Placenames
The Ogham Stone of Silchester
The Ogham Stone of Silchester. The Ogham Stone of Silchester was discovered in 1893 during an excavation of the ancient town. A well in the town was being excavated. At a depth of about 3m, a pillar of sandstone was found. This phallic shaped pillar stood on a square plinth and is approximately 50cm tall.…
Read MoreDanebury Hillfort
Danebury Hillfort is just one of many hillforts occupying the landscape across Hampshire and its neighbouring counties. Where we live, tucked down in the river valleys, we gaze up at highlands that are bare. Only the flocks of sheep and grazing herds that maintain the short grasslands occupy the space. Many of these chalk ridges…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreIsington Mill in the Parish of Binsted
Isington Mill and Oast House on the River Wey. Isington Water Mill is one of 16 mills that sit on the north branch of the River Wey, which begins at a spring in nearby Alton. The chalk stream flows through the parish of Froyle and Binsted until it connects with its southern branch at Tilford. …
Read MoreJohn Keats In Winchester
John Keats in Winchester. For those who know Winchester well one of the most beautiful and restful walks is along one of the chalk streams of the River Itchen. Pick up the path at the end of College Street and walk out of the city towards St Cross. Look out across the water meadows towards…
Read MorePrince Arthur Tudor and Dogmersfield
What is the connection between Prince Arthur Tudor and Dogmersfield? The landscape around us holds historical secrets whether within its fields and forests, atop its hills or along its coastline. Looking out onto a deserted village where cattle now graze or having a picnic alongside a washed out coastal defense it’s often surprising to learn…
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 MoreHampshire Sayings and Folk Stories
Hampshire Sayings and Folk Stories. Every county has its own collection of sayings and stories, passed down usually in oral form from generation to generation. Our guest author, Peter Hey, has been gathering together some of the ones he has found. You just need to add your own distinctive Hampshire dialect to get the best…
Read MoreThe Swing Riots
The Swing Riots in Hampshire. The Swing Riots of 1830 were an uprising by agricultural workers in parts of Eastern and Southern England. It was a civil unrest that was a long time in the making, the stirrings of unrest began in the 1780’s and then during the Napoleonic Wars faded away somewhat. Fifty years…
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 MoreMerdon Castle
Between Standon and Hursley just off the A3090 sits Merdon Castle This little known ancient monument is now in private hands and so getting sight of it is tricky. If you drive along Castle Merdon Lane you can stop and take a look over the wall and you will see the earthworks on which this…
Read MoreBentley and The Anarchy
Bentley and the Anarchy. Hidden in the landscape around the village of Bentley lies evidence that connects Bentley with The Anarchy, a time when law and order were abandoned and the common man was caught up in war not of their own making. So what was The Anarchy? The Anarchy was the fight for the…
Read MoreBursledon Brickworks
Bursledon Brickworks Museum Hampshire abounds with hints of its industrial past, Brick Lane, Kiln Lane, Foundry Road but there is little evidence on the ground of these treasures from our industrial past, that is until you discover the Bursledon Brickworks Museum. This is a wonderful museum full of hard working and enthusiastic volunteers who have…
Read MoreCOPP Memorial
The COPP Memorial at Hayling. The Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP) memorial on Hayling Island is a reminder of how the bravery of a few people had such a huge impact on WWII. The Combined Operations Pilotage Parties were made up of members of all three services, the Royal Navy, the Royal Airforce and the…
Read MoreTaskers of Andover Ltd
Taskers of Andover Ltd, Tasker & Co, Tasker & Sons the list goes on but the company is the same. In 1803, Robert Tasker, a twenty one year old blacksmith from Devizes, left his home to look for work and found a job with the blacksmith at Abbotts Ann. He was a hard working and…
Read MoreAshford Hanger and William Cobbett
The landscape of Ashford Hanger is little changed since William Cobbett wrote about it in his book ‘Rural Rides’. The shape of the land is as memorable now as it was then when Cobbett traversed its heights in 1822.
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 MoreNelson’s Last Walk
Nelson’s last walk on English took him through the streets of Portsmouth from his breakfast at the George Hotel to the awaiting barge and HMS Victory. People were moved to tears at the sight of their hero.
Read MoreWhitchurch Silk Mill
Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire is a wonderful reminder of a lost industrial past rooted deep in the Hampshire countryside. Its connections with the silk weavers of London reveal the extent and demand for fine silks.
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