BASINGSTOKE ENGLAND minimal art map with a colorful icon. Where it all began, Couple map gift.

Basingstoke's history dates back to the Bronze Age, with evidence of settlements in the area from around 2000 BC. The town's name is thought to derive from the Old English words 'basing', meaning 'meadow', and 'stoke', meaning 'place'. Basingstoke was an important market town in the Middle Ages, and its prosperity continued into the 19th century, when it became a major center for the manufacture of agricultural machinery. In the 20th century, Basingstoke grew rapidly as a commuter town for London, and today it is a thriving commercial and residential center with a population of over 100,000. Basingstoke is home to a number of historic buildings, including the 12th-century St Michael's Church and the 15th-century Basing House. The town also has a number of museums and art galleries, including the Willis Museum and the Basingstoke Gallery.