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Coordinates: 51°19'00?N 0°50'19?W? / ?51.33333, -0.83871
Yateley is a suburban town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It lies in the north-eastern corner of Hart District Council.
[edit] Location
Yateley is a relatively affluent town. Approximately 75% of residents are in the ABC1 social class category. It had a population of 15,663 according to the 2001 census. Yateley's northern border is the River Blackwater around the Yateley Lakes (including Trilakes Country Park). Its southern border is the A30 national route, lined by Yateley Common and Blackbushe Airport. It lies some 35 miles (56 km) west-south-west of London and 15 miles (24 km) south of Reading.
[edit] Amenities
Yateley is a residential area with local businesses and light service industries. The B3272 Reading Road acts as the town's main business link, with numerous shops and other businesses located along this road. The area around St Peter's church, the Dog & Partridge public house and the village green is still referred to as 'the village'. Yateley Green is a larger open area slightly to the west where there are tennis courts, a playground, council offices and 'The Tythings' bar and social venue. Yateley Cricket Club is situated adjacent to the Blackwater Valley golf course, off Chandlers Lane. There are several traditional public houses, besides the Dog & Partridge: the White Lion, the Royal Oak, the Cricketers, the Anchor and Monteagle Arms (formerly Poets' Corner, formerly the Monteagle Arms, formerly still Lanes). Yateley and District Lions [1] are based in the town.
For a town harbouring in excess of 20,000 residents (including neighbouring sub-villages), Yateley has relatively few amenities due to its proximity to several larger population centres such as Farnborough, Camberley, Bracknell and Reading. Therefore Yateley town centre is somewhat underdeveloped relative to the needs of its population and resembles the centre of a large village rather than a sizeable commuter town. The town still retains its 'village' hall which lies in the suburbs close to the library and Yateley School, away from the central district.
[edit] Transport
Yateley is a mainly commuter town with excellent private car links to London, Reading, Aldershot and Guildford but a very poor standard of public transport. It is also linked by the Blackbushe Airport complex, which caters for leisure flights and small business flight operations. The complex also contains a thriving car auction, a go-kart track, an abandoned World War II airfield and is the venue for the popular Blackbushe Sunday Market.
[edit] History
The name Yateley derives from the Middle English 'Yate' meaning 'Gate' (into Windsor Forest) and 'Lea' which was a 'forest clearing'. The town's logo is a three-barred gate with the keys of Saint Peter (the church dedication) and the Tudor rose of Hampshire. The parish was originally much larger, covering both Blackwater and Hawley.
Yateley Hall in the town dates from the 13th century, but the town itself was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the early 17th century, Monteagle Farm was one of the minor properties of the 'discoverer' of the Gunpowder Plot, Lord Monteagle. A tradition has grown up that some of the first plans for the plot were put together there, but this is highly unlikely. However, roads of the residential area around Monteagle Lane have been named after some of the conspirators in memory of the connection.
Through the next few centuries, Yateley developed into a coaching-hub between London and Reading. Local legend has it that the curate of Yateley, named Parson Darby, was a highwayman who used the Reading Road as his main stamping ground. Darby Green where he was hanged is named after him.
[edit] In the media
In the hit British TV mockumentary The Office, lead character David Brent explains to the audience "When I’m finished with Slough there’s… Reading, Aldershot, Bracknell, you know. I’ve got Didcot, Yateley…". There is a medium-sized business park located near Blackbushe Airport which has all the hallmarks of Slough's business estate.
The Dog and Partridge public house in Yateley used to be the official headquarters of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Its one-time feline leader, Catmandu, was tragically run over on Reading Road.
Brendan Phipps, a renowned musician and keyboardist for top Madness Tribute band "One Step Behind" grew up in Yateley.
In the Test the Nation programme on English and spelling broadcast on BBC television, the overall winner from the Internet was a man from Yateley. However, the programme spelt the name of the town, "Yately".
A number of members of the 1980s band, Breathe, were from Yateley and attended Yateley School. Richard "Abs" Breen, from the boyband, 5ive, also went to Yateley School, as did Terry Abbot, lead vocalist/guitarist from (the now split) band Vex Red and now currently in Septembre. Richie Mills, drummer with now split indie noise-merchants CABLE grew up in Yateley, and attended Yateley School between 1983-1988.
Contemporary artist James Robert Ford grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School. A number of his projects, including House Gymnastics, General Carbuncle and 33 things to do before you're 10, have taken place in Yateley.
Bromheads Jacket band lead singer Tim Hampton grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School. The video for 'Lesley Parlafitt' was filmed in a Yateley pub. Track number 13 on album Dits from the Commuter Belt is called 'Hazy In Yateley'.
Sean Devereaux, a charity worker in Somalia came from Yateley. He was assassinated for speaking out against national oppression and Sean Devereaux Park is named after him.
The body of missing school girl Amanda Dowler was found in woodland close by on 18 September 2002
David Copeland, known as the "London nailbomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Asian, and gay communities, grew up in Yateley, though resided in Cove near Farnborough at the time of the attack.
Chris Benham, a Hampshire cricketer, grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School.
[edit] Education
Yateley School in School Lane and Frogmore Community College on the Reading Road are both comprehensive secondary schools. They also both have leisure centres, and Yateley School has a 6th Form.
St Peter's Church of England Junior School caters for around 80 students and Westfields Junior School for around 500 students. Both have infants schools located alongside. Potley Hill Primary School, located next to Frogmore Community College, caters for 200-300 students and Newlands Primary School, in Dungells Lane, caters for around 200-300.
Yateley Manor School is an independent school catering for around 500 pupils aged 3 to 13.[2] The majority of pupils from Yateley go on to Lord Wandsworth College, Wellington and Farnborough Hill. The school is renowned for good sports results.[citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |