Yateley is a town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It lies in the north-eastern corner of Hart District Council area. It includes the settlements of Frogmore and Darby Green to the east. It had a population of 21,011 at the 2001 census. The four wards that comprise Yateley and their 2001 populations are Yateley East, Yateley North, Yateley West, and Frogmore & Darby Green. The 2009 projection was 20,214, according to the Hart District Council website. Yateley Town Council is one of the few local councils to have been recognised under the national 'Quality Council' award scheme. In 2011 Hart district was named the UK's most desirable place to live, and Yateley was mentioned on a BBCNews article as one of the towns within the district. In 2014, it was rated one of the most attractive postcode areas to live in England.
Amenities
The derelict public house "the Highwayman" was destroyed by fire in October 2015 and the site now has houses on it.
Sports
Yateley Football Club was established in 1927 for men's football. In 1967 Yateley Juniors FC was formed. In 2008 both clubs merged to form a single club called Yateley United FC. Yateley United will play in the Hellenic Football League Division 2 East for the 2019-20 season. Yateley Cricket Club was established in 1881, originally playing at the Cricketers Pub on Cricket Hill, and then on “The Green” on the Reading Road. In 1999 YCC moved to a new purpose built ground and clubhouse at Sean Devereux Park.
History
The name Yateley derives from the Middle English 'Yate' meaning 'Gate' and 'Lea' which was a 'forest clearing'. Although in historic records, variations of the spelling include Hyatele, Yateleghe, Yatche, Yatelighe, Yeatley, Yeateley and Yatelegh.
Flora Thompson, author of the trilogy of novels 'Lark Rise to Candleford' is recorded in the 1901 Census as living and working in the Yateley Post Office. These books have since been adapted for television by the BBC.
Sonny Black a leading UK acoustic guitarist also lives in Yateley.
Contemporary artist James Robert Ford grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School. A number of his projects, including House Gymnastics, General Carbuncle, and 33 Things to do before you're 10, have taken place in Yateley.
Chris Benham, a Hampshire cricketer, grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School.
Author Danny King grew up in Yateley and attended Yateley School.
Sean Devereux, a charity worker in Somalia, came from Yateley. He was assassinated and Sean Devereux Park is named after him.
David Copeland, known as the "London Nailbomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Asian, and gay communities, grew up in Yateley, though resided in nearby Cove in Farnborough at the time of the attack.
Robert Morgan, stop-motion animation filmmaker, grew up here.
