Test Valley

Test Valley is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England, named after the valley of the River Test. Its council is based in Andover.

The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by a merger of the boroughs of Andover and Romsey, along with Andover Rural District and Romsey and Stockbridge Rural District.

Test Valley covers some convert|250|sqmi|km2 of western Hampshire, stretching from boundaries with Southampton in the south to Newbury in the north. Test Valley is a predominantly rural area. It encompasses the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The River Test is the centrepiece of the Test Valley; the river is a world renowned chalk stream of particular beauty and famous for its fishing, salmon and trout, which Lord Crickhowell (onetime chairman of the National Rivers Authority) said 'should be treated as a great work of art or music'. Home of the Houghton Fishing Club, an exclusive fishing club founded in 1822, which meets in the Grosvenor Hotel in Stockbridge.

In December 2006, Sport England published a survey which revealed that residents of Test Valley were the 8th most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 26.9% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. [http://www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/research/active_people/active_people_survey_headline_results.htm]

Towns and villages

*Abbotswood
*Abbotts Ann
*Ampfield
*Amport
*Andover
*Appleshaw
*Ashley
*Awbridge
*Barton Stacey
*Bossington
*Braishfield
*Brook
*Broughton
*Buckholt
*Bullington
*Charlton
*Chilbolton
*King's Somborne
*Houghton
*Leckford
*Longstock
*Michelmersh
*North Baddesley
*The Wallops
*Romsey
*Stockbridge
*Tangley
*Thruxton
*Timsbury
*Wellow

Miscellaneous

Test Valley Arts Foundation is local charitable trust which exists to promote arts and local artists in the borough of Test Valley.
* [http://www.testvalleyarts.org official website]

External links

* [http://www.testvalley.gov.uk Test Valley Borough website]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/tvfoe Test Valley Friends of the Earth]

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