Tongham

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Tongham
map_type= Surrey
latitude= 51.2372
longitude= -0.7321
population=3168 (2001) [ [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/1c602ea59c869c9180256e600054b26c/$FILE/Town%20populations.pdf Surrey County Council 2001 Census information] ]
os_grid_reference= SU8849
OldMapsYear=1873-1874
OldMapsEasting= 488500
OldMapsNorthing= 149500
OldMapsCounty=10surr341
shire_district= Guildford
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Surrey Heath
post_town= Farnham|postcode_district = GU10
postcode_area= GU|dial_code= 01252
Ambulance=South East Coast

Tongham is a small Surrey village located close to the north-east Hampshire and Surrey border. The village lies in a triangle between the A31 and the A331. Neighbouring villages include Ash and Badshot Lea.

As Tongham is in Surrey, its postal town is Farnham, although it is closer geographically to Aldershot in Hampshire. It is home to the Hogs Back Brewery as the village lies just north of the Hog's Back. It was formerly the home of Aldershot Stadium which hosted greyhound racing, stock car racing (and other short-oval motorsports) and speedway. The stadium lasted from 1950 until it was demolished for construction of the A331 road at the end of 1992.

History

Archaeological evidence suggests man has occupied the area of Tongham since Neolithic times. Notable finds in the village include two Neolithic arrowheads and Iron Age farmsteads. [ [http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/valley_history.htm History of the Blackwater Valley] ] Tongham railway station was important for transporting materials to build the new military camp of Aldershot from 1856 until 1870. [ [http://www.ash-vale.co.uk/ald_hist2.html The history of Aldershot] ] St. Paul's Church was designed by Ewan Christian and completed in 1865. In 1866, Tongham (which had previously been part of the parish of Seale) was made into a separate parish.

A notable Anglican clergyman Cyril Garbett was born in Tongham in 1875.

According to the Guinness World Records 2003, Tongham also holds the world record for holding the most Indisciplined Football Match ever against Hawley Youth Club on 3 November 1969. The referee booked all 22 players, including one who went to hospital and one of the linesman. The match, which was won by Tongham 2-0, was described by a participating player as a "good hard game".

Tongham was mentioned in passing in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World.

References

External links

* [http://www.tongham.com Tongham.com]
* [http://www.stpaulstongham.org.uk St. Paul's Church Tongham]
* [http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldmaps/index_external.jsp?easting=488500&northing=149500&county=10surr341 Tongham on old-maps.co.uk]