Wikipedia

Hayling Island

Hayling Islandis an island off the south coast of England, in the borough ofHavantin the county ofHampshire,east ofPortsmouth.

Hayling Island
The coastline of Hayling Island
Hayling Island is located in Hampshire
Hayling Island
Hayling Island
Geography
LocationSolent
Coordinates50°48′10″N0°58′30″W/ 50.80278°N 0.97500°W/50.80278; -0.97500
Total islands1
Area30 km2(12 sq mi)
Length6.5 km (4.04 mi)
Width6.5 km (4.04 mi)
Administration
England
CountyHampshire
BoroughHavant
Largest settlementMengham(town)
Demographics
Population17,379 (2011)
Pop. density562.9/km2(1457.9/sq mi)

History

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Hayling Island betweenSelsey BillandPortsea Island,seen from the west, with north to the left

AnIron Ageshrine in the north of Hayling Island, later developed into aRoman templein the 1st century BC, was first recorded in Richard Scott'sTopographical and Historical Account of Hayling Island(1826). The site was dug between 1897 and 1907 and again from 1976 to 1978. The remains are now buried under farmland.[1]The first coin credited to Commius that was found in an archaeological dig was found at the temple.[2]This Commius was probably the son of theCommiusmentioned by Julius Caesar,[3]although it is possible the coin was issued by the same Commius.[4]

Salt production was an industry on the island from the 11th century, and theDomesday Bookrecords asaltpanon the island. This industry continued until the late 19th century.

The monks ofJumièges Abbey,Normandy, began to build Northwode Chapel about 1140; this became the site of the present St Peter's Church, now the oldest surviving church on the island. St Peter's three bells, cast in about 1350, are one of the oldest peals in England. St Mary's Church is a standard design for the churches of its era, but the walls were built with a mortar of local shells and beach pebbles. The ancient yew tree in the churchyard is believed to be the oldest yew in the county, with a girth of some nine metres (30 feet). Estimates of its age range from over a thousand to nearly two thousand years old.[5]

The grave ofPrincess Catherine Yurievskaya(1878–1959), a daughter ofAlexander II of Russia,who lived in North Hayling for many years, is in St Peter's churchyard;[6]and that of George Glas Sandeman, nephew of the founder ofSandemanPortand second head of that company,[7][8]is prominent in the north-east part of St Mary's graveyard.[9]

In May 1944, the island was the location of a mock invasion during the militaryExercise Fabius,rehearsing the preparations forD-Day.[10]

In 1982, theEnglish Court of Appealrecognised prior art byPeter Chilvers,who in 1958 as a 12-year-old boy on Hayling Island assembled his first board combined with a sail. It had all the elements of the modernwindsurfer.The court found that later innovations were "merely an obvious extension" and upheld the defendant's claim based on film footage.[11]This court case set a significant precedent forpatent lawin the United Kingdom, in terms ofInventive step and non-obviousness.The case, Chilvers, Hayling, and a replica of Chilvers's original board were featured on an episode of theBBC'sThe One Showin 2009.[12]

On 20 October 2013, at least one hundred properties on the island were damaged when it was hit by a tornado. No injuries were reported.[13][14]

Geography

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Hayling Island is a true island, surrounded by water. Looking at its north to south orientation, it is shaped like an inverted T, about 6.5 km (4 miles) long and 6.5 km (4 miles) wide. A road bridge connects its northern end to the mainland of England atLangstone.TheHayling Ferryis a small pedestrian ferry connecting to theEastneyarea of the city ofPortsmouthon the neighbouringPortsea Island.To the west isLangstone Harbourand to the east isChichester Harbour.

The natural beach at Hayling was predominantly sandy, but in recent years it has been mechanically topped with shingle dredged from the bed of the Solent in an effort to reducebeach erosionand reduce the potential to flood low-lying land. At low tide, theEast Winnersandbank is visible, extending a mile out to sea. The coastline in this area has substantially changed since Roman times: it is believed much land has been lost from the coasts of Hayling andSelseyby erosion and subsequent flooding.

Climate

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As with the rest of theBritish Islesand Southern England, Hayling Island experiences amaritime climatewith cool summers and mild winters. Temperatures have never fallen into double figures below freezing, illustrating the relative warmth of the island – comparable to the far southwest of England and its neighbour, theIsle of Wight.Temperature extremes between 1960 and 2010 have ranged from −9.4 °C (15.1 °F) during January 1963,[15]up to 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) during June 1976.[16]

Climate data for Hayling Island 4 m (13 ft) asl, 1991-2020, extremes 1960–2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.7
(56.7) 		14.9
(58.8) 		20.0
(68.0) 		24.3
(75.7) 		27.4
(81.3) 		32.1
(89.8) 		31.7
(89.1) 		31.4
(88.5) 		27.2
(81.0) 		21.7
(71.1) 		17.5
(63.5) 		14.6
(58.3) 		32.1
(89.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.4
(47.1) 		8.6
(47.5) 		10.7
(51.3) 		13.5
(56.3) 		16.7
(62.1) 		19.5
(67.1) 		21.6
(70.9) 		21.4
(70.5) 		19.1
(66.4) 		15.5
(59.9) 		11.6
(52.9) 		9.1
(48.4) 		14.6
(58.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7) 		3.5
(38.3) 		4.8
(40.6) 		6.4
(43.5) 		9.5
(49.1) 		12.3
(54.1) 		14.5
(58.1) 		14.6
(58.3) 		12.6
(54.7) 		9.9
(49.8) 		6.5
(43.7) 		4.2
(39.6) 		8.5
(47.4)
Record low °C (°F) −9.4
(15.1) 		−8.9
(16.0) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−2
(28) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		2.2
(36.0) 		7.8
(46.0) 		7.2
(45.0) 		4.2
(39.6) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		−4.6
(23.7) 		−7.2
(19.0) 		−9.4
(15.1)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 83.5
(3.29) 		56.1
(2.21) 		46.3
(1.82) 		47.8
(1.88) 		41.1
(1.62) 		45.2
(1.78) 		46.4
(1.83) 		49.3
(1.94) 		59.4
(2.34) 		84.1
(3.31) 		90.6
(3.57) 		86.7
(3.41) 		736.5
(29)
Average rainy days 12.6 10.1 8.5 8.5 7.6 7.1 7.2 7.7 7.8 11.2 13.1 12.3 113.7
Source 1: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute/KNMI[17]
Source 2: Meteoclimat[18]

Sport and leisure

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Beaches at Hayling Island

Hayling Island has anon-League footballclub,Hayling United F.C.,which plays at Hayling Park.

Although largely residential, Hayling is also a holiday,windsurfingandsailingcentre, the site wherewindsurfingwas invented.

In summer 2010, the Hayling Island Sailing Club hosted the 2010 World Laser Standard Senior and Junior Championships (27 August – 5 September). The Senior championship was won by Australian Tom Slingsby, whilst Dane Thorbjoern Schierup won the Junior competition.[19]Today it is home to many different types of sailing, including a growing Fireball fleet.

As a consequence of the island's popularity for water activities, there are twolifeboatservices:Hayling Island Lifeboat Station,run by theRNLIand Hayling Island Rescue Service, anindependentservice run by retired RNLI helmsman, Frank Dunster.

The island hosts one of the few activeReal Tenniscourts in the UK. Founded in 1911, Seacourt Tennis club is one of only a handful in the UK where it is possible to play every recognised racquet sport. The racquets court itself was opened by Sir Colin Cowdrey.

Seacourt Tennis Club[20]also hosts a weekly fencing club featuring all ages, levels and weapons.

Hayling Golf Club clubhouse

Hayling Golf Club has been voted in the top 100 golf courses in the UK. A traditional links course, although relatively short by modern standards, the strong prevailing south-westerly winds, fast greens, gorse bushes and traditional deep links bunkers make this a stern test for any golfer.

Hayling Seaside Railway

Funland,an amusement park situated at Beachlands, is open year-round, as is theHayling Seaside Railwaywhich runs from the funfair to Eastoke corner.

The 5-mile (8.0 km) Hayling Billy Trail is a former light rail right-of-way which has been converted to one of many footpaths on the island.[21]The Ordnance Survey Explorer 120 map covers the area[22]and the local tourist information office supplies leaflets of local interest walks.[23]

TheStation Theatrehosts a variety of plays staged by the Hayling Island Amateur Dramatics Society,Hayling Musical Society,musical events and films throughout the year.[24][25]

The island has several churches of different denominations including three Anglican churches; St Peter's atNorthney,St Mary'sat Gable Head and the more recently built St Andrew's in South Hayling.

Transport

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Station Theatre, West Town, Hayling Island
Remains of the old railway bridge linking Hayling Island to the mainland. The present road bridge can be seen to the right.

Hayling Ferrylinks Portsmouth and Hayling Island. The ferry is busy in summer in good weather, bringing tourists and cyclists to Hayling.[26]In winter, there was a significant reduction of use. The ferry service to and from Portsea Island was subsidised by the local authorities, leaving it under constant threat of closure due to limited resources. The ferry service ceased when the company running the ferry went into administration in March 2015. It was reopened in August 2016 by Baker Trayte Marine Ltd.[27][28]

During the ferry's closure, the only public connection between Hayling Island and the mainland was the single carriageway road linking Northney to LangstoneHavant.In summer, in particular, this road can become very congested, rendering the journey between the bridge and South Hayling (the most populated area) anything from 30 minutes to an hour. A proposed Millennium project to create a new shared pedestrian and cycle bridge was unsuccessful.[29]

A railway to the island was active in the 19th and 20th centuries. It opened on 17 July 1867, coinciding with the local races.[30]Terriersteam locomotives pulled carriages along the 5-mile (8 km)Hayling BillyLine from Havant Station on the mainland to a station which was located at the northern end of Staunton Avenue, passing throughLangstonewhere there was a Halt.[31]The railway was popular with tourists throughout the summer, though it saw little service in winter, and at peak times ran up to 24 services per day. Despite its popularity, the line was marked for closure in theBeeching Reportowing to the prohibitive cost of replacing Langstone Bridge, which connected the island to the mainland, estimated at up to £400,000 to repair. Services ended on 3 November 1963, and the bridge was demolished in 1966.[30]The remaining railway buildings are a goods shed, which has now been converted into atheatrerun byHIADS,[32]and a station, opposite the Ship Inn over the bridge. A railway gatehouse, located opposite Mill Lane, was burned down on 15 November 2018; no other building is believed to survive.

A tourist attraction, theEast Hayling Light Railway,is a2 ft(610 mm) gauge railway which runs for just over 1 mile (1.6 km) from Beachlands Station to Eastoke Corner with aspirations to extend the route to Ferry Point within the next few years.

The nearest railway station to Hayling Island isHavant,just on to the mainland off Hayling Island. Alternatively,Portsmouth & Southseais another railway station, used for connections toBristol Temple MeadsandCardiff.

Notable people

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  • Peter Chilvers,inventor of the windsurfer
  • Stephanie Lawrence,"a musical actress of rare glamour",[33]dancer and star of West End musicals such asEvitaandStarlight Express,lived during her childhood on Hayling Island, where her parents ran Broadview House School[34]on Beach Road.
  • Gary Mehigan,chef and judge onMasterChef Australia,was born and raised on Hayling Island.
  • Herbert Arnould Olivier,a portrait and landscape painter, and uncle ofLaurence Olivier,died on Hayling Island in 1952.
  • William Padwick1791–1861, purchased the manor and large estates from theDuke of Norfolkinheriting title and rights of 'Lord of the Manor'. Considerable involvement in the developing transport links to the island.
  • Nevil Shute(Nevil Shute Norway), the Ealing-born aeronautical engineer and novelist, lived at Pond Head on Hayling Island during World War II. His novels includeA Town Like AliceandOn the Beach.
  • William Thomas Stead,notable political and social campaigner and journalist, had a home on Hayling Island – Hollybush House. He died with the sinking of theTitanic.
  • Martin White(1779–1846), hydrologist responsible for maritime mapping of areas including Jersey, English Channel, Bristol Channel and Irish Sea
  • Princess Catherine Yurievskaya,the youngest daughter ofAlexander II of Russia,lived on Hayling Island for many years and was buried at St Peter's church in 1959.
  • Maurice Wilks,automotive and aeronautical engineer, was born at Eastoke, Hayling Island on 19 August 1904. He became chairman of the Rover Car Company, and was involved in the development of theLand Rover.He also led Rover's involvement in the development of the jet engine during World War II.

Hayling oysterbeds

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Oyster beds in Hayling Island

Oystershave been fished on the Hayling oysterbeds, at the northwest corner of the island, from as long ago as Roman times, documented in town records since 1615.[35]The oysters were actively farmed between as early as 1819 until the 1970s.[36]Oysters became a delicacy that was exported throughout the country under the classification of "Emsworth Oysters". Large complexes consisting of several pens separated by a series ofbund wallsand sluice gates were built to contain the oysters at varying stages of growth. Although large sections of the walls have since collapsed into the harbour, much of shape and scale of the beds can still be seen today.

In 1996, the oyster beds on the north west coast of Hayling Island were restored by the Havant Borough Council,[36]creating awildlife havenwhich has become an important seabird breeding site. The Design Council awarded this project 'Millennium Product' status for the renovation.

Twinning

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Hayling Island started twinning withGorron,France, in 1997, after many years of social exchanges between the two communities rather than the normal council-led route. Charters were signed and exchanged in 1998 and are now displayed in the library in Elm Grove. In recognition of the twinning Gorron appears on the welcome signs, there is also a 'twinning' tree outside the library and a Gorron roundabout at Beachlands. Gorron has similar recognitions including the 'Rue de Hayling Island' – previously Rue Victor Hugo.[37]

Paris to Hayling cycle ride

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The island is the home of the Hayling Charity Cycle Ride which organises an annual charity cycle ride most often from Hayling Island to Paris and back.[38]This event, run entirely by local unpaid volunteers, was started in 1986 by local cyclist Peter McQuade[39][40]and has been run every year since. Up to 2023 over £1,800,000 had been collected for more than 500 good causes. Entrants have come from 15 different countries on five continents. Based on their research the organisers believe it may be the oldest long distance charity ride in the world.[38]

Population

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In the mid- to late 20th century, Hayling Island's population was known to double during the summer months, due to a large influx of holiday makers and the associated tourism employees to accommodate. As domestic holidays have declined and Hayling's prominence as a traditional English seaside resort have followed in parallel, the population only swells by approximately 20%–25% (English Tourist Board estimate, 2001).

Population Date
~300 1086 (Domesday Book)
578 1801 (census)
>1,600 1901
>5,500 1950
16,887 2001 (census, usually resident population)
17,379 2011 (census[41])

List of settlements

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The island's place-names are discussed in an online work by Richard Coates (2007).[42]

Places of interest

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Anthony King; Robert Downey (1977)."Internal Organisation and Deposition at the Iron Age Temple on Hayling Island (Hampshire)".Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2001.
  2. ^Bean, Simon C. (1994)."Coinage of Commios"(PDF).The coinage of Atrebates and Regni(PhD). University of Nottingham. p. 262.Retrieved14 July2016.
  3. ^De Jersey, Philip (1996).Celtic Coinage in Britain.Shire Publications. pp. 27–32.ISBN0-7478-0325-0.
  4. ^Bean, Simon C (1994)."Coinage of Commios"(PDF).The coinage of Atrebates and Regni(PhD). University of Nottingham. pp. 242–247.Retrieved14 July2016.
  5. ^St Mary's ChurchArchived19 July 2011 at theWayback MachineHayling Council website. Retrieved 14 March 2010
  6. ^Church booklet – Guide to St Peter's Church North Hayling 2003.
  7. ^Sandeman Archive descriptionArchived3 March 2016 at theWayback MachineAIM25 Archives website. Retrieved 20 April 2012
  8. ^Sandeman Scrapbook - Sandeman Ports and Winesat theWayback Machine(archived 2011-02-28)PORT AND SHERRYOriginally published by George G Sandeman & Co (1955), now hosted on Ancestry. Retrieved 20 April 2012
  9. ^St Mary's ChurchArchived2 August 2012 atarchive.todayHayling Anglican Churches website. Retrieved 20 April 2012
  10. ^Southampton and D-Day,Ingrid Peckham. Southampton City Council Oral History, 1994.ISBN1-872649-04-1
  11. ^"Windsurfing International Inc. v Tabur Marine (GB) Ltd. (1985) RPC 59".SLCC – Scots Law Courseware.TheUniversity of Strathclyde.Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2003.Retrieved20 June2010.
  12. ^The One Show 7 pm BBC1 Friday 5 June!WindWise.net;Simon Bornhoft's WindWise.Archived2012-01-18 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 20 June 2010.
  13. ^"Hayling Island properties hit by 'tornado'".BBC News.20 October 2013.
  14. ^"'Tornado' damages 100 homes in Hampshire's Hayling Island ".Metro. 20 October 2013.
  15. ^"1963 temperature".KNMI.Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2012.
  16. ^"1976 temperature".KNMI.Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2012.
  17. ^"Hayling Island Climate".KNMI.Retrieved27 June2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^"Hayling Island Climate".Meteoclimat. Archived fromthe originalon 11 January 2024.Retrieved5 June2021.
  19. ^"Laser Worlds 2010 at HISC".Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2010.
  20. ^"Seacourt – Hampshire Fencing Clubs".southhampshirefencing.co.uk.
  21. ^Coastal Path – Billy TrailArchived19 July 2011 at theWayback Machine.Visitor Guides;Hayling Island Community Online. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  22. ^Ordnance Survey Explorer 120 map.Ordnance Survey National Mapping Agency,2009.Archived2009-06-09 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 20 June 2010.
  23. ^Tourist Information Office BeachlandsHavant Tourist Information Office.Archived2009-02-02 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 20 June 2010.
  24. ^Events diaryArchived17 July 2010 at theWayback Machine.Hayling Island Station Theatre. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  25. ^Current Production.Hayling Musical Society.
  26. ^"Hayling Island Transport Assessment".Havant Borough Council.January 2019.Retrieved10 January2024.
  27. ^"Hayling Ferry".Hayling Ferry.
  28. ^"Hayling Ferry".Hayling Ferry.
  29. ^Hayling Billy Project historyArchived10 September 2003 at theWayback Machine.Havant Borough Council website. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  30. ^abHolland, Julian (2013).Exploring Britain's Railways.HarperCollins. p. 72.ISBN978-0-00-750541-8.[verification needed]
  31. ^"The Book of Hayling Island and Langstone – More than a Millennium". Rogers, Peter: Tiverton, Halsgrove Press, 2000.ISBN1-84114-078-3
  32. ^"Welcome - Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society".Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society.
  33. ^Billington, Michael (6 November 2000)."Obituary: Stephanie Lawrence".The Guardian– via theguardian.
  34. ^"All About Windows The Hayling Site".hayling.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2010.
  35. ^William Page, ed. (1908)."The borough of Southampton: General historical account".A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3.British History Online.pp. 490–524.Retrieved14 March2010.
  36. ^abWest Hayling Local Nature ReserveHavant Borough Council website.Archived2007-10-08 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 14 March 2010.
  37. ^"Hayling - Gorron Twinning Association".Retrieved14 June2023.
  38. ^ab"Hayling Cycle Ride – Join us!".
  39. ^"Cyclists celebrate as funds total tops £1m".portsmouth.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2015.
  40. ^"Cyclists en route to £1m Paris challenge".portsmouth.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2015.
  41. ^"Havant Borough Council: Havant Borough Profile: Table 3.1 in Section 2.21"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 June 2020.Retrieved24 August2021.
  42. ^The place-names of Hayling Island, Hampshire.MS. of 1991. Web-publication;; pp. 96.Archived2009-11-28 at theWayback Machine
  43. ^"Ferry – Commercial – Langstone Harbour".langstoneharbour.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 21 April 2021.
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