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…

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Isington Mill in the Parish of Binsted

Isington Mill

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. …

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Guardian Angel’s Chapel

Close up of the Guardian Angel's Chapel Winchester

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,…

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The Bentworth Thorn

The Bentworth Holy Thorn tree Hampshire

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…

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Merdon Castle

Merdon 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…

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Bentley and The Anarchy

Bentley Castles

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…

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Bursledon Brickworks

Evolution of the Bursledon Brickworks Company

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…

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Ship Graffiti on Hayling Island

Ship Graffiti

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.

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Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch 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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Shepherd Lawes

Shepherd 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.

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St 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.

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Hampshire Trade Tokens

Hampshire Trade Tokens

Hampshire trade tokens were issued in the C17th and C18th when there was little small coinage to be had in Britain. Which places in Hampshire issued them and what did they look like?

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East Wellow Church

East 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.

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Medieval Shoes in Selborne

Medieval shoes

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…

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An Alresford Toilet and the Cold War

Cold War in Hampshire

What is the connection between New Alresford in Hampshire and the Cold War? Well it might surprise you to know that one of the most unremarkable buildings in Hampshire a toilet block in New Alresford has a vital connection to the Cold War.

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St Michael and All Angels Knights Enham

St Michael and All Angels

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.

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Medieval Graffiti at Wield

Medieval Graffiti

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?

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St Mary’s Church Upton Grey

St 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…

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