A TIMELINE OF HAMBLEDON HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
2,500 BC Stone age farmers live on the site of Hambledon
1st Century AD A Roman villa is built on the site of Hambledon
6th Century The Saxons found a village at Hambledon
956 Hambledon is first mentioned in a document
1086 Hambledon is a village with a population of about 100 and 1 watermill
1256 Hambledon is granted a weekly market. Hambledon is quite an important community and is a focal point for the surrounding villages.
1612 Hambledon is allowed 2 annual fairs, a sign of its growing importance
1725 Hambledon is badly damaged by a fire which destroys many buildings in the High Street
c 1750 Hambledon Cricket Club is formed
1777 The Hambledon team plays the England team
1788 Fire damages the Church Tower
1849 A Church of England school is built in Hambledon
1853 William Cobbett described Hambledon as a long, straggling village
1864 Hambledon Methodist Church is built
1883 Hambledon has an epidemic of diptheria
1884 Hartridges start making soft drinks in Hambledon. The streets of Hambledon are lit by oil lamps (later they are replaced by gas lights).
1908 A monument to the original Hambledon Cricket Team is erected on Halfpenny Down
1933 Diptheria strikes Hambledon again
1955 The first wine is made in Hambledon
1969 The Church in Hambledon is refurbished
1982 Hambledon Village hall opens
1989 Hambledon Bakery closes
1991 Hambledon is twinned with Reville
2005 Hambledon Church roof is replaced