Historic Places

On an English Hillside.

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Another circular Sunday morning walk on the South Downs.

This time of year, Rooks are re-establishing their nest sites. Rookerys are known for high noise levels, territorial disputes, and intense activity during nesting season.

Goldfinch.

Yellowhamer.

Brown Hare,

On the route, there is a memorial to a WW2 accident where 33 were tragically killed.

In early 1944, numerous training exercises were being undertaken in preparation for the Allied invasion of D-Day.

On the 4th April 1944, 1 HGSU, Horsa 1 glider, LG999 towed by Stirling IV LJ-842 of 196 Squadron took part in a large-scale glider exercise code-named ‘Exercise Dreme’.The night exercise of various legs was to take 3.5 hours, and the gliders were to be released over Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The glider occupants were two glider pilots and members of No. 3 Platoon, ‘A’ Company, 7th (Airborne) Division, King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

Low cloud was reported in the Lewis area and on the leg from Lewis to Winchester. As the towing Stirling descended through the clouds, it hit a tree. The glider released immediately and crashed in Warnford. All 27 men on board the Horsa LG999 were killed. The Stirling flew on for another 15 minutes when it stalled, and crashed at 21:00 hours one-mile south-west of Romsey, some 18 miles from the site of the glider crash, and all six crew members were killed.

The Hospital of St.Cross.

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‘The Hospital of St Cross’ was first conceived by the grandson of William the Conqueror, Henri de Blois. This remarkable establishment reflects a blend of history, charity, and architectural beauty, founded by de Blois, a young French monk and nobleman who later ascended to the esteemed position of Bishop of Winchester. In 1132, with a compassionate vision, he founded the hospital with the noble intent to provide shelter for 13 frail men who were unable to work. Additionally, the institution had a program to feed 100 men at its gates daily, reinforcing the values of community and care during a time when such charitable acts were vital.

During the mid-15th Century, Cardinal Henry Beaufort, recognising the importance of the institution, set up ‘The Almshouse of Noble Poverty.’ He played a crucial role in enhancing the hospital, overseeing the construction of the majority of its current buildings. Among these structures are the elegant line of Almshouses, which create a picturesque setting that has been appreciated for centuries. Over the years, the site has evolved through the medieval era, maintaining its foundational purpose of providing Almshouse accommodation. This commitment to charity and community support continues to this day.

Figureheads.

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The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has a great collection of figureheads.

A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration often found at the bow of ships, typically designed to represent the name or role of the vessel. These sculptures served not only as decorative elements but also as symbols of a ship’s identity and character, intertwining artistry with functionality. In contemporary settings, ships’ badges have emerged to fulfil a similar role, providing visual symbolism yet without the historical significance and craftsmanship associated with traditional figureheads.

In 1796, the British Admiralty attempted to abolish figureheads entirely on new ships due to changing maritime practices and the evolution of naval warfare. However, this order was not fully embraced by shipbuilders and sailors. Many mariners believed that a ship devoid of a figurehead would bring bad luck, as these carvings were thought to have protective powers over the vessel and its crew. The figurehead was thus seen as a guardian spirit, a belief that persisted despite the Admiralty’s directives.

During the 19th century, as maritime technology advanced from sail-powered wooden ships to steam and iron constructions, the bowsprit—where figureheads were typically fixed—started to fade into obsolescence. With the transformation of ship design, the practical need for figureheads diminished, leading to their gradual decline in naval architecture.

The last Royal Navy ship to showcase a figurehead was the HMS Espiegle. The name “L’Espiegle,” meaning frolicsome in French, aptly described the carved figurehead, which depicted a woman adorned with jewel-encrusted bangles and a striking masquerade mask. This artistic representation was meant to convey a sense of playfulness and allure, embodying the ship’s spirit. The HMS Espiegle was eventually broken up in 1923.

Down memory lane.

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While sorting out, I came across my 1st digital camera.{2002} A Fujifilm FinePix 6900Z has a 3.3 megapixel SuperCCD, which generates a 6 megapixel image. My current camera, a FujiFilm HX2s, has a 26 megapixel image APS-C Stacked CMOS sensor 

I had to order a new Battery via eBay and once sorted, took it out for a 2026 test run {only 24 years later!}

Manor Farm Open Air Museum, Botley, Hampshire.

Mottisfont Abbey.

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With the first blue sky for a couple of weeks, it was nice to take a walk and get some photos without grey skies.

Mottisfont Abbey is a historical priory and country estate in Hampshire, now operated by the National Trust. The site features a historic house museum with changing art exhibitions, the abbey has a rich history that dates back to the 12th century, initially founded as a house for Augustinian canons. Over the centuries, it has transitioned from a monastic building to a country house, particularly during the 18th century when it was remodelled in the Gothic Revival style. The abbey is now recognised not only for its architecture but also for its beautiful gardens, which showcase a collection of old and rare roses, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its tranquil beauty and historical significance.

Two paintings from the current Town and Country: A Journey Through the Seasons are part of the current art exhibition at Mottisfont. These two were my favourites.

Both by Lesley Fortherby.

Tichborne Hampshire.

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Tichborne Village in Hampshire stands on the Itchen as it passes on its way from Cheriton to Winchester.

St Andrew’s Church, standing on a small hill, is a Grade I listed building and was founded in the mid 11th Century. It was likely the church for the larger area known as the Manor of Cheriton. The Tichborne family, who had held their estate since at least 1135, came to be closely associated with St Andrew’s and carried out significant additions to it in the early 14th century.

The inside of the church has several monuments to the Tichborne family. These are very grand for a parish church.

St Catherine’s Hill

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St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester, is a 58-hectare chalk grassland. It is a nature reserve managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. There are ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort cut into the 70m high hill, buried ruins of the Norman chapel that gives the site its name and several rectangular burial mounds along Plague Pit Valley, which mark the location of mass graves. It offers views over Winchester, the Itchen Valley and the surrounding countryside. As part of the management of the chalk grassland, cattle are used to help prevent scrub from building up.

Recovered from the Deep.

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The Mary Rose was Henry VIII, flagship, built in 1511. She famously sank in the Solent in 1545 in full view of Southsea Castle. She took most of her crew of 500 souls with her. She was rediscovered in 1971 and raised in 1982. The part of the wreck that had become buried in the silt survived, and thousands of recovered Tudor artefacts, including personal items and weapons, were recovered.

In 1982, at the age of 22, I watched the raising operation of the Mary Rose live on TV with my grandfather. I remember his comment at the time. “What a waste of money to get a load of firewood off the seabed”!

The museum in Portsmouth Dockyard demonstrates that the salvage of the Mary Rose was a unique opportunity to snapshot into Tudor history. Over 19000 artefacts, along with the remains of the ship and crew, were recovered from the wreck site.

Archaeologists recovered 137 whole longbows and 172 part bows. There were also 3,500 arrows. Before the recovery of the Mary Rose, there were just 5 surviving longbows from medieval England known to exist.

link to the Museum,

About the Trust

A lost village.

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Today, being the last day of 2025, we decided to have a day out and headed to the village of Imber on Salisbury Plain. About an hour and a half’s drive from home, but well worth the trip.

All the residents of the village of Imber were evicted from their homes during ww2 in 1943 with just 47 days’ notice. The village and land formed part of the training grounds for American troops. Land was first purchased for military training on Salisbury Plain in late 1890s. Within 5 years, the total area in the hands of the War Department had risen to 43,000 acres. Permanent barracks were started at Tidworth in 1905. After the First World War, the War Department resumed buying land on Salisbury Plain. The Larkhill Royal School of Artillery was built in 1920. The village of Imber and its surrounding terrain were acquired between 1928 and 1932. The villagers became tenants of the War Department. After the evictions at the end of the war, it was never returned and remains, to this day, a training ground for urban warfare within the larger military training area of the Plain.

Today, the village is open for visits on a few days a year.

A walk around the village’s old homes and more modern killing houses.

The church of St Giles occupies the site of an earlier building dating from the mid-12th century. The nave was rebuilt towards the end of the 13th century, and around 1400,the addition of the north and south aisles, plus the tower and north porch. At this time, the nave roof was reconstructed. The chancel was rebuilt in 1849, at which time the north-east vestry was built.