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Tichborne Day Walk 19th June 2019

This walk led by Denis started from Cheriton Playing Fields car park and headed towards Tichborne, passing along the beautiful River Itchen with its source only a mile away near Hinton Ampner House. The Itchen is one of the world's finest trout streams, with fishing rights jealously guarded for centuries. After walking through some of Tichborne Park, we spent some time trout spotting in the Itchen before heading uphill past a huge poppy-field before descending again to The Tichborne Arms for a much deserved lunch. Well satisfied, our next destination was Tichborne Church with its original box pews dating back at least 400 years. Next was the Allan King Way to Gander Down before finally descending back to the playing fields of Cheriton.

There is much to be written about the Tichborne family which must rank amongst the great families of Hampshire. They can claim a heritage that is documented as far back as the C12th. All through the Reformation, the Tichborne family clung to their Roman Catholic faith. So did many others and were persecuted for it. Any hint of Catholicism in parish churches was removed and that is why the Tichborne Family Chapel is an extraordinary thing. The chapel is a rare Roman Catholic chapel inside a pre-Reformation church. It’s survival is incredible and there are only another two in England. To survive the Reformation, the family must have been in high favour with their monarch. Sir Benjamin Tichborne, High Sheriff of Hampshire 1579 – 1580 showed great loyalty to his monarchs and was granted a concession in 1621 by King James I, in appreciation of Sir Benjamin’s help in securing Hampshire for the king at his accession in 1603. Thanks to www.hampshire-history.com for this information.

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Sutton Morning Walk 12th June 2019

The walk led by Jean was potentially wet but we survived the morning without any seriously wet weather. After parking in Lord's Piece car park we trod gently over Lord's Piece common. This common was the only home in the country of the Field Cricket and fewer than 100 existed in the 1980's. After a lot of work there are now another 5 areas in the UK that are now home to this insect  but it is still internationally endangered. We then headed down a path known as Park Lane to reach a truly well built bus shelter in the village of Sutton.  Refreshed, we headed back towards Lord's Piece along the Serpent Trail to the car park. Lunch was in The Badger where good-humoured discussions took place about several subjects, including who should be the next Prime Minister. 

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Isle of Wight 8th June Departure Day

After packing bags we left Harrington House and the ever helpful Tony, the house manager. We had been well fed and the weather had mostly been very kind to us. Some went back via the Crab and Lobster and had a good lunch before catching the ferry at Fishbourne. For those who wondered what the 14 tall yellow posts were doing in the Solent, the answer is - not very much. They are actually lights to guide the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers safely into Portsmouth harbour.  The lights are powered by a combination of solar panels and batteries and will only be lit when the carriers are either approaching or leaving their berths at Portsmouth.   Many thanks to Marian, Jane and Peter for additional photos.

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Isle of Wight 7th June 2019 Rest day

All week the forecast had been poor for Friday 7th June so we decided it should be a Rest Day. Some went to Osborne House whilst others went to the nearby Quarr Abbey. For lunch we headed for Arreton Barns but sadly the Dairyman's Daughter pub on the site felt that buying a drink did not qualify us to eat our food on their empty outside tables. However, we did find seats elsewhere. There are a lot of retail opportunities on site but the more interesting part was an industrial unit a short stroll away where The Isle of Wight Sudio Glass have an extraordinary museum and workshop. Several of us were fascinated by the slow transformation of a red hot blob of glass into a beautiful vase. Well worth another visit. Also nearby was the 12 century Church of St George with a remarkable Burma Star window. We returned to Harrington House for the last time and this night was the big raffle night, a painting produced in front of us on a previous evening being one of the prizes.

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Isle of Wight 6th June 2019 Godshill walk

The walk started from the very picturesque village of Godshill. Although only about 5.1/2 miles there was some slightly more difficult uphill stuff involved. Nevertheless a determined party set out to reach the Worsley monument, near to the top of the island's third highest hill. The route took us through some very pleasant farmland, with the views improving as we climbed up. The final stile was really a challenge, we have never seen one quite as high. However by the time we had surmounted this obstacle some of the less young walkers had rushed ahead and made very good progress. We eventually reached the monument, not the most beautiful pillar but with amazing views. The next destination was Appledurcombe House, supposedly the most haunted place on the island. Work started in 1702 and carried on being developed by the Worsley family for the rest of the century, including a garden designed by Capability Brown in 1779. With family scandals and debt, it gradually declined and was a ruin by 1950 but is now being looked after by English Heritage.  It is also one of the finest lunch stops on the Isle of Wight.   The walk back was through farmland and eventually along Godshill Park Road back to Godshill.

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