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Hook is situated in the district of
Hart, in north east
Hampshire. It is a large
village (in 2001 the population was 7000) lying astride the A30, just to the
north of the M3 at Junction 5, about six miles from
Basingstoke
The village is bounded on the east side by the picturesque valley of the
River Whitewater, and to the south by two areas of common land - Hook Common
and Bartley Heath. Bartley Heath is an area of wet heathland designated as a
Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is particularly remarkable for the
presence of the rare Marsh Gentian. Bartley Heath and Hook Common are easily
accessible from the village and are a great place to enjoy wildlife. For
more information visit the Hampshire Wildlife Trust's website.
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Under fives attend a choice of playgroups and nurseries in and around the
village.
Infant children (5-7 year olds) are provided for at
Hook Infants School and junior children (7-10
year olds) at Hook Junior School, which share a site in the
centre of the village. Both are greatly assisted by funds raised for them by the
Hook Schools Parents Association.
11-16 year old pupils are catered for by a number of secondary schools in the
area, of which Robert May's School, in Odiham, is the
closest.
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Hook's Parish Church is St John's Church, which is situated in London
Road. The church was built in the 1930s to a design by Sir Edward Maufe, who
later designed Guildford Cathedral. The Sacred Heart Church, our Roman Catholic Church,
is also in London Road, while the Life Church (formerly Hook New Covenant Church) is in Elms Road.
The Hook Eagle Morris Men are the village's
Morris Dancers. Long may they continue to dispel our rain, win our wars,
vanquish our tyrants, guarantee our sunrises, fertilise our crops, quieten
our earthquakes, mop up our floods and cure our virgins (as long as their
wives don't find out). They are always looking out for new recruits, both
dancers and musicians. No previous Morris Dancing experience is required! Go
along to their site and find out more.
Hook Players have been entertaining the village with theatrical
productions since 1986. Find out about their productions, past and future, on their website.
Sports activities are represented by the Hook Community Squash Club,
Hook United Youth Football Club and the
Hook and Newnham Basics Cricket Club.
Every year, the Hook Fun Run and Road Race
takes place and raises thousands of pounds for local good causes.
Hook Bowling Club is open to new members, young or old, beginners or experienced. Tuition
given for new bowlers. Social membership is also available.
Hook and Odiham Lions Club raise thousands of pounds each year for local
good causes - and have a lot of fun doing it. They welcome new members at their monthly
meetings. Why not go along?
Another organisation that holds social events and also helps good causes,
both local and international, is the
Rotary Club of Odiham and Hook.
On a musical note, Hook Choral Society give a number of concerts and other events every year. Take a look at their
website for more information.
7th Bramshill (Hook) Scout Group provides lots
of activities for the village's young people. They
cater for both girls and boys aged between 6 and 18.
Hook Focus Magazine has details of many other local organisations and
events that can't be linked to here. Find out where to buy it and how to
subscribe from their website.
Hook Allotment Association is dedicated to
managing and providing allotments for the residents of Hook.
The Base Youth Centre runs activities for our young people on five nights a week.
Hook Local History Group is for anyone who is interested in the history of Hook and the surrounding area.
Hook Care Group is a non-profit making organisation that uses volunteers to provide car transport to medical
appointments for local residents who would have difficulty using other forms of transport.
There are many clubs and societies operating in the Hook area which are
not listed on this page, as we can only link to those that have web pages.
If you are involved with a local club, society or other non-profitmaking
organisation that has some information available on the web, please contact the
webmaster
and ask for a link from this page. Local community organisations may be
eligible for free webspace from Hampshire County Council - see
here for details.
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Hook's two village halls are the Elizabeth Hall in Raven Road and Hook Community Centre,
both of which are run by the
Hook Village Halls Charitable Association.
There are two recreation areas which cater for sporting activities: Hartletts Park,
which is adjacent to the Community Centre and King George V Playing Fields,
which is on the common close to the A287, near The Hogget (formerly the Dorchester Arms).
In addition, Bassetts Mead is an area of public open space adjoining the River Whitewater,
to the east of Hook. Enquiries about all of these areas should be addressed in the first instance to the Parish Council Office.
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