Guided Tour of Titchfield Abbey and Titchfield Village

Marilyn Wilton-Smith, President of the Titchfield History Society and her husband, an architecture expert have kindly offered to provide HAT visitors with a talking tour of the Titchfield Abbey site and a tour of the historic Titchfield village. Marilyn has issued several publications on historic Titchfield and is now gathering ghost stories for her next book.

We will meet up with our guides in the Abbey carpark, located in the Abbey grounds at 10.30am for the 1.5 hour Abbey tour. The Abbey site was originally the home of Premonstratensian cannons who also served as priests in the local community. Following the Suppression of the Monasteries, Sir Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, transformed the building into a grand Tudor mansion called Place House. Royal guests included Edward VI, Elizabeth I, Charles I and it is believed that Shakespeare’s plays were performed here for the first time.  Our guide, Marilyn, who oversees the site, has an large supply of stories and we will also receive a fascinating architectural insight over the years. We will break for lunch that could be sandwiches at the garden centre or lunch at the Bugle.

In the afternoon at 2pm, we will gather on the small green on the corner of West Street and High Street for the historic walk through the village. We can walk to the village from the Abbey site, however this does require crossing the A27. Alternatively for those who prefer not to walk, there is some parking in the village and you can met us at the small green.

Many of the medieval properties have Georgian frontages, with many interesting stories. The walking tour is approx. 0.5 mile in length including St Peter’s Church, the oldest Church in Hampshire, that contains the vault of Wriothesleys, Lord  Montagu’s ancestors. Further information on the vault itself can be found on https://www.stpetertitchfield.org.uk/heritage/lord-montagus-address. Marilyn will share many stories of the villagers lives while her husband will his knowledge of the local architecture over the years.

Booking. To book for any of these events or if have any questions, please either book on our website or email events@hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk or write by post to Maskee, Stoney Lane, Medstead, GU34 5EL. Please state your method of payment when booking.

Restrictions :  Be aware some of the site is uneven. Walking and standing will be required in the morning and afternoon.

Website:  https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/titchfield-abbey/

Parking: There is a small carpark at the Abbey site accessed via the track through the narrow gate , opposite the Fishermans Rest pub. Parking in the village in the afternoon is limited.

Travel: Located ½ mile North of Titchfield on Mill Lane, off A27

Toilets: No toilets on site, however in the morning there is a pub opposite the Abbey and a tearoom at the Garden Centre next to the site.

Bookings