Another grand day out, this time to Greywell in Hampshire which is just a short drive from Basingstoke.
For all those that believe Basingstoke is unattractive, well the surrounding countryside is spectacular. With trees dressed in their new spring green and cascading with blossom, the air was full of fluffy seeds that shimmered in the sunshine and dusted the water; giving a slightly mystical atmosphere to the afternoon.
Greywell is a charming picturesque village and even though it is the smallest parish in the district, it has many buildings of special interest and much of the locale has been designated as a conservation area.
There are two waterways adjacent to Greywell. The Whitewater river and the Basingstoke Canal. Both are quite beautiful and taking advantage of a sunny Sunday afternoon we stopped at the Fox and Goose public house at Greywell for a pint and a ploughman’s, then headed off to find the canal.
We got somewhat lost and ended up at the Whitewater river instead; however this was quite fortunate because it was a very nice walk along the river.
Passing by the 12th Century church of St Mary’s the Virgin and following the footpath sign from the road, we ambled along the riverside boardwalk. It is quite a marshy area and the footpath was a little muddy in places from the recent rain, so a sturdy pair of boots is a good idea. The footpath leads you past Greywell Mill, which is an attractive 18th Century brick built flour mill with it’s wooden water wheel still in evidence (although it ceased working in the 1930′s).
Once we realised that the Canal was nowhere in the vicinity, we backtracked to Greywell, then set off in the opposite direction from the pub where we found the foot bridge over the canal (Greywell tunnel) and then took a leisurely walk down the towpath.
The Greywell tunnel, built in 1792, had a somewhat chequered history and in 1932 a partial collapse shortened it’s navigable length until in 1949 commercial traffic ceased. Now the tunnel is a haven for the largest population of bats in the British Isles. The canal itself was constructed around the same time in the late 18th Century and although it was supposed to connect London to Portsmouth, financial concerns meant it stopped short at Basingstoke.
The Pinkerton Narrow Boat was in evidence, picking up passengers for a canal trip and we stopped off at Odiham Castle (also known as King John’s Castle). This is a 12th- Century ruin and the place that King John set off from on his way to sign the Magna Carta, in June 1215.
Originally built as a fortified hunting lodge in 1207 by King John, the castle was attacked 9 years later by Prince Louis of France. On its recapture a year later it was rebuilt with a unique octagonal tower (of which the ruins are in evidence today). The current site is owned and maintained by Hampshire County council.
Finally, our aching feet deciding the issue, we walked back to the Fox and Goose and had an excellent evening meal washed down with a large jug of Pimms (with the per-requisite fruit salad garnishes). The staff were very friendly, the food was good and the weather was superb.
Perhaps not a terribly exciting way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but certainly a very pleasant one.
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