Posts by HLB
Holy Cross Church Binsted
The Holy Cross Church Binsted sits on the top of a chalk ridge looking out from its delightful setting across the county of Hampshire. This beautiful C12th century church occupies a high position watching over its cluster of pretty village houses and farmland. Several points of interest are to be found in the church and…
Read MoreSt Bartholemew’s Church Botley
St Bartholemew’s church in Botley feels as if its Victorian congregation had just slipped out a while
Read MorePortsmouth Harbour 1782
The artist Dominic Serres painted the scene at Portsmouth Harbour in 1782 as HMS Foudroyant and Pegase come into the harbour after their battle in the English Channel.
Read MoreCharles Smith Poacher
The poacher Charles Smith buried in North Baddesley church yard, was he a victim or a perpetrator of crime?
Read MoreThe Southampton Plot
The Southampton Plot was a conspiracy against King Henry V, concocted elsewhere in England but whose final blows were to be dealt in the city of Southampton The Southampton Plot was an intrigue that occurred in Southampton in July 1415. Southampton in 1415 was for a city preparing for war. The Hundred Years War had…
Read MoreBlue Anchor Lane
Blue Anchor Lane in Southampton is a gloriously evocative reminder of the richness of Southampton’s Medieval past
Read MoreThe Dolphin Hotel Southampton
The Dolphin Hotel Southampton is one of England’s oldest and most historic hotels. The core of the Dolphin Hotel Southampton, dates back to the mid C13th when Southampton was a thriving merchant city, full of tradesmen and visitors putting into port. The Dolphin Hotel at this point was probably a merchant’s house, its cellars full…
Read MoreRomsey Abbey
Romsey Abbey is an imposing Romanesque church and once one of the most important ecclesiastical sites in England. It’s Abbesses came from royal and high status families and before the black death amassed great wealth.
Read MoreHampshire Church Treasure Ashe No 16
The Hampshire church treasure at the church of Holy Trinity and St Andrews Ashe, is hidden away behind closed doors and still a delight to discover
Read MoreJane Austen Born in Steventon
Jane Austen and Hampshire are a sublime combination, walking the lanes of Steventon on a beautiful early Summer day places you in Jane’s shoes.
Read MoreBishop’s Waltham Palace
Bishop’s Waltham Palace, the name itself conjurers up the magnificent place it must have been 900 years ago. Bishop’s Waltham Palace lies just ten miles away from Winchester Cathedral and was the noble palace of its Bishop’s who built a splendid residence for themselves and a 1000 acre park. Henry de Blois, that inveterate builder,…
Read MoreBasing House Before the Civil War
Basing House is a marvelous ruin, filled with five hundred years of history and intrigue, its history prior to the English Civil War is as fascinating as what followed.
Read MoreHampshire Church Treasure Hinton Ampner No 15
All Saints church in Hinton Ampner has a Hampshire church treasure tucked away on its vestry door and reminds us of a time when the English Civil War was in full flight and heading for the southern counties of England.
Read MoreSt Nicholas Church Bishop’s Sutton
The church of St Nicholas Bishop’s Sutton is a simple and beautiful church sitting at the headwaters of the River Arle
Read MoreHampshire Village Fetes
The verges of the roads are awash with them in early summer, not wild flowers but notice boards, lovingly painted by hand or fashionably designed, promoting the village fete. It feels as though every village in the county of Hampshire is galvanized into action. Its time for the village fete. The village greens are prepared,…
Read MoreAll Saints Church Steep
The church of All Saints Steep has a beautiful setting opposite the village common and school and with wonderful views East towards Petersfield.
Read MoreMary Mitford Hampshire Author
Mary Mitford was an author in the early C19th whose work gives as rich a view of society at that time as that written by Jane Austen, her Hampshire contemporary.
Read MoreThomas Lord
Thomas Lord lies buried in West Meon church yard, not many miles from the cradle of English cricket Hambledon
Read MorePortchester Castle As A Prison
Portchester Castle has undertaken many roles in its 1500 year history but none more colourful than when, in the C18th, it held prisoners of war.
Read MoreColonel Meinertzhagen
Colonel Meinertzhagen buried his horse at the crossroads at Brockwood and erected a headstone in memory of him. What sort of a man would do such a thing, the answer reveals an amzing story
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