues-Thurs at 11:08, 13:08, 15:08 connecting with the nearest national rail station 6.7 miles (10.7 km) to the northeast, at Alton: with three extra interspersed services and a 15:51 final service on Standard Service 2 days including all weekends May–October; with Fridays also served on this timetable typically one day in June and throughout July and August. Monday coverage as at 2012 is not common save August. Westbound services run 6 minutes later than the hourly service and 28 minutes later than the interspersed services so the last service is 16:19 to Alresford. Christmas and special late year services also run.
There is an average price of £16 per day per adult, £8 per child or a discount family fare.