Stubbington

History

Both Stubbington and neighbouring Crofton were mentioned in the Domesday Book (the 11th-century UK census) as small districts belonging to the estates of Titchfield Abbey.

The earliest known cricket match to have been played in Hampshire took place in the village in 1733.

During the 19th century, Stubbington engulfed Crofton and the small fishing village of Hill Head. The Crofton name still remains in the name of many local facilities, such as the Crofton School and Crofton Old Church.

At the start of the 20th century, the village still consisted of just a few dozen cottages and farms. By 1939, the population had risen to around 2,500, and a number of small shops had opened surrounding the village green. This remains the focus of the village to the present day, with a war memorial situated on the central village green.

Places of worship

A church at Crofton Old Church is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and some elements of the existing church are thought to date from the ninth or tenth century. It was previously Holy Rood, but was renamed St. Edmund's in 1878, and is also known as Crofton Old Church. Most of the current building is fourteenth century or later.

A new church (Holy Rood) was built in Stubbington in 1878, and took over the function of Crofton Church.

The War Memorial and Village Pump

In 1922 a wooden War Memorial was built to commemorate those from Stubbington and Hill Head who were killed in the First World War. The Memorial takes the form of a shelter over the village pump, and today it is one of few pre-war structures standing in the vicinity of Stubbington Village Centre.

Present day

The population of Stubbington has risen to over 25,000, with new housing estates taking over a number of the surrounding fields. The town has a number of modern shops as well as a range of other facilities, including a doctor, dentist, library, community centre and seven schools. The former Royal Navy site of HMS Daedalus lies between Stubbington and neighbouring Lee-on-the-Solent, and a small part is currently being developed, however more is scheduled for further development that could further expand the town.

Neighbouring areas

The nearest village is Titchfield. Also near Stubbington is the area of Fareham called Hill Head and the town of Lee-on-the-Solent.

Schools

• Crofton Anne Dale Infant School
• Crofton Anne Dale Junior School
• Crofton Hammond Infant School
• Crofton Hammond Junior School
• Crofton School (Secondary Comprehensive)
• Meoncross School (private)

Study centre

The area has a study centre (Stubbington Study Centre) for children from local schools to learn about nature; it was originally opened in 1935, and has residential facilities.

References

References

1. Powell-Smith, Anna. "Crofton".
2. Dawson-Taylor, David. (1 June 2005). "Friends of Crofton Old Church".
3. (2021). "Oakcroft Lane, Stubbington, Hampshire: Settings assessment". Cotswold Archaeology.
4. Kelly, E R. (1880). "Kelly's Directory of Hampshire, with the Isle of Wight, Dorsetshire and Wiltshire". Kelly and Co..
5. (22 January 2017). "Stubbington War Memorial".
6. (27 February 2025). "Stubbington War Memorial, Non Civil Parish".
7. (2013-10-02). "Open evening at Crofton Hammond Infant School".
8. (2023-01-17). "Teachers who felt unsafe at work will not take strike action".
9. (2023-04-04). "Another Hampshire secondary school joins the trust overseeing Thornden School".
10. "Meoncross School". Independent Schools Inspectorate.
11. Forero, Natalia. (7 March 2025). "Committee backs bid to save Stubbington Study Centre".