Periods of British and Hampshire’s History
Alresford Harbour
The dam and resevoir at Alresford is one of the largest and most impressive structures of Medieval England but has it revealed its full purpose?
Read MoreSouthampton Castle
When Winchester was the royal capital of England, Southampton, close by on the southern coast of England, was its chief port and trading centre. It was an obvious magnet for Danish and French raiding party’s and its defense became an issue. The castle was constructed first out of timber and then stone and its great city walls threw up a considerable obstacle to attack
Read MoreWherwell Abbey
The quintessentially English village of Wherwell has played an important part in the history of the county of Hampshire, hidden beneath its meadows is the Abbey of Wherwell, established in the C10th century as a form of penance by Queen Elfrida
Read MoreHampshire Botanist John Goodyer
John Goodyer was one of the most important botanists in England in the C17th and lived his life in various parts of Hampshire. Born in Alton, he worked in Buriton and lived in Droxford and Petersfield.
Read MoreJane Austen in Chawton
The village of Chawton sweeps you back to the early years of the C19th, when Jane Austen and her family lived in the heart of the village
Read MoreNorman Chancel Arch St Peter’s Petersfield
The Norman chancel arch in St Peter’s church in Petersfield is one of the most magnificent in Hampshire, its proportions seeming to signal the architects desire to elevate this chapel in a field to something more. It is possible that the design was influenced by the architecture of Winchester Cathedral. Bishop Walkelyn may well have…
Read MoreIntriguing Odiham Castle
Odiham Castle in Hampshire is one of those ruins where you wish the walls could talk, with connections to King John and Simon de Montfort, decisions about England were made here
Read MoreHampshire The Oldest Shire in England
Over a thousand years ago, Hampshire held the seat of power in England. It is the first of England’s shires to appear in the historical record, ‘The AngloSaxon Chronicle’. AD 757, it tells us that the councillors of the West Saxons; ‘deprived Sigeberht of his kingdom, except for Hampshire.’ Hampshire as a unit of government is…
Read MoreCreating the ‘New Forest’
Forest Laws were introduced by William I and the New Forest in Hampshire was one of the most important of the King’s hunting grounds. For the local population however it was the imposition of a tyranny that brought them great suffering.
Read MoreWinchester Bible
It is thought Henry de Blois commissioned the stunning Winchester Illuminated Bible. From the text to the illuminations, it is quite possibly the most beautiful piece of C12th artwork in Europe
Read MoreKnights Templar at Fordingbridge
Evidence of the Order of the Knights Templar, can be found in the church of St Mary the Virgin Fordingbridge.
Read MoreKing John and Petersfield Hampshire
Petersfield had its charter confirmed by King John, just what was the connection between him and the Hampshire town of Petersfield?
Read MorePetersfield’s Ancient Charter
The ancient charter granting Petersfield in Hampshire the right to hold a market owes its existence to William Earl of Gloucester
Read MoreAnglo Saxon Rood Breamore
The Anglo Saxon rood in St Mary’s church Breamore has welcomed people into the church for nearly a thousand years
Read MoreAnglo Saxon Breamore
The beautiful Saxon arch in Breamore church reflects a thousand years of worship in its simple inscription
Read MoreCenwalh Anglo Saxon King
Winchester became the heart of the kingdom of Wessex thanks to the dynasty of the early Saxon king Cerdic but it was Cenwwalh, who, on converting to Christianity, established Winchester as an ecclesiastical centre whose force was felt throughout northern Europe.
Read MoreWinchester Jewish Community
Winchester had shown a tolerance to its Jewish community in the C12th, even as other English towns were rising against them but the rise in anti -semitism in the C13th saw a change in attitude and brought about a decline in the city itself
Read MoreHamwic, Hampshire’s Anglo Saxon Port
Hamwic was one of the principal trading towns in north west Europe through Anglo Saxon times and beyond
Read MoreWilliam Rufus – His Death
King William Rufus met his untimely end in the New Forest whilst out hunting but at whose hand?
Read MoreBishop Woodlock’s Ring
The ring of Bishop Woodlock was found in his grave in Winchester Cathedral and is considered to be the finest Gothic Episcopal ring in Europe
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