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| 1800-1900'sFor more than 100 years the Hampton area was the home of the Fletton brick industry. Where the high quality Lower Oxford Clay was discovered in the late 1800's. This clay was very special because it would naturaly burn on its own when fired in a kiln, reducing the need for fuel and making the production of bricks much cheaper. With a direct rail link to London the industry rapidly expanded to meet the Capital's demand for reasonably priced bricks and became known as The London Brick Company. The brick pits in the early 1900's1960'sBy the 1960's large parts of the area was wasteland with many empty clay pits. Around this time the Central Electricity Generating Board was having difficulty disposing of large quantities of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), which is a fine, grainy material, left over from Coal-based power stations. A mutually beneficial agreement was reached and about 2 million tonnes of PFA was used to fill the pits, enabling the land to be restored for agricultural use.1980'sThe brick pits site came into the ownership of Hanson PLC when they took over the London Brick Company in 1984, who immediately appointed engineering consultant Ove Arup and Partners to evaluate the ground conditions and investigate whether it was suitable for housing and industrial developement.The original Peterborough Master Plan had proposed Castor as the area for the fourth township, but this site was very controversial as the area mostly consisted of good quality agricultural land. Luckily, Hanson PLC had now found a more suitable location for the new township and in 1989 the government approved the site location.1990'sWork got underway on "Orton Vale" in 1994. There was some problems however, the building work threatened the world's largest colony of great crested newts which lived in old clay pits. Careful teamwork and cooperation with Environmentalists was required to help relocate the creatures and a new nature reserve was created to the west of Hampton Hargate.Serpentine Green was opened in 1999. The brick pits being demolished in th 1990's2000'sHampton Hargate Primary School was opened in 2000.The link road from Vale to Hargate was opened at the end of 2003, before this time the only way to drive between the estates was along the A15 from Vale past Serpentine and back into Hargate and vice-versa.Hampton Hargate shops were opened in 2003.Hampton's Cygnet Park was opened in 2002, Deafblind Uk and News International moved in and in 2003 Mercedes garage moved in. More companies have moved in over the last few years.In 2004 the second primary school for Hampton was opened, Hampton Vale Primary School.In 2005 Hampton College, our Secondary School was opened by the Duke of Kent. By February 2005 there was 1,700 homes occupied.By 2006 there was approximately 2000 houses completed in Hampton and the 100,000th tree was planted. Pupils at Hargate and Vale Primary Schools were invited to plant trees around 2 newly built ponds to celebrate.The Community Police Centre was opened in 2007.The Hampton Vale Shops were finished in 2008 and some are occupied, we have a pub, the Moorhen, One stop Shop, Subway, Chinese, Indian restaurant, Fish and Chip shop, Bookies, Charity Shop. Also to open shortly is a hairdressers, steak house & chemist.
The estimate is now nearly 4000 houses.
Hampton is now thought to be the largest township in Europe built by the private sector.
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