47-418: Wickham Festival is a four-day music event that takes place in the village of Wickham , Hampshire , England. Wickham hosts live music and comedy across four stages, as well as food stalls, craft stalls, real ale and cider bars and children's entertainers. It has been listed by The Guardian as a top 'Family Friendly Boutique Festival'. The 2015 Wickham Festival was named Best Festival (under 15,000 capacity) at
94-487: A Cèilidh . The festival was set to move to Wickham in 2012, however it was decided to incorporate it into Wickham Festival instead. The current festival began as the Eastleigh 'Big Top' Music festival in 2003: The history of Eastleigh’s Music Festival can be traced back to 2002 with the involvement of Keith House, Eastleigh’s council leader with his fellow Liberal Democrat and county council colleague Peter Chegwyn who
141-607: A station at Wickham. The village was an intermediate station on the Meon Valley Railway , a late Victorian route, until the line closed in 1955. At one time this railway was conceived as a direct route from London to the Isle of Wight . The closed line is now established as a cycle path and bridleway along the valley of the River Meon. A traditional gypsy horse fair is held annually every 20 May, or another day if
188-665: A Sunday, in the village square. The Romans established a settlement at Wickham, on the road from the Roman centres of Chichester and Winchester. Iron works have been found northeast of the village, and various Roman finds to the southwest. It was in Saxon Britain that the first written mention of the village appears, in a Royal Charter document dated 826. Recent excavation (1965–70) at the Manor House showed its grounds had dwellings and huts, evidence of Saxon settlement. After
235-499: A guitar signed by artists appearing at the festival has been raffled, to raise money for the music therapy charity George's Rockstars. The raffles have raised over £3,500 for the charity. Wickham, Hampshire Wickham ( / ˈ w ɪ k əm / ) is a village in the civil parish of Wickham and Knowle , in the Winchester district, in the county of Hampshire , England. It is about 3 miles north of Fareham . In 2021 it had
282-520: A late night Festival Club, a new viewing platform for the use of disabled festival-goers, and other improved facilities. Artists appearing at the festival included: Billy Bragg , Seth Lakeman , Eliza Carthy Big Band , 10cc , The Proclaimers , Moulettes , Show of Hands , Martin Carthy , Wilko Johnson , Andy Fairweather-Low , Tom Robinson , De Temps Antan, The Spooky Men's Chorale , Askew Sisters, The South , Lisbee Stainton , Luka Bloom , Tankus
329-566: A population of 2173. At the 2001 census, it the parish a population of 4,816, falling to 4,299 at the 2011 Census. Wickham has one of the oldest continuous historic market squares lined with historic buildings and is designated a conservation area . Most of the square is taken by parking spaces. It was the fording place of the River Meon on the Roman road between Noviomagus Regnorum ( Chichester ) and Venta Belgarum ( Winchester ), and
376-528: A public skatepark and a floodlit astroturf pitch located behind the Community Centre. The Meon Valley Railway Line is a 17.5 km (11 mi) recreational bridleway that runs through the village. The trail follows part of the bed of the former Meon Valley Railway (Alton to Fareham), which closed in 1968. It ends at West Meon due to removal of the former viaduct across the Meon Valley, and
423-486: A total of £5,000 being raised. A similar amount continued to be raised at every festival since. For the 2016 festival, a partnership with The League Against Cruel Sports was announced. The League was established in 1924 and campaigns to end cruelty to animals in sport. The charity hosted a sanctuary tent at the Festival, where attendees could learn more about their campaigns and 'enjoy some tranquillity'. Starting in 2021
470-521: Is also on the bill, and 14 time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas will also be appearing. This table shows the 'Main Stage' headliners and other notable performers from the all stages at Wickham Festival. Wickham Festival works closely with Two Saints , a Fareham -based charity that supports homeless and vulnerable young people across south Hampshire. Over £4,000 was raised for them over the 2014 festival weekend, with this figure being topped in 2015, with
517-420: Is an annual 4-day music event. The first Wickham Festival was held from 3–6 August 2006 in the Community Centre and environs. Artists performing included Daby Blade from Senegal, Spiers and Boden , Los Pacaminos , Richard Thompson , Shooglenifty , Sparks , Oysterband , Fiddlers' Bid , Osibisa , Flook , Steeleye Span and The Larry Love Showband . After briefly moving to Stokes Bay in 2008 and 2009,
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#1732793588367564-498: Is close by. To the east of Stokes Bay is Fort Gilkicker , which was built in 1871 to guard the headland and the western approaches to Portsmouth Harbour and housed 22 gun emplacements. The bay was used for experiments with submarine mines from 1879-1912. A narrow gauge railway was built from the bay to Fort Blockhouse for these operations, along with a pier. Fort Gilkicker was used in both world wars to protect Portsmouth and air attacks and fell into disrepair shortly after 1945; it
611-454: Is not deep enough to berth them. It has also been the site of many fleet reviews, the most recent being to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005. To the east is the 9-hole Gosport and Stokes Bay Golf Club . This area of the bay also contains a number of fresh and salt-water margin lagoons and provides a unique habitat for rare flora, including several specimens of
658-455: Is on the Buildings at Risk Register and support is being sought for its conservation and for an alternative use. There was also a pier, adjacent to Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Lifeboat station , from which a ferry service ran which was the quickest crossing to the Isle of Wight . The pier had a railway station , opened 6 April 1863, which had a branch line ( Stokes Bay Line ) from
705-469: The COVID-19 pandemic Wickham Festival 2020 was being postponed. Within the announcement it was revealed that the festival would return in 2021, with all 2020 tickets still valid and all booked artists returning. Following the postponement, a special 'drive-in' concert was arranged with Show of Hands . The 2021 festival took place on 5–8 August, with a majority of artists that were booked to appear at
752-610: The Fareham to Gosport Line . This railway stopped running services to the pier on 1 November 1915 and sold the land to the Admiralty in 1922. The line was not as popular as the Portsmouth to Ryde crossing although the journey from London was longer than from Portsmouth. Most of the railway line is a cycle path. The Admiralty used the pier from 1922 to transport munitions and fuel and had a narrow gauge railway line which replaced
799-463: The 2020 Wickham Festival have been announce as 6-9 August. In September 2019 it was announced The Young'uns will be playing Wickham Festival 2020. Stanley Jordan will be returning to the festival, playing a set of Jimi Hendrix music inspired by his iconic Isle of Wight Festival appearance. Van Morrison was announced as the Saturday night headliner. On 1 July 2020 it was announced that due to
846-505: The B2177 (former A333). Stokes Bay Stokes Bay ( grid ref. :) SZ 590 980 ) (50.782982, -1.163868) is an area of the Solent that lies just south of Gosport , between Portsmouth and Lee-on-the-Solent , Hampshire . There is a shingle beach with views of Ryde and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight to the south and Fawley to the south west. The settlement of Alverstoke
893-653: The Big Top. Other acts to appear that year included Lightning Seeds , Bellowhead , The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Hugh Cornwell . The festival was also treated to a rare UK appearance from Steve Earle & the Dukes. 2014 also saw the introduction of the Acoustic Stage, and the first editions of the Wickham Festival podcast. The 2015 festival saw the introduction of an open mic stage and
940-540: The Henge , Les Barker and Roy Bailey . Wickham Festival 2015 was awarded the 'Best Festival (Cap. under 15,000)' at the 2015 Live Music Awards, and was shortlisted for 'Best Event' at the Portsmouth WOW247 Awards. The number of stages at the Festival increased for 2016. The site included three covered stages and one open air stage, as well as a performance stage for dancers. All Time Grates sponsored
987-483: The Live UK Music Business Awards, and the 2018 event won Best Festival at The Guide Awards, with the 2019 event taking the title of Best Live Event. Although the history of the festival can be traced to the 2003 Eastleigh Festival, the first Wickham Festival was held from 3–6 August 2006 in and around the village community centre, with a line-up rooted in folk and traditional music. Since then
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#17327935883671034-828: The Norman Conquest, King William granted the Manor of Wickham to Hugo de Port and the Village appeared in the Doomsday Book of 1086, as part of the Titchfield Hundred. The present church of St Nicholas dates from 1126 and was run by the Canons of Titchfield. In 1269, King Henry III granted a charter to Roger de Scures, the Lord of The Manor at the time, for markets to be held on a Thursday. It is from this time that
1081-524: The branch line. The pier was then used as a torpedo station and fell into disrepair before being demolished in the late 1970s. During World War II DD Valentine tanks were tested in the bay. In June 1944, landing craft embarked from Stokes Bay for France as part of Operation Overlord , the Allied invasion of Normandy . The Solent opposite Stokes Bay is often used by extremely large warships (e.g. US supercarriers ) to anchor, as Portsmouth Harbour
1128-515: The church was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. In the 18th century, there was a tanning industry in Wickham and in the 18th and 19th centuries a brewing industry. Both needed a supply of fresh water, which was readily available from the River Meon . In 1801, Wickham had a population of 901 and compared to most of the villages in Hampshire it was a large community. In 1820, Chesapeake Mill
1175-490: The comedy stage. The festival ultimately included five fully programmed stages of music, as well as the late night comedy and the return of a free concert in the Wickham Centre. Wickham Festival 2018 won the 'Best Festival' award at The News Guide Awards 2019. Following the conclusion of the 2018 festival, early bird tickets were made available for 2019. The dates for the festival are 1–4 August 2019. A strong line up
1222-827: The festival has expanded (moving to its current site in 2013) to become a venue for both well established artists and those just breaking through, across many musical genres, and has previously hosted talks from Tony Benn and Bill Oddie . Recent years have seen high-profile performances from rock and pop artists, including Van Morrison , James Blunt , Kiefer Sutherland , Frank Turner , Wilko Johnson and Lightning Seeds . The festival has not lost touch with its roots, continuing to promote folk music, world music and such festival stalwarts as Richard Thompson , Bellowhead and Steve Earle . Wickham Festival has also introduced British audiences to international musicians, including Carlos Núñez Muñoz , The Spooky Men's Chorale and Le Vent du Nord . The origins of Wickham Festival can be found in
1269-414: The festival has taken place in Wickham since 2006. The first Wickham Festival included performances from Daby Blade from Senegal, Spiers and Boden , Los Pacaminos , Richard Thompson , Shooglenifty , Sparks , Oysterband , Fiddlers' Bid , Osibisa , Flook , Steeleye Span and The Larry Love Showband . These shows primarily took place in and around the Village community centre. In the years since 2006
1316-615: The festival included Roger Taylor of Queen , B. B. King , The Saw Doctors , The Manfreds and The Bootleg Beatles . The Gosport Festival also saw one of the first shows from the supergroup SAS Band . Mr Chegwyn also organised the popular Gosport & Fareham Easter Folk Festival, which ran from 2001 to 2011, Based out of Fernham Hall, Fareham (the festival also utilised the Ashcroft Arts Centre and Wallington Village Hall), attendees would be treated to four days of folk music, workshops, dance displays, craft fairs, and
1363-506: The festival returned to Wickham in 2010, where it has remained ever since. Wickham Festival has expanded over the years, and has featured performances from such artists as James Blunt , 10cc , Wilko Johnson , The Proclaimers , KT Tunstall , Hugh Cornwell and Lightning Seeds . Taste of Wickham is a food festival, first held in Wickham's medieval square in 2014. The festival offers local produce, barbecues, tasters and cookery demonstrations, and has attracted crowds of over 4,000 people to
1410-598: The festival site has moved slightly to the fields either side of Blind Lane, north of the village square, steadily expanding to include multiple stages, food and craft fayres, real ale and cider bars, and family entertainment. Camping facilities have also grown to include glamping fields and spaces for motorhomes. In 2024 Wickham Festival moved across the A334 to a new, flatter, grassed site with better access and drainage. The 2014 festival started with one of Wickham's biggest audiences, when 7,000 people saw James Blunt perform in
1457-415: The festival took place at Eastleigh Park, Eastleigh . The Eastleigh Music Festival was a six-day event featuring live music and entertainment, with free lunchtime world music concerts, free family entertainment every afternoon and ticketed evening concerts. The festival moved to Wickham in 2006, however due to issues with Winchester Council , it was relocated for 2008 and 2009. For these two years, Wickham
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1504-537: The inferred divergent point of the route to Clausentum ( Bitterne ). The Roman road from Wickham to Chichester is still followed today by local roads, passing behind Portsdown Hill to the north of Portsmouth Harbour and then onwards via Havant . In contrast, the route to Winchester is mostly likely lost through neglect in the Dark Ages, before present field patterns emerged. Nearby sites have been connected to Romano-British industry, mainly pottery kilns focused around
1551-452: The layout of the village as we now know it began to emerge. Wickham also had a fair which attracted buyers and sellers from a wide area. Wickham fair (often referred to Wickham Horse Fair) is still held each year on 20 May. The Church of St Nicholas in Wickham was built in the early 12th century (although there has probably been a church on the site since the 7th century when the people of Hampshire were first converted to Christianity), however
1598-727: The limit of navigation of the River Hamble , near Botley , and a ford on the Clausentum road. Wickham has been suggested as an alternative to Nursling (on the River Test ) or Neatham (near Alton ) for the Roman station Onna listed in the Antonine Itinerary . However, no definite location for Onna has been determined. It was the birthplace of William of Wykeham , founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford . The Admiralty Shutter Telegraph Line had
1645-481: The main stage at the festival, with Sam FM and The Breeze joining the festival to support the second stage. In 2017 the camping capacity was increased with three added fields, and a free concert at Wickham Community Centre was scheduled to entertain early arrivals on the Wednesday evening. After its successful launch at the 2017 festival, it was announced that Jonathan Pie would be returning in 2018 to headline
1692-403: The many other confirmed acts. Midge Ure made his first appearance at Wickham Festival, which ran from 3rd-6th August 2024. Toyah Willcox returned to the festival with her husband Robert Fripp , and there were show from Eliza Carthy , Barbara Dickson , Eric Bibb , The Zombies and many others. The weather in 2023 proved a challenge for the festival, prompting a review in to the best use of
1739-533: The original Gosport Festival of the early 1990s, and the Eastleigh Music Festival. Both these events were organised by local councillor and music promoter Peter Chegwyn. The original Gosport Festival organised by Chegwyn, Robin Fegan & Pam Pullen ran from 1991 to 1995 on Walpole Park, Gosport, Hampshire. Concerts were held in a 1000 capacity 'Big Top' and an Open Stage. Artists to perform at
1786-494: The postponed 2020 festival agreeing to appear in 2021. Deacon Blue , Fairport Convention and Moya Brennan among those acts added to the line-up. At the conclusion of the 2021 event, the dates for Wickham Festival 2022 were announced as being 4 to 7 August. Having had to withdraw from the previous festival Waterboys were the first act confirmed for 2022. Saw Doctors will headline in a UK festival exclusive, with Martha Wainwright , Rumer , 10cc and Gilbert O'Sullivan among
1833-507: The presence of tunnels further north. Known as Wickham civil parish until its name was changed in 2022 to Wickham and Knowle. Wickham Common is an area of common land a mile south-east of Wickham village. It is a mix of grassland and woodland . Wickham Common is also the name of a hamlet on Forest Lane, south of the common. Main roads running through the parish are the A32 , the A334 and
1880-434: The site. Following a review in 2023, Wickham Festival announced a change to the festival site for 2024. Moving across the road to a flatter, grass field with improved access and drainage, Wickham Festival 2024 will bring a newly designed arena for attendees to explore. Rock legend Suzi Quatro was announced as one of the festival's headliners, as well as Curtis Stigers and festival stalwarts Levellers . Icon Tony Christie
1927-422: The village to trade secrets, meet with friends and parade their stock. The fair includes bareback parades with ponies decorated with ribbons. Wickham's village square has bars, restaurants, shops and hotels. Bay Tree Walk is a shopping walk. The Chesapeake Mill is a former water mill which is a retail centre. Wickham has a community centre "Wickham Community Centre". Wickham has a tennis club. The village has
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1974-464: The village. Taste of Wickham returned in 2015, with increased numbers of stalls, crafts and musical displays. England's biggest and oldest horse fair takes place in Wickham on 20 May every year. It is one of just two major horse-trading events in the country and can trace its history back to the year 1269, making it one of the oldest fairs of this type in the UK. Ever since, crowds have gathered annually in
2021-474: Was also a music promoter. Mr Chegwyn had been organising a highly successful music festival in Gosport which had featured artistes like the international blues superstar and guitar legend B. B. King . The intention was to try and replicate the success in Eastleigh. Since the first Eastleigh Music Festival in 2003, the site changed a number of times before settling in its current location. Between 2003 and 2005,
2068-520: Was built with timber taken from an American ship USS Chesapeake , which was captured in the War of 1812 . Sir Richard Grindall who commanded HMS Prince at the Battle of Trafalgar is buried in Wickham churchyard. In 1903, a branch railway was built from Fareham through Wickham, to Droxford and Alton. It was closed to passengers in 1955 and the line converted to a footpath. The original station platforms can still be found. In 1978, Wickham
2115-480: Was incorporated in to the Stokes Bay Festival at Stokes Bay , Gosport . The festival returned to Wickham in 2010. Wickham is a village located in Hampshire, just north of Fareham . The historic village square is home to a number of bars, restaurants, boutique shops and hotels. Wickham is also home to the historic Chesapeake Mill , built from the timbers of HMS Chesapeake . Apart from 2008/2009,
2162-514: Was put together, featuring Graham Nash , local boy Frank Turner , Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland and Barnsley comedy-folk stalwarts The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican . The second stage (Village Stage) has been expanded to give it equal billing with the bigtop (Valley Stage). The 2019 Wickham Festival won the award for 'Outstanding Street Food at a Music Festival' at the Hampshire Street Food Awards. The dates for
2209-455: Was twinned with the French village of Villiers-Sur-Mer . Wickham Vineyard opened in 1984. In 1990, an old brewery and village hall in Wickham were converted into flats called Riverside Mews. The brewery had shut in 1910 and the buildings were given to Wickham Parish Council to use as a village hall. Farmland north of Wickham serves as the venue for the award-winning Wickham Festival , which
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