Hamble-le-Rice

Coordinates: 50°51′25″N 1°19′15″W / 50.85694°N 1.32084°W / 50.85694; -1.32084

Hamble-le-Rice is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, UK. It is best known for being an aircraft training centre during the Second World War and is a popular yachting location. The village and the River Hamble also featured in the 1980s BBC television series Howards' Way.

Location

Hamble-le-Rice is located on the south coast of England, south east of Southampton. The village is situated at the tip of the Hamble Peninsula, and is bounded by Netley, Butlocks Heath, Bursledon, Southampton Water and the River Hamble.

History

Although previously known as "Hamble", "Hamelea", "Hammel", and "Ham-en-le-Rice", the village's official name is now Hamble-le-Rice. The name "Hamble" is still in common usage. To the south of the village, lies the site of an Iron Age promontory hillfort, Hamble Common Camp.

The area is home to the remains of a defensive structure dating to the reign of King Henry VIII. Known as St Andrews castle investigations suggest that it consisted of a rectangular structure fronted by a gun-platform with a semi-circular layout. The whole thing was protected by a moat with a further two gun-platforms mounted on the Counterscarp. The structure was intact as late as the early 17th century.