HAT guided visit to Cheriton

HAT VISIT TO CHERITON – Wednesday 14^th June 2023 – POSTPONED until 2024

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Apologies to all but unfortunately, we have had to cancel this guided visit to Cheriton that was planned for 14th June 2023. Sorry to all who were hoping to join us on this tour. We will of course arrange for refunds to all of those that have paid. We’ll be in touch.

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Cheriton may, perhaps, be best known to members of HAT for two reasons, one as being close to the site of the Battle of Cheriton on 29^th March 1644 which proved to be a major turning point in favour of the Parliamentarians in the Civil War and which is still re-enacted and commemorated today.  The other reason for HAT members perhaps being aware of Cheriton is its pub and micro brewery the Flowerpots!  However, we have the chance for HAT members to see a Cheriton that is quite unique, and that would have been developed as a result of the surrounding farms, and dates back to being part of a large Saxon Manor along with Beauworth and Tichbourne, with the main house of the area still being Tichbourne Manor.  It is now a very pretty contained village with a wide variety of architectural styles interspersed with branches of the river Itchen running through it and an Early English style church built on a prehistoric burial mound or long barrow after which the village gets its name – Cheriton meaning Church Village.

We are going to meet at the Church of St. Michaels and All Angels at 2.00p.m.  Parking in the village can be tricky although it is possible on the road, but safer parking can be had at the recreation ground found  almost opposite the Flowerpots.  There is a footpath from here to the back of the churchyard, which may be damp and muddy, or you can walk along the road but please bear in mind about traffic as it is quite narrow. After an introductory talk about the village and the church by Edward Roberts, a village resident, historian and author of the book Hampshire Houses 1250-1700, we will be taken on a guided walk around the village taking in the Old Rectory Garden by kind permission of the owners Isabel and Rupert Boissier, and hear about the long involvement in the development and sustenance of the village by the main farming families of the area. Most walking is on the flat, but please be aware of traffic as there are few pavements.

After this, and by very kind permission of Simon and Penny Scott, who have arranged this afternoon for us , we are invited to have tea in the garden of their home, named Burnt Platt as it was caught in the fire of 1744 which we will have heard about in our talk on the church, and will be treated to a talk about the Battle and how it affected the village. If it is raining, tea will be in the Church.  Our afternoon will end about 4.00p.m. and there is a gate into the churchyard from Burnt Platt, or, if you prefer you can return along the road going past the Village Hall. If you then wish to drive to the battle site, about a mile to the east, it can be reached via North End Lane which can be joined at the north end of the village via the B3046, where there is a monument and explanation board erected by public subscription in 1975.

The cost for this afternoon will be £15.00pp to include tea with all proceeds going to the Church.

Booking; either e mail events@hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk or book by post marked HAT events organiser to  236 Hunts Pond Road Titchfield Hants PO14 4PG. Payment is by Bank Transfer to HAT account sort code 30-99-71 account 00361865 or by cheque to Hampshire Archives Trust, subject line Cheriton tour. Phone number for enquiries 01489 573056