Hemptonwic
| Nation: |  Hurmu
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| Population: | 6,309 |
| Predominant language: | Britannic Istvanistani |
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| Main roads: | |
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| Current mayor: | Ulfric Pentermacht |
| Map versions: | n/a |
The settlement of Hemptonwic, located thirty-six kilometres south of the town of Hempton Bay, situated on the shore of the bay with the same name on Great Warring Island, the largest of the Warring Islands. It was founded by a charter issued by the Exarch of the Warring Islands, Jeremiah Avon-El, on 11.XIII.1689. In 1699, the town was visited by an officer of the Overseas Auxiliary Squadron of the Hurmu Constabulary, who conducted a short flag raising ceremony by which the settlement was incorporated into the District of the Warring Islands.
The boundaries of the settlement of Hemptonwic have been demarcated within the Bailiwick of the Warring Islands by means of an enclosing turf-mound and dry-rock wall, three metres high and three metres wide, that ran for a length of three kilometres. Eight gates on the landward side have been cut into the wall, with access controlled by sentry-posts and raiseable barriers.
On the coastward side Hemptonwic lays in a shallow bay of eroded clay between a band of chalk rock ending in cliffs to its north and an outcrop of limestone forming a jagged promontory to its immediate south. The main beach, facing westwards towards the wider fjord of Hempton Bay, forms a low amphitheatre of rolling dunes that is normally sheltered but in the event of a south-westerly storm broiling up the bay will see masses of seaweed dumped upon the shore - which is gathered up and taken to be dried and used as fertiliser or, in extremis, as food.
Behind the dunes may be found an alluvial marsh, whose brackish waters are fed by a nameless brook, the source of which rises a short distance inland in the moorlands outside the Eastern length of the enclosure wall. One well, fed by clear spring water may be found in the southern third of the enclosed land down by the edge of the limestone outcrop.
The charter for Hemptonwic divides the settlement into three plantations, north to south, each consisting of six allotments, east to west. Through these run the north-south and the east-west roads, with the latter following the course of the brook for the final third of its course to the point where the two roads intersect. At this point has been built the grand hall and the cottages of the plantation workers and allotment owners grouped there around.
The stated primary forms of economic activity within Hemptonwic have been reported as being the experimental plantation of fruit orchards onto the island, the harvesting and processing of flaxen hemp for the production of rope. Cereal crops are grown in the upland and eastern allotments and for the processing of these a mill is under construction at the site where the brook flows into the marshes behind the dunes. Work has also begun on a substantial enterprise to quarry the limestone promontory, with cuttings being made into the cliff face at the high tide mark - indicating the commencement of a substantial excavation work. To support this work a significant wrought iron frame pier has been put in place, consisting of a landing stage, cargo ramps, tramway, and redbrick storehouses. The waters off-shore are reported to be abundant in lobster, crabs, and mackerel, as evidenced by the abundant flocks of seagulls and cormorants.
The municipal charter for the settlement and its enclosed lands is held by the Pentermacht Holdings Corporation whose registered premises are given as the great hall found at the heard of the residential village.
The roads within the enclosed area and the settlement remain unmetalled, having been only laid down in the year of the granting of the charter. They are however bounded by embankments and flanked by deep brick-lined gullies, over which narrow walkways have been laid wherever a crossing to access a residential property or some other site or premises is required.
An amateur football club, Hemptonwic FC, owned and managed by the mayor's nephew Waldemar Pentermacht, was known to be organised and active in the town from 1705 AN onwards.
