Wooderson's from Hampshire
The County of Hampshire is on the southern coast of England and is bordered by Dorset to the west, Wiltshire to the north-west, Berkshire to the north, Surrey to the north-east and West Sussex to the east. The southern boundary is the coastline of the English Channel facing the Isle of Wight.
Hampshire played a crucial role in both World Wars due to the Royal Navy base at Portsmouth and the army camp at Aldershot. Portsmouth was the departure point in the 17th century for some of those who left England to settle the east coast of North America.
Hampshire played a crucial role in both World Wars due to the Royal Navy base at Portsmouth and the army camp at Aldershot. Portsmouth was the departure point in the 17th century for some of those who left England to settle the east coast of North America.
Southampton and Portsmouth are both significant ports. The historic ship HMS Victory is situated in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. HMS Victory was Vice-Admiral Nelson’s flagship and best known for her role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
In 1912, the RMS Titanic sailed from Southampton on its fateful maiden voyage. A memorial to the hundreds of people who lost their lives is located in the city centre and the Titanic story is on display at the local museum. |
The New Forest is a national park in Hampshire, it once was a royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror. Deer, ponies and cattle roam free in unspoilt woodland, heathland and river valleys. The South Downs are a range of chalk hills which extend across the south-eastern counties of England. The South Downs National Park stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex.
Basingstoke has grown from a small market town into one of the largest towns in Hampshire. It was a centre for the cloth industry in the 17th century and later became known for its breweries.
Not far from Basingstoke is Odiham, a small historic town in the north east of Hampshire. It lies on the banks of the Basingstoke Canal, which was built in the 1700’s and flows between Hampshire and Surrey. Odiham is half way between Winchester and Windsor and was a frequent stopping point for Norman kings. King John built a castle in Odiham in the 1200’s, primarily as a hunting lodge. Ruins of the castle keep still stand alongside the Basingstoke Canal. |