Basingstoke to Winchester

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Winklesbury circle, a mile further west [of Basingstoke], is a large encampment, 1,100 yards in circumference, formed of flints. It was used by Oliver Cromwell as a station for surveying Basingstoke and Old Basing before he bombarded and overcame the latter.

On chalk which continues to Winchester

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ascend 1 in 400

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ascend 1 in 1,350

[road over] Oakley road

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ascend 1 in 627

[road under] Steventon road

[road under] Foot-path from Steventon

[road under] Overton to Waltham

This is the highest point on the line, to which it has been ascending from London

descend 1 in 250

Overton, an old dilapidated borough, - so worn out that it lost its parliamentary representatives and charter and market, is chiefly and almost only attractive to the fisherman, for the trout of the little stream, which are extolled.

... Between Andover and Winchester, the country is not tempting to the pedestrian. Adjacent to the line on the north there is only the church of Stoke Charity to tempt the ecclesiologist, but he may find several on the south side.

St. Michael's, Stoke Charity, presents several features of mixed styles, especially a rich perpendicular tomb, with a canopy let into the wall on the north of the chancel.

St. Mary's, Wike or Week, is hardly worth visit, unless it be for a brass representing St. Christopher, with an inscription, which records that William Complyn was a donor at the dedication of the church, 1499.

Road at South Litch

[tunnel] Litchfield tunnel, 200 yards long

Chalk cutting

392 feet above the termini at Nine Elms and Southampton

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[tunnel] 200 yards long

Chalk cutting

[tunnel] 250 yards long

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Andover Road

[to north:-]

ANDOVER 13 miles

STOCKBRIDGE 12

WHITCHURCH 6

[to south:-]

POPHAM 1 1/2 mile

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Andover is a town old enough at least to be recorded in Domesday Book, and supposed to be even the site of the Roman town Andaoreon. The traces of several Roman encampments may be found in the vicinity of it. The church has some Norman, we are disposed to say even Saxon remains, for it was given by William the Conqueror to the abbey of St. Florence at Salmur, in Anjou. Three miles south-east of the town stood Whorwell or Wherwell Nunnery, erected by Queen Elfrida in expiation of her murders of her husband Ethelwolf and her son Edward A.D.986. So easy was absolution for murder!

Stratton Park, about three miles from the Andover station, is the seat of Sir Thomas Baring, who collected there many valuable pictures, both ancient and modern.

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The line as far as Winchester takes the same course as the Roman road from Silchester to Winchester, called Popham lane

[road under] Sufton way

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[stream] Brook near Weston stream

[south] Micheldever Church

[road under] To Bond farm [south]

Micheldever embankment, 90 feet deep

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[tunnel] Tunnel 500 feet long

[south] To Lunway's Inn

Waller's Ash cutting

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[road under] To Hook Pit farm [south]

Embankment

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[road under] to Woodham farm [south]

Winchester raceground

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[south] Upper farm

[road under] To Headbourn Worthy

[level crossing]

[south] Bartholomew Hyde, near

Winchester

Embankment

St. Mary's, Kingsworthy, has nothing remarkable but a cross inlaid with flint work, at the east end.

St. Martin's Church, Headborne Worthy, may possibly be older than the Norman Conquest - see a rude sculpture of the Crucifixion, at the west end of it.