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Basingstoke Leasing

Did You Know?

Basingstoke is recorded as a weekly market site in the Domesday Book, in 1086, and has held a regular Wednesday market since 1214. During the Civil War, and the siege of Basing House between 1643 and 1645, the town played host to large numbers of Parliamentarians.

Basingstoke' is a funny word. It derives from one of the many peoples who migrated to Britain in the Iron Age – one such, the Basinga – settled by the river in what is now Old Basing. From there a 'stoke' or new settlement grew 2 miles upstream.

1856. Thomas Burberry establishes Burberry in Basingstoke at just 21 years old, founded on the principle that clothing should be designed to protect people from the British weather.

Other media mentions include Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy, the 1968 biography of The Beatles by Hunter Davies, Monty Pythons Flying Circus, Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and in Only Fools and Horses Rodney was expelled from an art college in Basingstoke.

Everyone remembers the absolute legend of Basingstoke that was known as Mr Clappy. You'd find him at the top of town clapping. Sadly, Mr Clappy (real name Archie Smith) died in 2017 at the age of 79.

Basingstoke is considered to be an affluent, low-unemployment town in Hampshire with a population of around 200,000. Basingstoke is famous for its prominent Fanum House, the 18 storey Automobile Association building which can be spotted from many miles away.

The last woman in the UK to be hanged was Ruth Ellis on 13th July 1955. Although Ruth was born in Rhyl in Wales, she spent most of her childhood in Basingstoke before moving to London during the Blitz.

One of the many respected heritage sites located in Basingstoke is the spectacular Vyne house. This was built by understandably wealthy owners in the Tudor period and has since been maintained and managed by the National Trust and a range of donors. The house has much in the way of royal history, with frequent visits by King Henry the Eighth throughout his reign.

Did you know that Basingstoke is home to the single largest colony of bats in the UK? Probably not, It’s just one example of the fantastic wildlife located within and around the city. As is the case with many areas of the UK, ‘green belt’ areas are maintained, and areas of pristine nature defended from development rigorously by locals.

For those who love to know about the movements of the rich and famous, Basingstoke is your spot. The area has many connections to the best in the UK, ranging from notable public figures such as Channel 4 news anchor Alex Thompson all the way through to football star Tom Cleverly.