River Hamble Country Park

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River Hamble Country Park
River Hamble - geograph.org.uk - 1375204.jpg
The River Hamble as seen from the Country Park
River Hamble Country Park
Type Country park
Location Hampshire, England
OS grid SU 501 114
Area144.1 hectares (356 acres)
Opened1979
Operated by Hampshire County Council
OpenOpen year-round
Awards Green Flag Award
Paths
  • Strawberry Trail
Water River Hamble
Website Official website
Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location Hampshire
Grid reference SU 507 111
InterestBiological
Area370 acres (151 hectares)
Notification 1987
Location map Magic Map
Natural England website

River Hamble Country Park is a 144.1-hectare (356-acre) country park which runs along the west bank of the River Hamble between the villages of Botley and Bursledon in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The ancient duckpond in Manor Farm and the neighbouring St Bartholomew's Church are mentioned in the Domesday book. There is evidence of a Roman road running through the site, [3] which would have been the route between the Roman settlements of Clausentum (Bitterne Manor) and Portus Adurni (Portchester). [4]

In 1439, the Grace Dieu was struck by lightning, with it burning and sinking on the river, running along the park. The wreck is now marked by a warning pole, which is a yellow cross. Part of the play area in the 'Barnfield' area is based on the wreck. The wreck is now protected. [5]

In 1943, the Royal Navy shore establishment named HMS Cricket, was opened. It would be used throughout the rest of WW2, to help prepare for D-Day. Once decommissioned in 1946, the buildings that were left behind by the Royal Navy were used to house citizens of Southampton who were displaced by bombing during World War II. The site was then known as "The Cricket Camp", until 1952 when it was no longer required for that purpose. [6] The former guardhouse is the only building still standing at the park, which is currently used as the rangers' depot. [7]

The park first opened in 1979 as Upper Hamble Country Park and in 1984 the Manor Farm museum was opened to the north of the site as a Wartime museum. [8] The museum site was once at the heart of the village of Botley. [8]

In 2019 it was reported that Hampshire County Council would be investing £800,000 into the Country Park through the construction of a new visitor centre, replacement of play equipment and the improvement of wayfinding and walking routes across the site. [9]

Manor Farm

The ancient duckpond at Manor Farm. AncientDuckpondManorFarm.jpg
The ancient duckpond at Manor Farm.

Within the country park at the North East of the park lies Manor Farm, a farm attraction with its own opening hours and pricing policy. It opened in 1984 as the Manor Farm museum and has since developed into a family-focused visitor attraction within the setting of the historic farmyard run by Hampshire County Council. [10]

Manor Farm in 2012 Manor Farm, Botley, Hampshire - geograph.org.uk - 3184911.jpg
Manor Farm in 2012

The site includes historic buildings that link to the heritage of the site and the original museum including a forge, wheelwrights, farmhouse and Victorian schoolhouse. [10] The ancient duckpond and the neighbouring St Bartholomew's Church also form part of the location.

Popular activities on offer at the farm include daily animal interactions and feeding, story time and Victorian school lessons. Other on-site facilities include a visitor centre and gift shop located in the 18th century threshing barn, [11] a large indoor children's play area - the Playbarn, a cafe for visitors [11] as well as amenities such as toilets and an education centre for visiting school groups. [10]

Manor Farm was the location for the historical documentary TV series Wartime Farm , broadcast by the BBC in 2012. [12]

Facilities

The park has two main areas, the 'Barnfield' and the 'Toplands Field'.

The Barnfield has a large barn, which is a cafe and visitor centre, which was completed in 2021. The field also has a large park. [13]

The 'Toplands Field' has a dog field and some barbecue pitches. [13]

The site also includes the location of Cricket Camp Scout Activity Centre, used by Itchen South Scouts [14] as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre. [15]

Strawberry Trail

River Hamble Country Park
Strawberry Trail Route

The Strawberry Trail is a 15 mile footpath along the River Hamble. It starts in Botley, then runs through the River Hamble Country Park to Bursledon, where it splits to Hamble-le-Rice and then on to Netley. From here it loops back to Bursledon. The path also passes through the Royal Victoria Country Park and the Hamble Common. The path is named due to the areas strawberry trade that boomed in the 1860s. Trains called 'Strawberry Specials' would take the fruit from the area, to the Covent Garden Market. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Hamble</span> River in south Hampshire, England

The River Hamble in south Hampshire, England, rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for 10.1 km (6.3 mi) through Botley, Bursledon, and Lower Swanwick before entering Southampton Water between Hamble Common and Warsash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Eastleigh</span> Non-metropolitan borough and borough in England

The Borough of Eastleigh is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. It is named after its main town of Eastleigh, where the council is based. The borough also contains the town of Hedge End along with several villages, many of which form part of the South Hampshire urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamble-le-Rice</span> Village in England

Hamble-le-Rice, commonly known as Hamble, is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, England. It is best known for being a flying training centre during the Second World War and is a popular yachting location. The village and the River Hamble also featured in the 1980s BBC television series Howards' Way. The village centre, known as The Square, Hamble, has a more traditional English village aesthetic which differentiates it from the small industrial areas close to the village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botley, Hampshire</span> Human settlement in England

Botley is a historic village in Hampshire, England. The village was once described as "the most delightful village in the world" by 18th century journalist and radical politician William Cobbett. The village was developed as a natural crossing point for the River Hamble, and received its first market charter from Henry III in 1267. The village grew on the success of its mill, its coaching inns, and more recently strawberries.

Swanwick is a village in Hampshire, England, east of the River Hamble and north of the M27 motorway. The village is located within the borough of Fareham and is the site of the London Area Control Centre (LACC) and the London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC), part of National Air Traffic Services Air Traffic Control Centre, and Bursledon Brickworks, the last remaining example of a Victorian steam-powered brickworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hedge End</span> Human settlement in England

Hedge End is a town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. Situated to the east of the City of Southampton, it adjoins the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area. The original hamlet developed on Botley Common after 1250 when it was granted to the men of Botley as common pasture. In 1267, royal charters allowed Botley to hold an annual fair and a weekly market on the common which eventually became a market town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bursledon</span> Human settlement in England

Bursledon is a village on the River Hamble in Hampshire, England. It is located within the borough of Eastleigh. Close to the city of Southampton, Bursledon has a railway station, a marina, dockyards and the Bursledon Windmill. Nearby villages include Swanwick, Hamble-le-Rice, Netley and Sarisbury Green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warsash</span> Village in southern Hampshire, England

Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath and south of Sarisbury. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club. It is also home to the Warsash Maritime Academy, part of Southampton Solent University, which provides training for Merchant Navy Officers from around the world.

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George Parsons was an English shipbuilder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitterne</span> Suburb in England

Bitterne is an eastern suburb and ward of Southampton, in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Baddesley</span> Human settlement in England

North Baddesley is a large village and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It is situated 3 mi (5 km) east of the town of Romsey and 6 mi (10 km) north of Southampton. It occupies an area of approximately 9.15 km2 (3.53 sq mi), and is home to a population of just over 10,000 people, reducing to 7,000 at the 2011 Census. It is located in the Test Valley; a river famous for trout fishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bursledon Windmill</span> Historic windmill in England

Bursledon Windmill is a Grade II* listed windmill in Bursledon, Hampshire, England which has been restored to working order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarisbury</span> Human settlement in England

Sarisbury is a village to the west of Park Gate within the borough of Fareham, Hampshire, in the south of England. Its focal point is Sarisbury Green and the parish church of St Paul, formerly part of Titchfield parish. In previous times it was a rural locality dependent on fruit growing. At the 2011 Census the population of the ward was 7,385. Nearby villages include Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Swanwick. The name is pronounced 'Sarsbury' with the 'i' being silent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Swanwick</span> Human settlement in England

Lower Swanwick is a village on the River Hamble in Hampshire, England. It is located within the borough of Fareham at the eastern end of Bursledon Bridge, which carries the A27 across the River.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bursledon Brickworks Museum</span> Museum in Southampton, England

The Brickworks Museum, also known as Bursledon Brickworks, is a volunteer-run museum in Swanwick, Hampshire, England. It is purportedly the UK's sole surviving Victorian steam-driven brickworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods</span>

Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods is a 151.2-hectare (374-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Southampton in Hampshire. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Part of the site is in Manor Farm Country Park, which is a Local Nature Reserve.

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References

  1. ↑ "Manor Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Map of Manor Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  4. ↑ Blyth, Joyce B., The Changing Face of Hedge End, 1979, ASIN : B0018LRNT6
  5. ↑ "Grace Dieu". hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Local Heritage Initiative website
  7. ↑ "HMS Cricket". hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Manor Farm Country Park (Upper Hamble Country Park)". Hampshire Gardens Trust. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Cotterill, Tom (2 March 2019). "River Hamble Country Park set to be boosted by £800k investment". The News. IPI Media. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Manor Farm - Case Study". Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Plan your visit". Manor Farm. Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Wartime Farm official website". Wartimefarm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Plan Your Visit at RHCP". hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "Cricket Camp". itchensouthscouts.org.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  15. ↑ "QE2 Activity Centre" . Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  16. ↑ "Strawberry Trail". eastleigh.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2024.

50°53′56″N1°17′20″W / 50.899°N 1.289°W / 50.899; -1.289

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