Down Grange Sports Complex in Kempshott was upgraded last year following a £220,000 track refurbishment work including resurfacing the athletics arena.
The reopening of the track marked the completion of the first phase of plans to enhance the athletics facilities at the sports complex in Pack Lane.
A second phase of the project, which includes a spectator stand, timekeepers’ stand and perimeter fencing, is expected to be completed by spring 2023.
READ MORE: Running track upgrade complete ahead of more improvements
Down Grange covers a large area of land at Kempshott, stretching between Homesteads Road to Pack Lane one way, and between Winchester Road and Coniston Road the other way. The area was split into a private estate to the south, and farmland to the north in its early days during the 19th century.
Down Grange received its name from The Down, which was land near the junction of Pack Lane and Kempshott Lane.
The farm and its adjoining estate have been owned by various people over the years. For example, in 1930, a Mr A R Hankey owned the land, and he ruled over the whole of the Down Grange area; giving orders to the farmer and his labourers, as well as to his staff at Down Grange House.
By 1942, Mrs T Cassandra was in charge, then, in 1972, William Kershaw was recorded as being the owner.
In 1939, Major Frederick Lort-Phillips was the owner. In the years prior to his ownership he travelled the world to hunt big game. In those years he was known as Frederick Gillett, but he changed his name by deed poll in 1926. In 1931 he wrote his autobiography and it was published under the title The Wander Years.
The estate also included several cottages, including Beechdown, where Mr Albert Boyer, who had an outfitters and drapery shop in London Street, lived in the mid-20th century.
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In 1965, the Basingstoke Borough Council acquired the Down Grange House and all the land, including the farm.
The latter was destined to be used for sporting facilities, while the house was refurbished and made into offices for the local council’s architects’ department. When the Civic Offices in London Road were built, the offices moved to their new abode in 1975.
Over the following years, various changes took place at Down Grange to house the hockey, athletics, football and rugby clubs.
In 1978, the construction of a pavilion close to the remaining farm buildings took place, and was opened in the summer of the following year. Plans also went ahead to build squash courts close to Down Grange House.
The house was acquired by Berni Inns in 1985 and it was restructured internally to have two restaurants and a bar, while a large car park was laid out for customers.
Meanwhile, the walled gardens that belonged to Down Grange House were found to be in a terrible condition, so the local council set about cultivating it into a dual purpose horticultural area where council staff could be trained and for the testing of new methods and equipment. It was opened to the public in September 1983.
In 1997, the present astro pitch was opened with a game played by the English and Wales hockey teams.
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