Petersfield’s Sunday best

Above: The Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Petersfield is a market town situated in the south east of Hampshire, on the northern border of the South Downs. The town contains the villages of Froxfield, Langrish, Buriton, Steep and East and West Meon.

Petersfield was founded at the beginning of the 12th century and named after an open area of trees that was dedicated to St Peter – St Peter’s Feld. Built on the crossroads of the busy north-south (today the A3 road) and east-west routes (today the A272 road), the town became a popular coach stop for those travelling from Portsmouth to London.

Did you know that back in the day, the prosperity of Petersfield was rooted in wool? Sheep were raised in the surrounding countryside to keep the economy going. Today the town is unique in that it is wholly within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and thriving with an estimated 13,000 residents.

Celebrities of Petersfield both past and present include artist Flora Twort, agriculturist John Worlidge, musician William Henry Harris, actor Alec Best, author John Wyndham, and Hambledon cricketer John Small.

Physic garden
If you have green fingers you are sure to appreciate Petersfield’s Physic Garden.
Set in an ancient walled burgage plot behind the High Street, the garden (below right) has been planted in the style of the distinguished 17th century botanist John Goodyer, who resided in Petersfield.
In the formal geometric pattern typical of physic gardens of that time, the garden is blooming with many plants that would have been grown during the 17th century. Talking points include the small knot garden, sundial, terracotta urns and rose bower with shrub roses.
Contact Hampshire Gardens Trust on 01794 367752 for more information.

Home from home
The National Trust’s Uppark House and Garden (below left) are truly spectacular.
Elevated high upon the South Downs, this fine early 18th century house is littered with exquisite furniture, ceramics, textiles and decorations of the time. Many flock to the house to see its collection of Grand Tour paintings while others consider the Georgian doll’s house to be the star attraction.
The garden has been restored to the popular ‘picturesque’ style of the early 19th century. Flowering shrubs, perennials and herbaceous plants attractively frame the house, creating a tranquil garden. Don’t forget to look out and delight in the magnificent, panoramic views of the sea.
The garden, shop and on site restaurant are open everyday bar Saturday from 11.30am to 3pm during November. The house closes on the last day of October so get in quick for a full tour.
Part of the house is open to the public Monday to Friday and Sunday from December 6 to 11, 2008. Tickets cost around £7.80 for an adult.
Uppark House and Garden
South Harting , Petersfield  GU31 5QR
Tel. 01730 825857

Reserve Judgement
Just five miles from Petersfield is Old Winchester Hill National Nature Reserve.
Located towards the western end of the South Downs, on the south and west facing scar slopes of the Meon Valley, the reserve is brimming with habitats. Flower rich grassland has developed on the thin chalky soils, known to be lacking in nutrients, and there is a distinct difference between the plants growing in the warm dry conditions of the south facing slopes compared to those in the damper hallows on the north steep. Many species of orchids can be found there.
With its extensive shrub, the reserve is ideal for bird watching, and if you are lucky you might see a buzzard or red kite flying overhead. In the summer, chalk hill blue butterflies can be seen, while in the winter the focus turns to the woodlands with the deer and badgers that reside within. Sheep graze in the reserve throughout the year to preserve the habitats.
Old Winchester Hill Nature Reserve is situated between the A3 and A32 (approximately six miles north of Waterlooville and six miles west of Petersfield). The nearest town is Warnford.

Four!
If you want to get physical, why not try your hand at a little golf? Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. If you are unsure if you’ll enjoy it, why not try a taster session before taking out a membership? Petersfield Golf Club offers a ‘pay and  play’ scheme.
This 12-hole course is a part of the old Petersfield Golf Club Course and consists of five par three holes, six par four holes, and one par five hole.                                
The onsite shop and clubhouse have a substantial selection of snacks and refreshments as well as quality equipment for sale. Trolleys and new sets of golf clubs can also be hired. Booking, especially at weekends, is recommended.
Green fees (12 holes): Weekend – £10, Week day – £12.
Petersfield Pay & Play Golf Club
Tankerdale Lane, Liss
Hampshire  GU33 7QY 
Tel. 01730 895165

Farmers’ fun
On November 2, food lovers should head down to Petersfield market square (just off the High Street) to check out the farmers’ market. Many local producers attend the farmers’ market, specialising in everything from meat to mustard. Feast on the flavours as you sample some of the finest, fresh produce Hampshire has to offer.
Whether you are looking for confectionery and preserves or vegetables and cheese, you are bound to find something that tickles your taste buds.
You never know, you might even pick up a few early Christmas presents.
The market runs from 10am to 2pm.

Let’s go shopping!
If you have prior commitments so can’t attend the market but still want to shop locally, why not browse around a farm shop? Stocked full of high quality local produce, such as organic meat and game, country ice creams, jams, chutneys, honey, quiches, cheeses, cakes, wine and ales, you could leave the supermarket chains behind.
Durleighmarsh Farm Shop
Durleighmarsh , Petersfield
Hampshire   GU31 5AX
Tel. 01730 821626
From June to October, Durleighmarsh Farm Shop also offers a pick-your-own service.

Queen bee
Once you’ve bought all your Hampshire food treats, why not pack a picnic and head to Queen Elizabeth Country Park? With over 1,300 acres of open woodland and 20 miles of trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is Hampshire’s biggest.
The park is open daily, the visitors centre, café and gift shop from 10am to 4.30pm throughout November.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Gravel Hill, Horndean
Hampshire  PO8 0QE
Tel. 023 9259 5040

Ceramic city
If your tableware is looking a little tired and drab, why not treat yourself to a new set from Grayshott Pottery.
Started in 1956, Grayshott Pottery has established an international reputation for producing fine stoneware and porcelain.
Designed for professional use – tough, chip resistant, oven, microwave and dishwasher proof – their oven-to-table ranges can be made in either stoneware or porcelain. Items are available in over 100 shapes and in numerous colours and finishes including ‘blue stripe’ and the best selling ‘pebble’.
Grayshott Pottery
School Road, Grayshott
Hindhead, Surrey  GU26 6LR
Tel: 01428 604404

Heavenly church
If you like churches, you should head to East Meon. All Saints’ Church in East Meon is known as one of the finest Norman churches in Hampshire. With a square, central Norman tower and lead covered broach-spire, the church is of cruciform shape and has Norman decorations similar to those at Winchester Cathedral.
The star attraction of the church is the black Tournai marble font. From Belgium, the font dates to around 1130-40 and tells the story of the creation of Adam and Eve and then their expulsion from paradise.
Visit Winchester Cathedral, St Michael in Southampton and, St Peter in St Mary Bourne to see other Tournai fonts.

History galore!
With the British weather being so wet, Petersfield Museum is ideal to combat the blues of a wet afternoon.
Situated in the late 19th century magistrates’ courthouse behind the police station in St Peter’s Road, the museum houses an impressive collection of objects, maps, photographs and archival material on the social, industrial and agricultural history of Petersfield and the surrounding area.
If you are fascinated by the Romans, you will enjoy the village exhibit. Liss, famous for pre-ice-age Neolithic archaeological finds, is the guest village at the museum this year. The display consists of Roman artefacts from the excavation.
Petersfield Museum is proud to show the first display of the Bedales collection of historic costume, which consists of about 1,000 pieces dating from 1720.
The museum will also be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the police station in St Peter’s Road and the anniversary of Peterfield School, which has now been on Cranford Road for 50 years.
Opening times:
10am to 4pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, March to November
The Old Courthouse, St Peter’s Road
Petersfield  GU32 3HX
Tel: 01730 262601

Meon Valley meander
From 50 Walks in Hampshire &
Isle of Wight, AA Publishing
Rising dramatically above the Meon Valley, Old Winchester Hill is a favoured haunt of historians and naturalists, and the start of this exhilarating walk.

Distance: 5.5 miles
Minimum time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Parking: English Nature car park off Old Winchester Hill Lane

Directions
From the car park go through the gate onto the open downland and turn left between the nature reserve’s information boards.  Follow the path around the perimeter of the reserve. Merge with the South Downs Way (SDW) and bear right towards the hill fort. Pass through a gate, follow SDW markers left, then right across the centre of the hill fort.
* Descend and keep left at a fork by the rampart, heading downhill to a stile. Pass beneath yew trees and beside a gate. Continue downhill, then walk along the edge of a field and bear left onto a track. At a junction turn left along a track.
* Where this enters a field, keep ahead along the stony path. Pass under the disused railway (in winter use the steps to cross the old track bed), and continue to a T-junction.
* Bear right and cross the footbridge over the River Meon to the A32. Cross straight over into Church Lane and continue into Exton. Turn left along Shoe Lane, then right at the junction beyond The Shoe pub, and shortly bear left along Allens Farm Lane.
* At a sharp right-hand bend, keep ahead along the path beside Exton Farm. Go through a gate and bear
left along the right-hand edge of paddocks to a stile. Pass beside Corhampton Farm and Church, bearing left to the A32.
* Cross over, walk left along the pavement and turn right by the shop. Take the metalled path beside the last house on your right and enter Meonstoke churchyard. Turn left along the lane to a T-junction beside the Bucks Head. Turn left, then left again at the junction. Follow the lane right (Pound Lane) and soon cross the
old railway.
* At a crossroads climb the stile on your left. Proceed ahead across the field and pass behind gardens, eventually reaching a stile and a lane. Climb the stile opposite and keep to the right-hand field edge to a stile, then bear diagonally left towards a house and road.
* Turn right and take the track left beside Harvestgate Farm. At the top of the track, bear left uphill along the field edge, then sharp right, following the path along the hedge into the next field. Cross the stile on your left into the nature reserve and ascend steeply to the hill fort ramparts.
* Cross a stile and go right to join the outward route by the fort entrance. Through the gate opposite the information board, follow a path just beneath the downland rim.  Bear right to a gate and retrace your steps to the car park.