The Candover Valley is a unique rural community in mid-Hampshire, centred around a group of five villages and four hamlets situated between Basingstoke and Winchester.
The aim of this site is to provide information to both locals and visitors about the events, amenities, and local services which are available in the Valley. It is in the early stages of development, and dependent on its users to provide information to go on it, and feedback and suggestions for improvement.
15 January 2021
The new strain of the coronavirus is still rampant in Hampshire with another 7,127 new cases recorded in the past week. The number of deaths has also risen significantly with a further 203 deaths of people dying within 28 days of a positive covid-19 test. This brings the total number of deaths in Hampshire to 1,415, excluding Southampton and Portsmouth, which have 186 and 194 respectively.
More locally, in Old Basing and the Candovers, there were 37 new active cases and a rate of 478.3, keeping the Candover Valley in the ‘red’ zone of the government’s map of active cases. But, this was 3 down on three days previously when there was a rate of 517.1 per 100k of population, higher than all the neighbouring areas.
Basingstoke and Deane increased its total by another 1,000 cases in the past week to 5,785, Winchester went up by 442 to 3,773 and East Hampshire by 498 to 3,624.
Further details are available here. Coronavirus – January 15 – 2021
13 January 2021
With the number of new cases of covid-19 still rising rapidly in Hampshire more than 3.0 percent of the county’s population has suffered from the infection. There has been another 13,861 new cases recorded in the county area since the beginning of the new year, bringing the total to 43,608 for the whole pandemic so far. There has also been a significant rise in the number of deaths since the beginning of the year in Hampshire and in neighbouring Portsmouth and Southampton. Hampshire has registered another 224 deaths from covid-19, bringing its total to 1,300, while Portsmouth has another 37 and a total of 179, and Southampton has 30 more and a new total of 177.
In the three district areas most relevant to the Candover Valley there has been a significant increase in all areas, with Basingstoke & Deane recording another 928 cases to bring its rate per 100k to 525.6, East Hampshire had another 501 cases and a rate of 409.5 and Winchester has 452 more, bringing its rate to 362 per 100,000. The Hampshire county area rate is now 525.3 per 100,000. See more here.
28 December
Hampshire in common with much of the south-east of England is now under threat from a new strain of covid-19 which has rapidly gained ground in London and Kent in the past week. District council areas across the county recorded a total of 4106 new cases and 48 more deaths between 20 and 27 December. Much of the county is now under Tier 4 restrictions with restaurants and many shops closed and movement restricted to only essential activity. See more here.
3 January
Rapidly rising numbers of new covid-19 cases are raising the possibility of a new national lockdown facing England. See more here.
21 December
Residents of the Candover Valley and most of the neighbouring areas have ‘enjoyed’ a relatively low level of coronavirus infections in recent weeks compared to many other areas of the south-east. But the situation changes daily. Just a month ago Alresford was a ‘hotspot’ in Hampshire with a rate of 531.9 per 100k population, today it has fewer than three cases. See earlier report here. Today the neighbouring MSOAs – smaller areas with about 7,000 people- of Old Basing & Candovers, Springvale & Itchen Abbas, and Overton & North Waltham, also have less than three recorded cases. But, these numbers are five days behind the national numbers and give a false impression of the current situation which is now changing rapidly, especially in London and other areas of the south-east, now placed in Tier 4 restrictions. See more details here.
There will not be a midnight service this year at any of the churches in the Candover Valley on Christmas Eve. For the first time in many years there will not be a midnight communion service. Uncertainty over the impact locally of the new tiered system of restrictions to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, and the possibility of late changes, coupled with the difficulties of ensuring safe use of the church facilities, even to the extent of limiting the numbers attending, have contributed to the situation. However, there are services on Christmas Day in several churches. Full details can be found here.
7 December
In common with much of the rest of England, the rate in the number of new cases of covid-19 in Hampshire had diminished significantly in most districts at the end of the latest lockdown period and Alresford which had been the biggest coronavirus ‘hotspot’ in the county in the middle of the month was down to single figures in the number of new cases by the end of the month. See the details here.
26 November
Two young sheep were killed in a serious sheep-worrying incident at Preston Candover last week. The animals were grazing in a field alongside Oak Hill Lane, the by-way linking Red Lane (the Bradley Road) to Southwood Farm Lane, when a dog, or dogs, ran through an electric fence and attacked the sheep, on Thursday, November 26.
Local beat policeman, PC Andy Reid, is appealing for any information which may help him in investigating the incident. The two 10-month old sheep died of wounds from the attack.
“The dog, or dogs, ran through an electric fence in order to get at the sheep. This is a very serious matter and I urge all dog owners to make sure their dogs are under proper control and on leads near livestock. Be aware that farmers have authority to shoot any dog found worrying livestock on agricultural land,” he said.
He is urging any person with any information to contact him directly on 01256:389050 or 07768.776844 or by email andrew.reid@hampshire.pnn.police.uk “All calls will be treated in strictest confidence,” he says.
18 November
Hampshire police are warning residents of the Candover Valley and other rural areas to make sure that all garages, sheds and other outbuildings are securely locked, after a spate of raids locally. Gangs from London and Surrey are targeting rural areas within easy reach, and accessible without travelling on major highways which are monitored by traffic cameras and by police video and number plate recognition cameras.
Outbuildings to houses in Preston Candover and Cliddesden are among recent targets.
Read more here.
With at least three weeks of lockdown ahead of us many people and families will be looking for ways of getting out of the house and seeking some form of recreation. Families living in the Candover Valley are fortunate in having a wide network of footpaths and bridleways where it is possible to take short, or longer walks, through beautiful countryside, even in winter and in relative safety, largely away from the rural roads which are narrow, without pavements, and also, mostly with a 60mph speed limit.
Read more here.
There are three parish councils serving the residents of the Candover Valley. At the northern end of the valley it is Preston Candover and Nutley Parish Council which covers Axford as well as Nutley and Preston Candover. At the southern end of the valley Northington Parish Council serves the residents of Northington, Swarraton and Totford, and in the middle it is the Candovers Council looking after people in Brown and Chilton Candover.
Information about the respective councils and their activities can be found on their own websites:
More information about the role and duties of parish councils in general can be found here.
1 January 2021
As England enters a new year its residents will not be able to enjoy its customary new year day’s drinks in the local pub. Having moved into Tier 4 in Hampshire the Valley hostelries are now closed again as restaurants, and as public houses. The new rules only allow restaurants to provide takeaway meals. The Purefoy Arms in Preston Candover, under award-winning chef Gordon Stott, had prior to lockdown been providing service on its full menu, and continuing with its takeaway service during normal hours. It is likely to be continuing to provide takeaways on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, see the details here.
The Woolpack at Totford is also closed but more information may be available here.
Activities, events and places in the Candover Valley and surrounding area.
Some of these places had reopened after the spring lockdown but are now closed again. Most of the 2020 events were cancelled or postponed. Please check the relevant venues before planning any visits and for updates on their current and 2021 programme. .
The Grange Festival, Northington: the 2020 programme. See more here.
Alresford agricultural show, Tichborne, Alresford: 5 September 2020. Was cancelled, but information about other activities can be found here.
The Vyne, Sherborne St John: National Trust: The grounds and kiosk are open but the house is not open. Booking is necessary for any visits. Details here
Hinton Ampler, Cheriton, near Alresford: National Trust: more details here.
The Grange, Northington: open to visit the grounds, and view the outside of the house. details here.
Hattingley Valley Winery, Upper Wield, near Alresford: details of tours etc
Bombay Gin distillery, Laverstoke, Overton: details of tours etc
Wolvesey Castle, medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester until early 18th century. College Street, Winchester. Details here.
Local churches, benefice communion, more details here.
The Candover Valley Community Store has now past its first ‘birthday’ and has been operating successfully throughout the Covid-19 lockdown period and has enjoyed more than 12 months of successful trading since opening in June last year. It provides valley residents with much needed food and household services, and has been a ‘life-saver’ for many people during the past difficult months. Further information and more details of the services it provides are available here.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, has now received further funding from the national lottery to continue its study programme into the wild life of Hampshire’s chalk streams. Among others, the programme involves the study of habitats and wildlife in the Candover stream. Read more about it here, and the latest update report here from Maggie Shelton, the community catchments officer.
The Purefoy Arms, the 18th century pub and restaurant in Preston Candover, is continuing its success under the direction of award-winning chef Gordon Stott, the licensee. It has recently been awarded two rosettes by the AA in recognition of the outstanding quality and variety of its food. It is one of only three pubs in this part of Hampshire to have gained this award. More information is available here.
Oak Hill Lane, the BOAT (Byway open to all traffic) which runs from the Preston end of Bradley Lane (Red Lane) alongside fields to Southwood Farm Lane, is just one of several public footpaths and tracks running through the Candover Valley. It was resurfaced by Hampshire County Council in early 2015. More information about footpaths around Preston Candover can be found here.
Many years ago a former clerk to the Preston Candover and Nutley Parish Council compiled a series of seven circular walks using footpaths in the parish and with links on local roads. Details of the walks can be found here.
Potholes can be a serious road hazard and the state of some roads around the Valley is bad. We need everyone to report the problems. The process is easy, and you can also keep a check on progress on the problems which have already been reported .Please report on potholes here
Organising an event in the area? Starting a new club or society? If you are, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact our editors about a free listing for your event or group on this site.
