Colden Common

Known in the 13th Century as Colvedene, the origin of the name is uncertain but may come from Old English clofa (cleft) and denu (valley).{{Cite book|title=The place-names of Hampshire : based on the collection of the English Place-Name Society|last=Coates, Richard.|date=1989|publisher=B.T. Batsford|others=English Place-Name Society.|isbn=0713456256|location=London|oclc=21079523}}

The area that is now known as Colden Common is referred to as Golding Common in the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map of Winchester and Solent.Reprint of the first edition of the one-inch ORDNANCE SURVEY of England and Wales WINCHESTER & THE SOLENT, Published by David & Charles, Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon

The area was a major centre of palaeolithic flint tool manufacture, with evidence of a "factory" covering 400 square metres discovered during a 1915 excavation in Highbridge.{{Cite book|title=Colden Common: A Village History|last=Simpson|first=Sue|publisher=Colden Common Community Association|year=2018|pages=10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/media/2248/eastleigh-strategic-archaeology-and-heritage-report.pdf|title=Eastleigh Strategic Archaeology and Heritage Report|last=Godden|first=Alex|date=November 2017|website=Eastleigh Council|access-date=9 Jun 2019}}

The parish was originally part of the manors of Twyford and Owslebury. The Ecclesiastical Parish of Colden Common was formed in 1843,{{cite book|last1=Cox|first1=J Charles|title=Hampshire|date=1903|pages=102|url=https://archive.org/stream/hampshire00coxgoog/hampshire00coxgoog_djvu.txt|access-date=5 September 2017}} with Holy Trinity Church, designed by George Guillaume, completed the following year on the southern boundary of the parish.{{cite book |last1=O’Brien |first1=Charles|last2=Bailey |first2=Bruce|last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |last4=Lloyd |first4=David W. |date=2018 |title=The Buildings of England Hampshire: South |publisher=Yale University Press |page=228|isbn=9780300225037}} It then became an independent civil parish in 1932.

A number of brickworks were formerly located in Colden Common, including Charles Mitchell's Works which until its closure in 1957 was the last brickworks in Hampshire to make hand-made bricks by the clamp method.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1970s/vol28/White.pdf|title=A GAZETTEER OF BRICK AND TILE WORKS IN HAMPSHIRE|last=White|first=WCF|website=Hantsfield Club}}

Colden Common grew significantly over the 20th Century, from a population of 748 in 1901 to 3,681 in 2001.{{Cite book|title=Colden Common: A Village History|last=Simpson|first=Sue|publisher=Colden Common Community Association|year=2018|pages=135}}

Brambridge House is a Grade II* listed building – a three-storey former country house on the bank of the River Itchen. It was originally built in 1762, remodelled after an 1872 fire, and was converted to residential flats in the 1950s.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/list-entry/48617|title=Brambridge House, Kiln Lane, Colden Common, Winchester - South Downs (NP) {{!}} Historic England|last=England|first=Historic|website=historicengland.org.uk|access-date=2019-06-09}} The site is believed to be the birthplace of the Catholic martyr Swithun Wells.

There are two major roads in Colden Common—the B3354 and the B3335. The B3354 is known as the Main Road whilst it passes through the village, and the B3335 is called Highbridge Road.

Southampton Airport is {{convert|5|mi|0|abbr=out}} south of the village.

The M3 Motorway is {{convert|3|mi|0|abbr=out}} west of the village. Junction 11, which is north of the village, down the B3354 and B3335 roads, is in Twyford Down which is south of Winchester. The other junction, closer to the village, is Junction 12, west of the village, north of Eastleigh and near Allbrook; the junction is down the B3335 and A335 (Highbridge Road), Allbrook Hill (B3335) and Allbrook Way (A335) (tall vehicles can't go this way because there is a relatively low bridge in Allbrook, under the railway line to London).

The parish has a 97% white population, with a median age of 45. 78% of households own their house. 40% of employed people are employed in managerial or professional occupations.{{NOMIS2011|id=E04004658|title=Colden Common Parish|access-date=2019-06-09}}

The Non-League football club Colden Common F.C. play at Oakwood Park, in nearby Otterbourne.

Colden Common has both Anglican and Methodist churches. There is a community centre located at the centre of the village. The school is Colden Common primary school.

The pubs within the boundaries of the Parish are The Rising Sun and The Fishers Pond. Former pubs, now closed, include The Queens Head, The Dog and Crook and The Black Horse. The Dog and Crook has since reopened and been renamed The Brambridge Arms.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebrambridgearms.co.uk/|title=Dog and Crook | Pub | Colden Common|website=The Brambridge Arms}}

The main entrance of Marwell Zoo is situated on the boundary with Colden Common and Owslebury.

Colden Common is twinned with Saint-Vigor-le-Grand, France{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=2013-07-11 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=2013-07-05 }}

{{Commons category|Colden Common}}

• [http://www.coldencommon.hants.gov.uk/ Colden Common Parish Council]
• [http://www.coldencommoncc.co.uk/ Colden Common Community Centre]

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{{Winchester wards and parishes}}

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Category:Villages in Hampshire