Basingstoke

Basingstoke, a town in the north of Hampshire, 48 miles WSW. of London. It is a place of much activity, being situated at the junction of five main roads to London from the south and west of England, and it is also an important railway centre. Its chief buildings are the fine Perpendicular parish church, the town-hall (1832), and the corn exchange (1865); and it has a trade in corn, malt, coal, and timber. Basing House, 1½ miles eastward, belonging to the Marquis of Winchester, for two years withstood the forces of the Commonwealth; but Cromwell at last took it by storm, and burned it to the ground, in 1645. The remains consist of the gate-house and a few walls and mounds. Pop. (1871) 5574; (1891) 8213.