Churches
The Tomb of Dame Margery Caryll
The tomb of Dame Margery Caryll. The old Norman church of St John in the village of Greatham was built in 1282. All that remains is the Chancel, the rest is a ruin. However inside is housed the Grade II listed tomb of the C17th manor holder of Greatham: Dame Margery Caryll (nee Freeland) (1594…
Read MoreGuardian Angel’s Chapel
The Guardian Angel’s Chapel in Winchester Cathedral was painted in 1241. King Henry III, also known as Henry of Winchester was baptised in the cathedral in 1207. He was the son of King John and assumed the throne at just nine years of age. He was fortunate in having three great men standing beside him,…
Read MoreThe Bentworth Thorn
In the churchyard of St Mary’s Bentworth, stands the scrubby tree known as the Bentworth thorn. This small thorn tree standing opposite the war memorial in the churchyard at Bentworth may look insignificant but it is a rare thing indeed. The Bentworth thorn is one of the offspring of the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury. The…
Read MoreShip Graffiti on Hayling Island
The chance find of two lovely examples of ship graffiti in St Mary’s church Hayling Island raises the question of why they were created and by whom. There is much interest at the present time in Medieval graffiti and this example on Hayling Island is one for the enthusiast.
Read MoreSt John Baptist Alabaster
The St John the Baptist alabaster altar piece in St Mary’s church Amport is a rare and beautiful Medieval object.
Read MoreShepherd Lawes
Shepherd Lawes, buried in Martin Hampshire was the inspiration for the shepherd in W.H Hudson’s book, ‘A Shepherd’s Life’. Wriiten just before WWI it remembers the life and observations of a shepherd in the Wiltshire Hampshire Downs.
Read MoreSt Mary’s Church Tufton Hampshire
St Mary’s Church Tufton is a 12th century gem with just the hint that there might be earlier origins to some of the architecture. It has a large wall painting of St Christopher.
Read MoreEast Wellow Church
The 13th century, East Wellow church, St Margaret’s of Antioch, is the final resting place of the great lady Florence Nightingale. Not only that it also is home to some wonderful 13th century wall paintings.
Read MoreMedieval Shoes in Selborne
Medieval shoes never look very comfortable but they are brilliantly evocative of a time long past The Medieval shoe in discussion is the one with excessively long pointed toes. They are called ‘Poulaines’ meaning ‘shoes in the Polish fashion’ since they were thought to have been fashionable in Krakow in the 15th century. The Poulaine…
Read MoreSt Michael and All Angels Knights Enham
The church of St Michael and All Angels Knights Enham, is a 12th century gem in Hampshire, 800 years worth of history to mull over. Situated in a lane alongside a farm, it’s easy to imagine souls of hundreds of years entering its doors.
Read MoreMedieval Graffiti at Wield
Searching for Medieval graffiti in the church of St James in Wield Hampshire, a lovely little fellow emerged from the soft chalk stone of the chancel arch. Could this inscription have been done over 600 years ago?
Read MoreSt Mary’s Church Upton Grey
Perched above the road on a hill slope is St Mary’s church Upton Grey At the bottom of the hill is the village pond and clustered around it are lovely cottages and houses, spanning all periods, twenty seven of them listed. Upton Grey is a beautiful village in north east Hampshire, with a history that…
Read MoreThe Spanish Armada and Stockbridge
The Spanish Armada in 1588 left its mark in the church of old St Peter’s in Stockbridge in Hampshire, an intriguing snippet of history to ponder upon.
Read MoreBlackmoor Church
Blackmoor Church in Hampshire named St Matthew’s, was designed by one of the greatest Victorian architects, Alfred Waterhouse. These images show the beauty of his stained glass.
Read MoreMichelmersh Font
Michelmersh font in the church of St Mary’s in Hampshire, is a wonderfully carved Purbeck stone font but what are the gender of the faces staring down?
Read MorePoignant Headstone at Ashley
A poignant headstone is set into the outside wall of the church of St Mary’s Ashley Hampshire The church of St Mary at Ashley in Hampshire is cared for by the Church Conservation Trust and has a beautifully simple interior, so quiet and peaceful. The church sits alongside the site of the 12th century Ashley…
Read MoreInteresting Hampshire Headstones and Memorials
An exploration of Hampshire history has to include a look at some of its fascinating, poignant and thought provoking headstones and memorials. Discover more about Hampshire history through these touching memorials.
Read MoreWilliam Nicholson Gin and Lords Cricket
William Nicholson gin and Lords cricket ground, what do they all have to do with the history of the county of Hampshire? Well cricket and Hampshire fit hand in glove but what about a London gin distillery? Read to find out more about this fascinating history.
Read MoreBramdean Church in the Woods
Bramdean church in the woods is a corrugated iron clad church, built in 1873 for the families of travellers to use, who occupied Bramdean common. It was a flat pack construction that took just five days to erect.
Read MoreSt Leonard’s Church Hartley Mauditt
St Leonards church in Hartley Mauditt Hampshire, sits in splendid isolation, it doesn’t even have its manor house for company. The ownership of the manor itself touches on key families in Medieval England.
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