Andover (Hampshire)

Andover is a town in the southern English county of Hampshire. It lies on the River Anton, about 30 km west of Basingstoke, 30 km north- west of Winchester and 40 km north of Southampton. Andover has about 52,000 inhabitants and is the administrative seat of the district of Test Valley. Andover is in partnership with the German city of Goch and the French town of Redon.

History

In 1086 there were in Andover, according to the Domesday Book 107 male inhabitants and a total population of about 500 Andover was about four times as large as an ordinary village and had six mills. 1175 granted to Richard the Lionheart, the place certain rights and it formed a merchants' guild, which took over the administration. King John gave the dealers in 1201 the right to collect the royal taxes in Andover. 1256 Henry III granted. Andover lower jurisdiction. Andover in 1295 the first time sent a deputy to the English Parliament. In the years 1141 and 1435 devastated large fires the place.

Andover was home to several religious institutions. In addition to the St. Mary's Church there was a priory and a hospital, who were dedicated to John the Baptist and a leprosy hospice, which was dedicated to Mary Magdalene. Henry VIII had the priory and the hospital in 1538 close during the Reformation. 1599 Elizabeth I increased the number of markets from one to three years.

During the 18th century, Andover became an important stopover on the stagecoach route from Exeter via Salisbury to London. 1789 Canal was opened to Southampton, however was not a commercial success and was closed again in 1859. On July 3, 1854 reversed the first train on the railway line from London to Andover to Salisbury.

Economy

The largest employer in the city is the Department of Defense. The Air Force base RAF Andover was opened during World War II south of Andover and became the training center for ground staff of the Royal Air Force. During the Second World War, when this was the headquarters of the repair commands. As of January 1945, the first British helicopter unit was stationed in Andover. Since then, the RAF was withdrawn from Andover, the airport is no longer in service, instead here numerous facilities of the British Army have been concentrated. By 2009, the former Air Force Base to the Army headquarters was converted.