Скачать или смотреть History Walk No 4 - Highbridge, Bishopsstoke Lane and Brambridge

COLDEN COMMON LOCAL HISTORY – Walk 4

Thursday 12 September - Walk from Highbridge (meet at Wardle Road), Bishopstoke Lane and Brambridge. Return to the community Centre via Upper Moors Road.

The River Itchen
Is a world renowned river, it’s clear waters are supplied by chalk aquifers under the Hampshire Downs. The clear waters are home to salmon, trout, grayling, minnows and pike. Some areas are managed by fishing clubs. The river is rich in wildlife – otters, water voles, kingfishers and the rate southern damsel fly. The river was improved for barge navigation in the early 19th century – there are 17 locks including Allbrook and Brambridge.

In 1914 the Francis gravel works at Highbridge were opened to provide gravel for Hazeley camp in Twyford. Excavation revealed an early flint factory with many pieces of “dressed” flint from Neolithic times. The Francis family sold the gravel works to Hall and company in 1943. During the Francis’s time the gravel was loaded in Foden steam wagons by hand, and the men had to find their own shovels and lost ‘wet time’!

Wardle Road via Lordswood to Bishopstoke Lane

Walk up Wardle Road, at the end of the lane bear slightly left, keeping on the main part of the lane.At the branch in the pathway by the 10 mile per hour sign, bear right.

Wardle Road has bungalows one side, with fields for grazing opposite. A footpath to Bishopstoke Woods has fine views of the River Itchen. Lordswood has some ancient woodland, and many of the older bungalows have been replaced by large houses.

At the top of the lane, by the T junction sign with a vehicle access sign underneath go straight on towards the Nook, Orchard Gate and Oakhill Cottage. Go over the style and across the field. Push your way through the hedge where there is a gap opposite the style. On reaching the road turn left. Stop at the road narrows signs on the double bend. The first house on the left hand side is Woodcroft Cottage which belongs to Cecily Sutton. At this point we turned into the garden but permission is needed. Otherwise carry on down Bishopstoke Lane to Church Land and pick up directions from there.

Bishopstoke Lane to Brambridge Lodge

Along the road are small fields for grazing horses and hay-making. The original Brambridge Lodge dates from the late 18th century. Several extensions and improvements in the 19th century included stables, a coach house, landscaping with many specimen trees, a walled garden (now part of Woodcroft Cottage) and a carriage drive. The house and gardens were sold and divided into two in the 1950s, after its owner, Mr Gibson Fleming moved to Winchester.

Hills Farm with its timber and brick structure, dates from the 16th, 17th centuries, and is a listed building.

Mr Phillip’s farm has an assortment of farm building, machinery and an old fairground organ which used to be played on New Year’s Day. On past Alderbury house, on the left, is a footpath across the field to Brambridge. The iron gates to the drive to Brambridge Lodge are still standing.

With permission we walked out of Woodcroft Cottage side gate and through the back gate of brambridge Lodge. Once through the gate we turned left on to the Carriage Drive walking down the gravel path, onto the un made lane and down to the lay by at the bottom of Church Lane. The stream on the side is the same Valley stream that we passed on our first walk

If walking down Bishopstoke lane, look for the footpath on the left which will bring you to the same place.