The Weyhill Fair, Weyhill, Hampshire

The Weyhill Fair, Weyhill, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

Weyhill Fair was the longest lived of any of the rural fairs and was actually three separate fairs held on 11th April, the last Friday in July and from October 9th to the 12th. It was held to the west of Andover on the Fair
Ground, a parcel of land at the junction of two ancient ways - the 'Gold road' from Holyhead which was reputedly used to carry Irish gold to south coast ports - and the Harrow Way, one of our oldest trade routes running from the West Country through the heart of Southern England to Dover. Weyhill was also at the junction of six other 'drift roads' to major settlements in the region.

Weyhill was the fair which provided the factual information upon which Thomas Hardy based his fictionalised account of wife-selling in The Mayor of Casterbridge. Thieves and vagabonds were drawn to the fair and often the only way to keep hold of your money was to sew it into the lining of your clothes. In its heyday it was a gigantic amalgam of stock market, superstore and theme park. There could be up to 100,000 sheep sold in a day; there were horse dealers and cattle sales, there were booths selling ales, cheese, jewellery, clothing and a great variety of household goods. There was a wide range of amusements including side shows, freak shows, boxing and wrestling booths and humble swings and roundabouts. Substantial stalls were built to house some of the established traders and these were eventually made permanent - some of these can still be seen on the site today.

The White Horse, Ampfield, Hampshire

The White Horse, Ampfield, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The White Horse is situated on a slight bend in the main road that runs between Romsey and Winchester. It benefits from having a large garden that overlooks the downs and meadows of Hampshire and is next to both the village cricket ground, the recreation area and an 18 hole par 3 golf course.

Ampfield is set in beautiful countryside about two miles to the East of the picturesque country town of Romsey, and about seven miles south of historic Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex. The River Test and its lovely valley are two miles to the north-west, and the New Forest is about eight miles to the south-west.

The village can trace its roots back to prehistory, and our History page outlines the development of the village over the years. The countryside around Ampfield has changed little over the centuries. The countryside surrounding Ampfield and its adjacent parishes has been designated a Heritage Area, and the Heritage Area Group promotes schemes to protect and enhance it. The many public footpaths provide a pleasant way of exploring the parish

Ampfield is also the home of the world famous Hillier Gardens (formerly known as the Hillier Arboretum) These gardens hold the greatest collection of hardy trees and shrubs in the world. Started by the late Sir Harold Hillier in 1953 and given in trust to Hampshire County Council in 1977, the Gardens now extend to 180 acres. Within this unique collection of more than 42,000 plants (12,500 different types), visitors will find much of interest throughout the year.

Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Hampshire

Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The Purefoy Arms is situated in the heart of the candover valley just 7 miles from Basingstoke on the B3046

Here is the pub in the 1960's

www.francisfrith.com/preston-candover/photos/the-purefoy-...

The Royal Oak, Lasham, Hampshire

The Royal Oak, Lasham, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

Cosy log fires for the winter months and spacious, beautifully
maintained gardens, with BBQ area - for when the sun shines!
Large covered heated patio area with benches, bar tables and
stools - ideal for those who still want to smoke whilst at the pub!

The Gentleman Jim, Alton, Hampshire

The Gentleman Jim, Alton, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

JIMMY Dickinson holds a unique place in Pompey history. Many famous names in soccer have served their clubs with distinction and dedication but surely the most distinguished and loyal of all was 'Gentleman Jim.' He was one of the great names in football during the game's golden age after World War Two when crowds flocked back to soccer in their millions.
Born in Alton in 1925, Dickinson joined Pompey from Alton Youth Club having been discovered by his maths and sports teacher Eddie Lever, who later managed his old pupil at Fratton Park. After three years' national service in the Royal Navy, Dickinson
made his league debut against Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park in 1946.

Having settled quickly into the side, he established the number six shirt as his own and helped steer Pompey to successive league championships with his other resplendent colleagues. His sound, consistent and unobtrusive performances earned him England recognition too - a total of 48 appearances for his country made him Pompey's most capped player of all time. More significantly he played 764 league games for Pompey - a record for one player at a single club which was not broken until Swindon's John Trollope went six better in 1980.

In addition to his remarkable playing career, Dickinson was a gentleman both on and off the pitch. He was never booked or sent off in 800 Pompey and England matches. His industrious and sure footed style at either wing-half or left-half is still happily remembered today by those who watched him in probably the best half-back line this country ever had alongside Jack Froggatt and Jimmy Scoular.

Dickson was a Pompey stalwart for almost 20 years. Awarded the MBE in 1964, he played his last match for the Blues a year later, helping Pompey to a 1-1 end-of-season draw at Northampton that secured safety from relegation. And when he retired from playing, his loyalty did not cease. He served Pompey as public relations officer and then secretary before reluctantly accepting the job he never wanted - that of Pompey manager - in May 1977. Relegation from the third division was avoided, but the next year Pompey dropped into soccer's basement.

The worry of managing the famous old club in the fourth division affected his health and sadly, after three heart attacks Jimmy died aged 57 in 1982. The famous Pompey Chimes rang hauntingly around St Mary's Church in Fratton at a packed memorial service for the much-loved legend. Portsmouth is a city of many famous names and one with which it is synonymous is that of Jimmy Dickinson. Gentleman Jim will be remembered in Pompey forever

Whistle Stop, Liss, Hampshire

Whistle Stop, Liss, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The Chineham Arms, Chineham, Basingstoke, Hampshire

The Chineham Arms, Chineham, Basingstoke, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The Chineham Arms is a traditional pub with an open plan bar.