Purbrook

Coordinates: 50°51′56″N 1°02′12″W / 50.865535°N 1.03669°W / 50.865535; -1.03669

Purbrook is a village and local government sub-division located in Hampshire, England. Purbrook is on the outskirts of Waterlooville just North of the Portsmouth city Boundary. Purbrook village is part of Purbrook Ward which also includes Widley and Crookhorn and has a population of 9,281(2001), taking up 7.7% of Havant borough's population.

History

Waterlooville and Cowplain did not exist before the year 1815. Before then the area was part of the Forest of Bere, which stretched from the border of Sussex to Winchester. Today Queens Inclosure at Waterlooville is one of the last remnants of the forest.

On the southern fringe of the forest was the little village of Purbrook. Its name is a corruption of Pucanbroc, which means the brook of the water-sprite.

Early in the 19th century a windmill was built in Purbrook. Purbrook Church (St Johns) was built in 1858. In 1869 Purbrook Industrial School opened in Stakes Road.