Why come to Hamble

The very name Hamble-le-Rice conjures up images of a peaceful backwater village in an idyllic beauty spot, and that is exactly what it is. Hamble-le-Rice is located on the River Hamble estuary in Hampshire, just five miles southeast of Southampton.

Known locally as Hamble, the village has been in the boatbuilding and yachting business since the 14th century. At that time this river port was even more important for trade than neighbouring Portsmouth and it was once famous for its crab and lobster fishing.

One of the oldest buildings in the village is the Church of St Andrew which dates back to Norman times.

The village has several claims to fame. It was the location for an aircraft training centre during World War II and many hundreds of Spitfires, Wellington and Lancaster bombers have taken off from this charming area.

It played an important part in preparations for the D-Day invasion.

The airport is now abandoned and overgrown and parts of it have been developed as a smart new housing estate. Only the local Hamble Aerostructures factory, a major local employer, continues the local connection with aviation.

Hamble-le-Rice was also very well-known to viewers of the TV boating series Howard’s Way which was screened in the late 1980s.