BASINGSTOKE, municipal borough, Hampshire, England, 48m. W.S.W. of London. Pop. (comprising also Eastrop parish) 13,862 in 1931. The town is placed on the north-east side of the Loddon gap, where the chalk dies down and provides an open way between the London and the Hampshire basins. The neighbour hood is rich in prehistoric antiquities ; and the town is a very old foundation. There are traces of Roman occupation. The first recorded historical event is the victory of Aethelred and Alfred over the Danes in 871. It appears in the Domesday survey as a royal manor, with three mills and a market. Charters were granted from the 13th century, and in 1392, as compensation for loss sustained by a serious fire, rights of a corporation were given. Charters of 1622 and confirmed the mediaeval grants of fairs. The wool trade flourished from an early date, but declined in the 17th century. The church of St. Michael and All Angels is a fine example of late Perpendicular architecture. Close to the neighbouring village of Old Basing are remains of Basing House, famous for its prolonged defence against the parlia mentarian forces. A castle occupied its site from Norman times. Basingstoke is chiefly a market town; the main industry is the manufacture of agricultural implements. The Basingstoke canal, which connects the town with the river Wey and so with the Thames, was opened about 1794, but lost its trade owing to rail way competition. The town is on the main S.R. line to Salisbury, and has a station on the G.W.R. It is also a road centre of in creasing importance. The borough is governed by a mayor, four aldermen and 12 councillors. Area 4,197 ac. It forms part of the Basingstoke parliamentary division of Hampshire.