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Bentley is the first village across the Surrey-Hampshire border, announcing Jane Austen country. As part of the Austen heritage, the first rector of Bentley was Henry Austen, Jane’s brother, who moved into the Rectory in 1824. Another curate, the Rev. Gilbert White of Selborne, was a regular visitor to Marelands, a Georgian house overlooking the river Wey, in the previous century.
Bentley-‘the green in the forest’- dates back to Roman and Saxon times. We are a rural community with fine views across the fields to the Alice Holt forest, small enough to know and care for each other, but large enough to do useful things together. Our church on the Pilgrims’ Way plays an active part in village life, as does our thriving primary school.
The village developed mostly along the ancient road from Winchester to London. Many of the older houses along the post road were smallholders’ farms dating back to the 13thcentury, which were ‘gentrified’ in Regency times. We claim the oldest cruck cottage in Hampshire, and a number of fine old country houses surrounded by rolling farmland. More recent housebuilding in the last few years has brought new blood and young families into the village.
We have an annual fete and flower show, a much valued pub and shop, and two small industrial estates. Scouting thrives here: no great surprise as the village was home for 30 years to Robert Baden-Powell. The hop fields familiar to earlier generations have now become vineyards, producing Jenkyn Place sparkling wine, our “local brew”.
We have a beautiful church situated in the heart of the village and a busy Memorial hall, hosting everything from badminton to gardening clubs, salsa classes to the recently opened pre-school Dottie Tots. The village is situated approximately 4 miles from Alton and Farnham, the village has a bus service and has a mainline station, which commences at Alton and terminates at Waterloo.
For the active members of the parish there is an array of footpaths, Alice Holt forest nearby as well as Birdworld, and the butterfly meadow. The parish has a newly installed adventure playground for the younger children and a newly formed youth club for the older children of the village.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM A31 PRIMARY CARE NETWORK (Boundaries Surgery, Bentley Village Surgery, Chawton Park Surgery, The Wilson Practice) To support the national drive to offer a Covid booster to all […]
The second public consultation meeting to discuss Network Rail’s plans to build a new footbridge and lift at Bentley Station will take place at Bentley Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on […]
Please take the time to complete the village survey in the September issue of the parish meeting. Alternatively, you can go online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y3X6RC9 before 8th October. We want to know […]
Neighbour notification of planning application Development of an Energy Recovery Facility and Associated Infrastructure at Alton Materials Recovery Facility, A31, Alton (33619/007) Following the submission of a planning application 24 […]
The planning application on Hole Lane to build 93 new homes has been REFUSED. Please see link below: https://planningpublicaccess.easthants.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=_EHANT_DCAPR_247073 In summary the application was refused on the following points: The […]
How the Parish can help residents who are most at risk over Covid-19 Bentley Village Surgery is now open. Dispensary opening hours are 8.30am – 2.30pm Mon-Fri.If you need help […]
There had been some social media speculation that the loss of water in the pond was the direct result of the remedial dredging work that was carried out at the […]
We are asking our customers to only use water for drinking, hygiene and cooking and need your help. As a key stakeholder you can help us by spreading our message. […]