For those who are interested in local politics, and haw the area has changed in the last 123 years the “Extracts From Parish Council Minutes” 1894 – 1947 by Councillor David G Eaton makes an interesting read – here is a summary of some of the items and a link to the document is below. The file comes from the Horndean parish Council website and Cllr Dorothy Denston (who, celebrating her 80th birthday predates a number of these minutes)
The photographs below are old but not necessarily completely date related. Thank you to Sara Schillemore for their reproduction here.
1894 – The first Parish Council in the community was formed covering Catherington, Blendworth and parts of Cowplain. Mr R.A. Gale was elected chairman with Capt Barnes, Mr Harcourt, Mr Edney, Mr Adams, Mr Westbrook, Mr Bilk also attending.
1895 – The precept was set at £5 for the whole Parish. today it is about £120 for a home in Horndean.
1898 – The new Light Railway is to be extended from Waterlooville into Horndean! You can bet this brought concerns about more housing! The Parish Council were supportive of plans to get mains water into the village

1900 – Major concerns about the amount of smoke coming from the brewery chimney.

1904 – Still trying to get mains water into the village
1905 – Precept remains at £5
1909 – The post office is to shut on Wednesday afternoons (I always got told off by Chris and Jo for thinking it still was…)
1917 – The County War Agricultural Committee agree upon a seed potato scheme
1918 – Due to the war conditions if cows are out with a minder they can graze on the grass at the side of the road!
1919 – A 3d rate was called for to cover the expenses of the peace celebrations with anything left over to be used to entertaining returning soldiers. The celebrations took place at the Ship and Bell, Red Lion and Good Intent.
1926 – Calls for the first refuse collections throughout Catherington Parish
1928 – Precept has risen to £20
1928 – The recreation ground on Five Heads Road is bought for £600 with a 30 year loan. Mr Heath, a tenant on the land, has £24 compensation for loosing access but retains feeding rights until 1930 for £2
1929 – Precept rockets to £40
1930 – Waterlooville Fire Brigade for a £5 fee conditionally agree to attend fires in Catherington Parish
1930 – The new wards to have 4 Parish and 4 District Councillors
1932 – The precept now stands at £70 and a clerk appointed on the annual salary of £5
1932 – A request to Petersfield Rural District Council to collect refuse once a week was turned down
1932 – Horndean Parish Council was formed
1933 – Clerks salary doubled to £10 with each house paying a precept of 1′ 1/2d
1933 – The fire protection provided by Havant costs £17.6.0d
1933 – Street Lighting installed – 2 at Lovedean Road, 1 at Victory Avenue and 1 at Portsmouth Road! Electric street lighting comes to Blendworth!
1935 – A discussion about the replacement of the light railway with new motor busses – Will the new busses continue to run on Christmas Day?

1937 – Volunteers are called to work for the ARP scheme

1940 – Evacuation completed
1940 – Recreation ground to be used by troops
1941 – Only 2 air raid wardens as others had resigned due to lack of equipment
1941 – Horndean raised £14,000 in War Weapons Week (against a target of £3,000)
1942 – Horndean raised £11,200 for Warship Week
1942 – Considerable damage done by Children to the recreation grounds
1943 – No precept asked for as there were enough funds in the bank
1943 – Noone turned up at the Parish Annual Meeting
1944 – Post War development discussed at great length
1944 – Telephone installed in schools to give better warning of hostile aircraft!

1944 – meeting to discuss house numbers needed. District Council estimate 10 in the first 2 years and Parish Council consider this totally inadequate
1944 – Parish Council research suggests 203 new homes needed for Horndean…
1944 – Portsmouth Electric Co and Gas Co asked to make ready to switch lighting to electric at the end of the war
1945 – Ex-Services committee formed and chaired by Admiral Murray
1946 – Victory Celebrations to be held. Tea supplied at 1/2d per head, total cost of the celebrations £62.15.10d
1946 – 100 houses to be built in Horndean!

1947 – Request from Portsmouth Water to lay water mains to Bulls Copse
1947 – Lovedean Village Hall is built
1948 – Parish Council takes over the War Memorial
1948 – Estimated population of Horndean, Clanfield, Rowlands Castle is 6,300
Parish Council Abbreviated Minutes 1894-1947