Aldershot
| Aldershot | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Clockwise from top: Cambridge Military Hospital, equestrian statue of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Aldershot Post Office, Brickfields Country Park, Wesleyan Chambers, Smith-Dorrien House and Royal Garrison Church | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Aldershot Location within Hampshire | |
| Population | 40,160 (Rushmoor Borough Council data) |
| OS grid reference | SU865505 |
| • London | 31.8 mi (51.2 km) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALDERSHOT |
| Postcode district | GU11, GU12 |
| Dialling code | 01252 |
| Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Aldershot (/ˈɔːldərʃɒt/ AWL-dər-shot) is a town in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme north-east corner of the county, 31 mi (50 km) south-west of London.[1] The town has a population of 40,160,[2] while the Aldershot Urban Area – a loose conurbation, which also includes other towns such as Camberley and Farnborough – has a population of 243,344; it is the thirtieth-largest urban area in the UK.[3]
Aldershot is known as the Home of the British Army, a connection which led to its rapid growth from a small village to a Victorian town.[4]
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]The name is likely to have derived from alder trees found in the area (from the Old English 'alor-sceat' meaning copse, or projecting piece of land, featuring alder trees).[5][6] Any settlement, though not mentioned by name, would have been included as part of the Hundred of Crondall referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086.[7]
The