Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent | ||
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The seafront and beach at Lee-on-the-Solent
E | ||
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Lee-on-the-Solent | |
Postcode district | PO13 | |
Dialling code | 023 | |
Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight | |
Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight | |
Ambulance | South Central | |
UK Parliament | ||
Lee-on-the-Solent, often referred to as Lee-on-Solent, is a seaside district of the borough of
History
The district gained its name in the 19th century, during attempts to develop the area into a seaside resort. The area had been referenced long before this, referred to as Lee
Lee-on-the-Solent has had a long association with aviation. Seaplane trials took place at Lee-on-the-Solent as early as 1915. A base for seaplane training was established in 1917 on the former
The new church of St Faith's was built in 1933.[5]
In 1935 the Lee Tower complex was built on the seafront next to the old pier and railway station. It was designed by architects Yates, Cook & Derbyshire, and comprised a white V-shaped Art Deco building with a 120-foot (37 m) tower. The complex housed a cinema, ballroom and restaurant, as well as a viewing platform at the tower's peak. The complex was demolished in 1971 by Gosport Borough Council, with its land now used for the promenade, remembrance gardens and a car park.[6][7]
On 1 April 1930 Lee on the Solent became a civil parish, it was formed from Crofton and Rowner. On 1 April 1932 the parish was abolished and merged with Alverstoke.[8] In 1931 the parish had a population of 2715.[9]
Modern times
New developments in the 1980s and 1990s increased the population. In c. 2000-2007 1,050
The
A planning application was approved in February 2008 for the construction of a Multi-Purpose Driving Test Centre with Motorcycle Manoeuvring Area (MPTC) from the Driving Standards Agency, inside a part of the Daedalus site.
The Daedalus site has had housing developments built in recent years, with more re-development planned.
In 2003, the community of Lee-on-the-Solent received nationwide attention for probably the first time in its 120-year existence. The government had proposed to house asylum-seekers at the former base which forms a large area of the resort. At once, the Daedalus Action Group was formed under the chairmanship of John Beavis to oppose the scheme with the support of a large number of local residents. After a U-turn in government policy, the Home Office decided in February 2004 to abandon the asylum centre plan and the action group celebrated with a rally on the seafront. Channel 4 produced a fly-on-the-wall Dispatches documentary Keep them out[12] in 2004 dealing with both sides of the argument.
In early May 2006, 20 unexploded
The district still has a shopping centre, with a selection of independent shops and restaurants and is a popular destination for jet-skiers and kite surfers.
A bypass was built around the time of the Cherque Farm development to link up the B3385 and the B3333 and forms a bypass to Lee-on-the-Solent.
The train has long since gone from the seafront, clearing the seafront for walking, leisure and parking. The seafront is interrupted by the former railway station buildings, the war memorial and the seafront bus stop/parking area opposite the end of Pier Street. This is where the Lee Tower used to stand.
In August 2011 the government announced that the Daedalus airfield would host an
In July 2015 parkrun came to the promenade section of Lee on the Solent. The inaugural run had a total of 430 finishers, with around 25 marshals and support people. In the first year there were just over 3,300 runners and 15,000 completed runs. Last year's inaugural of 430 was topped in April of this year with a running attendance of 485.[citation needed]
On the last day of July 2018, a 'possibly deactivated' bomb was discovered '250 metres south west of the slip way in Lee-on-Solent'. By August 1, the beach was taped off and The Royal Navy had been called in, alongside the Solent Coastguard, to try to defuse the bomb.
Places of interest
The views out to sea from the seafront at Marine Parade are forever changing. From a vantage point on the grassy banks, it is possible to see shipping movements of large container ships and cruisers into Southampton and Portsmouth, sailing boats, ferries and of course the backdrop of the Isle of Wight.
On the seafront on Marine Parade East is the club house of the Lee on the Solent Sailing Club (LOSSC).
At the signal station, where the racing starts and finishes, is a smaller galley that can provide light snacks and soft drinks for the people involved in racing or training at the weekend. It is a RYA accredited Sailing School and is open to visitors and day sailors alike. Boats can be hired.
On Marine Parade West main sea front stands the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Lee-on-Solent Memorial. This was erected to commemorate the 1,926 men of the Fleet Air Arm who died in various parts of the world in World War II and have no known grave.[15]
Lee-on-the-Solent is the home to the Hovercraft Museum which houses the world's largest collection of rare hovercraft including some of the earliest and largest. It can be found on the main road along the seafront and hosts an open day every summer. From 2024 it is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Further towards
The High Street is unique as it is home to over 70 independent shops and businesses, the oldest of which is The Book Shop established in 1933 and still operates in the same building. Many of the buildings in the High Street pre-date this. The High Street has seen a resurgence in recent years due to a number of popular events in the High Street organised by the Lee Business Association, such as Summer in Lee, Lee Victory Festival and Christmas in Lee light switch on.
A short walk from the High Street in Lee is the Lee-on-the-Solent Tennis Club. It has a small bar, a gym, six squash courts (two glass-backed), six tennis courts and a sports therapist.
Lee's pubs include The Old Ship, The Bun Penny, The Wyvern and The Inn by the Sea. Some pubs have been demolished to make way for housing and retirement developments, including the Belle Vue Hotel and The Swordfish, which was located on the border between Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head, Fareham.
In 2020, Hampshire County Council announced plans to close Lee library.[16]
Climate
Lee-on-the-Solent, like many towns and cities along the south coast, has a milder climate than the rest of the UK, though it is slightly cooler than the nearby City of Portsmouth. The record high temperature is 31.7 °C (89 °F) in August 2003 and the record low is −9.2 °C (15 °F) in January 1987[17]
Lee-on-the-Solent has a Met Office weather station situated at the MRSC base.
Climate data for Solent MRSC 1980–2010 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.4 (70.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.5 (52.7) |
8.7 (47.7) |
14.5 (58.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
14.2 (57.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
9.6 (49.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
3.8 (38.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 68.8 (2.71) |
49.3 (1.94) |
51.6 (2.03) |
42.4 (1.67) |
43.4 (1.71) |
42.0 (1.65) |
44.5 (1.75) |
50.0 (1.97) |
53.7 (2.11) |
86.2 (3.39) |
83.2 (3.28) |
83.9 (3.30) |
699 (27.51) |
Average rainy days | 11.6 | 9.6 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 8.7 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 12.2 | 108.7 |
Source: UK Met Office[18] |
See also
References
- ^ "Recorded District population 2016". Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ Saxton's Hampshire 1575
- ^ Notes about old maps of the county of Hampshire, Jean and Martin Norgate, 1996–2006
- ^ Local information Archived 18 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Book Shop, Lee-on-the-Solent
- ISBN 9780300225037.
- ^ Portsmouth, Alan H. Balfour, Peter Hollins, Geoffrey Broadbent, Studio Vista, 1970
- ^ Historical tour, Gosport Council
- A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Population statistics Lee on the Solent CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Gosport Local Plan, Chapter 5 – Housing" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
- ^ "PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS LOCAL COASTGUARD HELICOPTER BASE". Island Echo. 15 July 2017.
- ^ Dispatches – Keep Them Out Channel 4 TV
- ^ "Bomb clearance moves into final stage". Hampshire Chronicle. 20 October 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "New 'enterprise zones' announced around England". BBC News Online. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ [1] CWGC Cemetery Record, Lee-on-Solent Memorial.
- ^ "Plans agreed to save £1.76 million from Hampshire Libraries transform the service for the future". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Climate SOLENT M.R.S.C. - Climate data (38740)".
- ^ UK Clima Solent MRSC
Bibliography
- The Book of Gosport by Lesley Burton and Brian Musselwhite
- The Story of Lee-on-the-Solent by Ron Brown
- Exploring the History of Lee-on-the-Solent by Robin A. Money and John W. Green