Knaphill

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Knaphill
map_type= Surrey
latitude = 51.319149
longitude = -0.61663
population = 8,635 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5942844&c=GU21+2QH&d=14&e=16&g=492935&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1203789722562&enc=1 Census] ]
shire_district = Woking
shire_county = Surrey
region = South East England
constituency_westminster= Woking
post_town = Woking
postcode_district = GU21
postcode_area = GU
dial_code= 01483
os_grid_reference = SU965587

Knaphill is a dispersed urban village in Surrey, UK. To the east is Woking, to the west, eventually, is Aldershot, while to the north and south on the A322 – which forms its effective western border – are Brookwood, and Bisley, respectively.

History

The village name was first recorded in 1225 as "La Cnappe". Since then there has been various spellings of the name including 'Nap Hill, Naphill and Knap Hill.

In 958A.D., the village was probably part of land granted to Westminster Abbey; there is clear ownership by 1278. The land passed to Henry VIII on the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s.

The Basingstoke Canal was built to the south of Knaphill in 1794 and the railway line came in 1838. In 1859, a prison was built in Knaphill. This was later converted into army barracks. [ [http://www.theknaphillian.com/historyofknaphill.htm Local history] ]

Today

Knaphill is also the home to two schools: Knaphill Lower & Junior. Furthermore Peer Productions, a large theatre company, is based at the Woking Youth Arts Centre in Knaphill. It provides dramatic education for students of all ages.

The local pub "Hooden takes a Knap" has been changed back to its original name "The Garibaldi". The village has a residents' association. [ [http://knaphill.org Knaphill Residents' Association] ] The nearest railway stations are at Brookwood and at Woking.

Brookwood Hospital

One of the major employers in the area until its closure in the 1990s was Brookwood Hospital, a vast, rambling mental hospital that dated from the late Victorian era. The northern edge of the hospital formed the southern boundary of Knaphill (the southern edge being denoted by the Basingstoke Canal). Most of the hospital grounds have been redeveloped, the wards having made way for several superstores and a large number of houses. The central building, which is listed, has been retained and converted into luxury flats. Several of the new residential roads were named after the old hospital wards.

References

* [http://theknaphillian.com/ Knaphill village community website]

External links

* [http://theknaphillian.com/ Knaphill village community website]

* [http://knaphillfootballclub.co.uk/ Knaphill FC website]