Wickham Timeline
Key events from 200 to present
Discover the key moments that shaped Wickham. Explore the events that define our community.
200
Roman Activity at Wickham
Evidence of Roman occupation has been found in the Wickham area, including traces of a villa site. The Meon Valley lay within the Roman road network c...
500 BC
Iron Age Settlement in the Meon Valley
The Meon Valley was inhabited during the Iron Age, with evidence of settlement and farming activity in the area around what would become Wickham. The ...
650
Saxon Settlement and the Meonwara
Wickham's Saxon origins are reflected in its name, which derives from the Old English 'wic' (settlement or dwelling) and 'ham' (homestead). The Meon V...
1086
Wickham in the Domesday Book
Wickham appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a substantial settlement with agricultural land, a mill, and a recorded population that suggests a com...
1120
St Nicholas Church Founded
The parish church of St Nicholas was founded in the twelfth century, replacing or incorporating an earlier Saxon church on the site. The church served...
1200
The Hundred of Wickham
Wickham gave its name to the Hundred of Wickham, an administrative division of Hampshire that encompassed the village and the surrounding parishes. Th...
1269
Medieval Market Charter Granted
Wickham was granted a market charter in the thirteenth century, establishing its right to hold a regular market. The large square that defines the vil...
1643
Wickham During the English Civil War
The Civil War brought disruption to the Meon Valley, with Hampshire divided between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces. Wickham's position on the roa...
1820
Chesapeake Mill Built from Warship Timbers
The Chesapeake Mill was built in 1820 on Bridge Street, using timbers salvaged from the captured American frigate USS Chesapeake. The warship had been...
1860
Victorian Village Life in Wickham
During the Victorian period, Wickham was a self-sufficient agricultural village with a full range of trades and services. The Square hosted a regular ...
1903
The Meon Valley Railway Opens
The Meon Valley Railway opened in 1903, connecting Alton to Fareham via West Meon, Droxford, and Wickham. The line gave the village its first direct r...
1920
Wickham War Memorial Unveiled
The war memorial on The Square was unveiled to commemorate the men of Wickham who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial records the na...
1944
Wickham During the Second World War
Wickham's location between Portsmouth and Winchester meant the village was part of the wider military landscape during the Second World War. In the bu...
1955
Closure of the Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway closed to passenger traffic in 1955, ending Wickham's direct rail connection after just over fifty years of service. The line ...
1960
Post-War Residential Growth
From the 1950s onwards, Wickham expanded beyond its historic core with new residential development on the edges of the village. Housing was built alon...
1988
Wickham Bypass Opens
The construction of the Wickham bypass removed through traffic from The Square and the village centre, transforming the quality of life in the village...
2000
Millennium Celebrations in Wickham
Wickham marked the millennium with community celebrations on The Square, bringing the village together for an event that reflected its strong communal...
2020
Wickham in the Modern Era
Modern Wickham is a thriving village that has adapted to contemporary life while retaining its historic character. The village benefits from the bypas...