An Introduction to Hampshire

Hampshire (shortened as Hants). is situated in South - central England.  It is an agricultural county, devoted to corn production and dairy farming as well as market gardening.

There is evidence of prehistoric and Roman settlement and Hampshire was once part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. It has numerous historical and literary associations.

Within its boundaries are two of Britains leading ports at Southampton and the historic Portsmouth with its long naval association. For the visitor, a good many of the attractions in Hampshire are of military origin and we have provided a whole section on military museums.

The capital of the county is Winchester.  No visit to Hampshire would be complete without seeing Winchester Cathedral. The Cathedral has its origins in the 7th century, when a Christian Church was first built on this site. Since then it has played a fundamental part in the life of this ancient city

Southampton is the largest town in the county and is famous as the departing point for the infamous TITANIC. In addition this old port  provides a tour of the old city walls and the Museum of Archaeology reveals the story of Southampton and its Roman Saxon and Medieval origins near the meeting point of the Test and Itchen rivers. The city's museums tell the story of town life, the growth of the modern port and the development of the flying boats. The Southampton Maritime Museum, for example, features an exhibition devoted to the story of the Titanic.

Portsmouth & its Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth has long been associated with the British Navy. In 1194, King Richard I ordered the construction of a dockyard in Portsmouth, and granted the town its first charter, . Henry VII initiated the construction of the world's first dry dock in the dockyard in 1495.  Henry VIII made the dockyard his fleet construction centre, and when Charles II created the Royal Navy in 1670, he gave Portsmouth the status of Royal Dockyard. In 1800 the yard was the world's largest industrial complex. The age of mechanisation provided the world's first steam powered factory, the Blockmills, opened in 1802 to mass-produce ship pulley blocks. Portsmouth Royal Dockyard's greatest achievement was only, however, reached with the construction of the Dreadnoughts at the beginning of the 20th Century. HMS Dreadnought built in record time was the first major warship with steam turbines.

The dockyard now houses three significant warships: 

HMS Victory was the flagship of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (21st October 1805) and of Admiral Sir John Jervis at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14th February 1797) is the most famous warship in the world. This ship is the only remaining 18th Century warship anywhere in the world and is the oldest serving Royal Navy ship in commission. HMS Victory was ordered in 1758, the same year in which Horatio Nelson was born.

HMS Warrior transformed concepts of naval warfare when she first joined the fleet in 1860. Warrior was revolutionary  rendered all existing ships obsolete. Warrior situated all her main guns, engines and boilers within an armoured iron hull, and could be driven by both steam and sail. This combination meant that she could outrun and outgun any ship afloat. Warrior was completely restored at Hartlepool and returned to Portsmouth in 1987.

Mary Rose In 1545, Henry VIII's favourite warship sank in the Solent with up to 700 men on board after setting sail for action. The wreck of the Mary Rose was discovered in 1836. In 1967 the wreck site was accurately pinpointed and four years later, in 1971. The raising of the Mary Rose, on October 11th 1982, was seen by millions on worldwide TV. After 437 years on the sea bed, the remains of the Mary Rose were lifted and taken back to Portsmouth Dockyard.

A very  significant attraction in the county is the New Forest. In 1079 William the Conqueror established the Forest and its strict laws to safeguard the deer for hunting. The landscape is unique, the traditions are here that have not changed since the medieval times. Now the various agencies managing the New Forest have a duty to safeguard it for future generations; a place of fascination and peace drawing millions of walkers and picnickers, who can help to protect the precious balance of nature in the forest by respecting its treasures.

Off of the south coast of Hampshire is the Isle of Wight which is the largest Island off the British mainland and a unique holiday destination. The Island has an excellent mix of superb countryside, golden beaches, excellent attractions to make the sea crossing worth while.

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