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Haslemere is a town in Surrey in southern England, with a population of nearly 14,000.

Geography

Situated within Surrey, but close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately fifteen kilometres south west of Guildford.

It is surrounded by hills, with Blackdown (920ft) to the south and Gibbet Hill to the north (895ft) - the site of executions in past centuries. Many of those to be hanged there were highwaymen, for the roads around Haslemere, particularly alongside the nearby Devil's Punch Bowl, was notoriously dangerous. Today, much of the heathland and woodland is owned and protected by the National Trust, and has become a popular attraction for walkers.

History

The earliest recorded mention of Haslemere was in 1221 (when it was spelt Haselmere).The name describes hazel trees standing beside a lake, and although the lake doesn’t exist today, there is a natural spring in West Street which is likely to have provided its source.

Haslemere became an important market town in the middle ages, having been granted a charter by Richard II in 1394. This right was confirmed by a new charter issued by Elizabeth I in 1596. Today, this special status is celebrated with the Charter Fair, held once every two years in the High Street.

There stands a bust of the former monarch in the newly developed Charter Walk, linking West street with the car park of Somerfield. The site provides further retail and recreational opportunities in a continental promenade-style environment.

The town was one of the rotten boroughs, but recovered with the arrival of the London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour railway station railway line, the Portsmouth Direct Line, and it became a fashionable place to live. By the end of the century, Haslemere was a home to a number of well-known artists. Today, Haslemere continues to be a popular commuter town, and is served by Haslemere railway station.

Today

The unusually wide High Street remains at the heart of Haslemere, with the Old Town Hall standing at its southern end. The High Street contains an eclectic mix of public houses, shops (both national chains and independents) and restaurants.

Wey Hill offers the shopper an alternative experience with some more specialist shops. The town library is also situated here alongside an excellent range of restaurants and take-aways. At the Lion Green end of Wey Hill is one of the town's numerous supermarkets, Tesco. Haslemere's residents also have the option of patronising Somerfield, Co-Op and Costcutter.

Haslemere's residents can keep fit at the Herons Leisure Centre on the King's Road. The Herons replaced the leisure centre on Wey Hill at the end of the last century. The facilities on offer include a 25m swimming pool and children's pool, a fitness suite, squash and tennis courts and a skate-park for the town's youth.

There is also a small theatre/cinema just of West Street that holds performances by local theatre troups as well as screenings of films a number of weeks after their general release in larger cinemas.

St Bartholomew's Church was originally built in the 14th century, but rebuilt in 1871. It contains memorials to many of the most prominent local residents, including Alfred Lord Tennyson, who lived in nearby Lurgashall and is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows, featuring Sir Galahad and the Holy Grail.

Haslemere is well known locally for its museum, at the northern end of the High Street. It was established by eminent surgeon Sir Jonathon Hutchinson in 1888 to provide educational opportunities to local people, and moved to its present location in 1926 - a house with a Georgian façade, but partly dating back to the 16th century. The museum has a permanent natural history collection as well as hosting talks from both local and national figures of interest.

Business

The town has also made a name for itself through music, and largely through the contribution of an immigrant family. Arnold Dolmetsch, musician and instrument maker, was born in France in 1858, and it was his family who created the descant recorder, so popular with schoolchildren today. They settled in Haslemere and his son Carl Dolmetsch took over the business. The family firm still manufacture viols, recorders and harpsichords today. Their presence in the town inspired the International Dolmetsch Early Music Festival held every year in the town.

Famous Inhabitants

Haslemere’s Member of Parliament from 1722 to 1754 was General James Edward Oglethorpe, who founded the Colony of Georgia in North America. The town now forms part of the South-West Surrey constituency of which Conservative Jeremy Hunt is currently MP.

Other well-known residents of Haslemere and the surrounding area included:

Twinning

Haslemere has embraced the European project through its twinning:

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