The Hampshire town of Waterlooville enjoys an enviable location. Six miles north of Portsmouth and within easy reach of the stunning scenery of the New Forest and beautiful beaches of the south coast, these days the bustling market town is home to around 34,000 residents.
However, the town’s strategic position has played a far more significant role in its development than merely being a gateway to the county’s many attractions. Legend has it that its geographical position played a crucial part in the etymology of the town’s name itself.
Heroes of Waterloo
Local historians believe the town’s origins can be traced back to 1815 when foot soldiers returned to England from Belgium on the battleships following Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo.
To break up the long journey from Portsmouth to the capital on the old London Road (A3), they stopped at an unnamed inn at a crossroads on the horse and carriage route for some much-needed refreshments.
During the course of their celebrations, the victorious infantrymen got talking to the landlord and suggested that he could do far worse than name the pub after them.
It is believed that the innkeeper obliged, and the pub was duly renamed the ‘Heroes of Waterloo’ in their honour.
Following their knees up at the pub, many of the soldiers decided to settle in the area and make it their home (it must have been a very good night…).
As the settlement grew, the name spread to the surrounding area, which became known as ‘Waterloo’, later evolving to ‘Waterlooville’ to differentiate the town from other places with the same name.
Timeline of Waterlooville
1815: The town is established by soldiers returning from the Battle of Waterloo who celebrated their victory in a local pub.
1829: Settlement has grown to the size of a village.
1831: St George’s Church was consecrated.
1835: Waterlooville had a butcher and a baker, although it was still a tiny village with less than 200 people.
1869: Purbrook Industrial School opened in Stakes Road.
1885: St Michael’s Convent was built.
1904: Gas street lighting was installed in the town.
1907: Waterlooville Golf Club was founded.
1951: Waterlooville had a population of 2,881.
1971: Population increased significantly to over 10,000.
June 2015: Waterlooville celebrated its 200th anniversary with the ‘Waterlooville 200’ festival.
You can find out more about Waterlooville’s local history and origins by clicking here.
Waterlooville Today
Figures from the most recent census offer valuable insight into what life is like in Waterlooville today.
According to data from the 2021 census, the population of Waterlooville stands at 34,772, with an almost equal split between genders (48.5% male and 51.5% female).
There is an even spread of age groups in Waterlooville, with a slight majority of residents falling into the 50– 59 age category (5,069), closely followed by the 30–39 age group (4,458).
This reflects the overall trend in the surrounding areas, as the median age of the population in Havant borough was 44 years old in the last census.
Waterlooville saw the most significant surge in its growth during the 1960s and 70s, when a rapid increase in the number of housing estates being built swelled its population substantially by attracting new people to the area.
Over the past 200 years, Waterlooville has grown from a small settlement at a crossroads to a thriving town full of restaurants, retailers, and open spaces.
While the original ‘Heroes of Waterloo’ was demolished in 1966, a new pub took its name, thereby ensuring Waterlooville residents can still celebrate the town’s long-standing tradition of enjoying a good, old-fashioned knees up.
Larcomes Solicitors in Waterlooville
Larcomes Legal Limited also has a proud history. We were established in Portsmouth in the 1880s, and the firm has since expanded in both size and scope.
With offices in Portsmouth and Waterlooville, we offer specialist advice in a wide range of legal areas, including conveyancing, employment law, Wills, trusts, and probate.
We are particularly well known for the work we do in family law. Specialist family law solicitor Adrian Silk joined Larcomes in August 2023 and has headed up the firm’s practice in Waterlooville since December last year.
Adrian has almost 30 years of experience and specialises in all areas of family law, including divorce, grandparents’ rights, and financial remedy disputes.
Larcomes’ Waterlooville office is in Appletree House, 17 St Georges Walk, Waterlooville, PO7 7TU.
We have a well-established reputation for our friendly service and are always on hand for our clients, providing personal and business legal advice.
To speak to one of our Waterlooville solicitors, call 023 9224 6666 or make an online enquiry.
Please note that this article is not intended as legal or professional advice. It is for general guidance only, and updates to the law may have changed since it was published.
