WANDERINGS IN WESSEX
AN EXPLORATION OF THE SOUTHERN REALM FROM ITCHEN TO OTTER
BY EDRIC HOLMES
Author of "Seaward Sussex," etc.
With 12 full-page drawings by
M.M. VIGERS
and over one hundred illustrations in the text by the author.
Map and Plans
Dear hills do lift their heads aloft From whence sweet springes doe flow Whose moistvr good both firtil make The valleis covchte belowe Dear goodly orchards planted are In frvite which doo abovnde Thine ey wolde make thy hart rejoice To see so pleasant grovnde
(Anon. 16th Century)
NOTE
The obvious limitations imposed by the size of this volume upon its contents, and the brief character of the reference to localities that require separate treatment to do them justice, would call for an apology if it were not made clear that the object of the book is but to introduce the would-be traveller in one of the fairest quarters of England to some of its glories, both of natural beauty and of those due to the skill and labour of man.
The grateful thanks of the author are due to those of his predecessors on the high roads and in the by-ways of Wessex who, in time past, have chronicled their researches into the history and lore of the country-side. In one way only can he claim an equality with them--in a deep and undying affection for this beautiful and gracious province of the Motherland.
CONTENTS
CHAP.
INTRODUCTION
I WINCHESTER AND CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE
II SOUTHAMPTON WATER AND THE NEW FOREST
III POOLE, WIMBORNE AND THE ISLE OF PURBECK
IV DORCHESTER AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
V WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND
VI WEST DORSET
VII EAST DEVON
VIII THE SOMERSET, DEVON AND DORSET BORDERLAND
IX SALISBURY AND THE RIVERS
X STONEHENGE AND THE PLAIN
XI THE BERKSHIRE BORDER AND NORTH HAMPSHIRE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FULL PAGE DRAWINGS
Winchester Cathedral Frontispiece St. Cross Bargate, Southampton Corfe Castle Cerne Abbey Gatehouse Weymouth Harbour The Charmouth Road Ottery Church Sherborne Salisbury Cathedral Stonehenge Marlborough
PEN AND INK SKETCHES IN THE TEXT
The Dorset Coast--Mupe Bay Font, Winchester Cathedral Plan, Winchester Cathedral Steps from North Transept, Winchester Gateway, Winchester Close Winchester College Statue of Alfred City Cross, Winchester West Gate, Winchester The Church, St. Cross Romsey Abbey The Arcades, Southampton Netley Ruins On the Hamble Gate House, Titchfield The Knightwood Oak in Winter Lymington Church Norman Turret, Christchurch Sand and Pines. Bournemouth Poole Wimborne Minster Julian's Bridge, Wimborne Cranborne Manor St. Martin's, Wareham The Frome at Wareham Plan of Corfe Castle Corfe Village St. Aldhelm's Old Swanage Tilly Whim The Ballard Cliffs Arish Mel Lulworth Cove from above Stair Hole Durdle Door Puddletown Dorchester Napper's Mite Maiden Castle Wyke Regis Old Weymouth Portland On the way to Church Ope Bow and Arrow Castle Portesham St. Catherine's Chapel Beaminster Eggardon Hill Bridport Puncknoll Chideock Charmouth Lyme from the Charmouth Footpath Lyme Bay Axmouth from the Railway Seaton Hole Beer The Way to the Sea, Beer Branscombe Church Sidmouth Axminster Ford Abbey Tower, Ilminster Yeovil Church Montacute Batcombe Sherborne Castle Bruton Bow Marnhull Blandford Milton Abbey Gold Hill, Shaftesbury Wardour Castle Wilton House, Holbein Front Bemerton Church Old Sarum Salisbury Market Place High Street Gate Plan of Salisbury Cathedral Gate, South Choir Aisle The Poultry Cross, Salisbury Longford Castle Downton Cross Ludgershall Church Gatehouse, Amesbury Abbey Amesbury Church Plan of Stonehenge (restored) Stonehenge Detail Enford Boyton Manor Longleat Frome Church Westbury White Horse Porch House, Potterne St. John's, Devizes Bishop's Cannings Silbury Hill Devil's Den Garden Front, Marlborough College Cloth Hall, Newbury Wolverton The Inkpen Country Whitchurch Holy Ghost Chapel, Basingstoke Basing Corhampton Map of Wessex
ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
_The following brief notes will assist the traveller who is not an expert in arriving at the approximate date of ecclesiastical buildings._
SAXON 600-1066. Simple and heavy structure. Very small wall openings. Narrow bands of stone in exterior walls.
NORMAN 1066-1150. Round arches. Heavy round or square pillars. Cushion capitals. Elaborate recessed doorways. Zig-zag ornament.
TRANSITION 1150-1200. Round arched windows combined with pointed structural arch. Round pillars sometimes with slender columns attached. Foliage ornament on capitals.
EARLY ENGLISH 1200-1280 (including Geometrical) Pointed arches. Pillars with detached shafts. Moulded or carved capitals. Narrow and high pointed windows. Later period--Geometrical trefoil and circular tracery in windows.
DECORATED 1280-1380. High and graceful arches. Deep moulding to pillars. Convex moulding to capitals with natural foliage. "Ball flowers" ornament. Elaborate and flamboyant window tracery.
PERPENDICULAR 1380-1550. Arches lower and flattened. Clustered pillars. Windows and doors square-headed with perpendicular lines. Grotesque ornament. (The last fifty years of the sixteenth century were characterized by a debased Gothic style with Italian details in the churches and a beauty and magnificence in domestic architecture which has never since been surpassed.)
JACOBEAN and GEORGIAN 1600-1800 are adaptations of the classical style. The "Gothic Revival" dates from 1835.