Romsey

Romsey - Hampshire

For a town of only 13000 people, Romsey has had a distinguished history and, just as importantly, it remains a lively, interesting market town. Eight miles from Southampton and eleven from Winchester, Romsey is on the famous River Test – a paradise for trout fishermen.

The town centre is dominated by the magnificent Norman abbey, which was responsible for its initial growth. The present abbey dates from the middle of the 12th century and was largely responsible for Romsey becoming a religious, educational and market centre.

During the Middle Ages, wool and later leather helped developed the area even more and watermills have also featured predominantly – there were even examples of these at the time of the Domesday Book.

Today, Romsey is still overlooked by the imposing Abbey but there are many other fine historic buildings lining the narrow streets around the central market place. There are, in addition, many delightful walks alongside the bubbling streams of the River Test leading into the surrounding countryside.

The Abbey itself is a splendid piece of architecture with many spectacular ancient carvings, tapestries, textiles and paintings as well as the grave of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Just a few yards away from the Abbey is the 13th century merchant’s house, King John’s House, in which some medieval visitors left their mark for posterity by inscribing some graffiti into the plaster of the upper room. There are the remains of a floor made with animal bones and many original roof timbers.

Romsey is an excellent location for eating out with a number of quality restaurants including French, Thai, Indian and Chinese as well as the traditional english restaurants of course.

If you’re in the area on the first Saturday in July there is a free street festival, The Beggars’ Fair, with all types of music and dance and other street entertainment.

Just outside Romsey is Broadlands, former home of Earl Mountbatten and one of the finest examples of mid-Georgian architecture in the country. It is a house with many historic associations and with superb interiors and art treasures amidst a glorious setting next to the River Test, Broadlands is an absolute gem.

It is open to the public on weekday afternoons from the end of June to the beginning of September but there is a further opportunity to see the spectacular grounds and gardens during the Romsey Show, a large agricultural show taking place in 2008 on 13th September and including attractions such as traction engines, military bands and displays and numerous competitions for horses, hounds and carriages.

Just three miles north of the town is Mottisfont Abbey, a National Trust property renowned particularly for its rose garden and a room decorated by Whistler.

If you’re looking for more modern family-oriented entertainment, near the village of Ower is Paultons Park, which has a wide variety of thrilling rides and also in Romsey itself are the Romsey Rapids – a great day out for everyone who loves water, featuring a water canon, a pirate’s ship a 75 metre flume, and many other spectacular, if rather wet, attractions.

There is a soft play adventure area, Archie’s Play World, for the very young children here.

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