Hart Guide: Crookham Village

The village centre has grown up amid scattered ancient cottages, of which many are timber-framed. The rich soils in the area mean that agriculture and horticulture are important industries. Hops were grown and processed in the parish until 1974. Former clay-based industries for which Crookham was once noted were brick making and potteries which produced coarse red ware of the flower-pot-type.

Crookham is the only place in Britain where tobacco has been grown and processed commercially. Some of the roads in the area are named because of this connection; for example, Brandon Road (Mr. Brandon was the original manufacturer) and Blue Prior Court (Blue Prior was the brand name of the cigarettes made from Crookham tobacco).

A colourful tradition in the form of an ancient Mummers play is performed outside the two public houses and on the villages green each Boxing Day.

The Basingstoke Canal flows through Crookham and crosses the River Hart on a high embankment. Coal and timber were once shipped at Crookham Wharf where there is now a car park and picnic area.