Little London: village with link to 1665 plague fears new exodus from capital

If the age-old story is correct, the Hampshire village of Little London gets its evocative name from the flight of fearful residents from the capital during the Great Plague of 1665-1666.

They are upset that wealthy newcomers are eyeing up homes that most local people cannot afford and are warning would-be neighbours that Little London offers little and lacks the infrastructure to cope.

The village, which is located in countryside north of Basingstoke, has precious few amenities apart from one pub, the Plough, and a population of only a few hundred.

Photograph: Simon Czapp/Solent News & Photo AgencyAmong the applications are plans for houses, battery storage facilities, and conversions of barns into business units and event venues.

A plan to build three detached houses in Little London is one of the new applications that sparked a protest from residents.

On behalf of Pamber parish council, Chris Gunnell, a clerk, wrote: “There is no local need.