Over 40 surveys were completed in the preparation of the LLCA. Here are samples of the on-site records that were used to generate the final report. Many were hand written with sketches and later transcribed but the following are the original reports as submitted, and vetted by the Core Group. Some second surveys were performed if the area was particularly season dependent. All areas were photographed and a selection can be found in the Photo Library.
Honey Lane
| Selborne LCA fieldwork record sheet | ||||||||||
| Zone | Zone name: | grid ref: N W | date: | |||||||
| 4 | The Lanes | 334 to 341 | 745 to764 | 03 August 2011 | ||||||
| Place / view name: | Survey team: | Weather conditions: | ||||||||
| Honey Lane | JLiddle, DL | Sunny | ||||||||
| Description: | ||||||||||
| Described by Gilbert White in18C as the lane to the forest (remnants of which exist as Woolmer Forest, now owned by the MOD) Honey Lane is an ancient route to Blackmoor and beyond. It dives off the B3006 only to turn at 90 degrees steeply uphill as a sunken lane, overshadowed by trees. In wet weather it carries torrents of surface water down to join the stream fed by the Well Head spring. This section of the Greensand Terrace has a heavy clay overlay and it is unsuitable for arable crops but supports dairy farming. To the south, apple orchards link up with those on either side of Sotherington Lane. | ||||||||||
| Key characteristics – notable features – sketches – views | ||||||||||
| The lane runs West to East and connects a series of farms. It passes a former industrial building, The Kiln, now converted tastefully into 12 dwellings. The lane is bordered by high banks and mixed hedges and affords few views over the surrounding countryside. It reaches its highest point, 140 meters, in the area of New Barn Farm (132337). From here the ground falls to the North towards Priory Farm, and quite steeply to the East towards Blackmoor from the junction with the lane leading NW to Rhode Farm. To the South, the ground rises towards Sotherington Lane, an area now devoted to apple orchards.The lane is narrow throughout its length with passing places. Wide and heavy vehicles are gradually eroding the high sided banks of this sunken lane as the passing places are widened. The adverse impact of off-road vehicles on the BOAT linking Honey and Sotherington Lanes can be seen in the deep ruts that have been formed in its unmetalled surface. In winter, it is almost impassable to pedestrians owing to the deep and slippy mud.
The ancient nature of the lane, especially where it is overshadowed by trees and is contained within high banks, communicates itself to the quiet walker who senses that he is not alone. In contrast, however, is the dramatic view, NE from Shrubs Copse (760340) from the edge of the Greensand Terrace, towards the early warning “golf balls” of the RAF station at Oakhanger and the mixed farmland of Blackmoor to the East. |
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| Boundaries – enclosure – transitions | ||||||||||
| The lane is bordered along much of its length by ancient hedgerows. Where orchards have been developed, high metal wire security fencing has been erected to keep out deer and human trespassers. | ||||||||||
| Senses – sounds – smells – colour – feelings & sense of place | ||||||||||
| Away from the traffic on the B3006, the lane is peaceful but remains an important local route to Blackmoor and beyond it to Bordon. If the Eco-Town is developed at Bordon, traffic is likely to increase significantly on this lane to its detriment. | ||||||||||
| Condition – future threats – change from the past – historical info | ||||||||||
| The lane is showing signs of deterioration through the impact of heavy vehicles and the erosion of the unmetalled surfaces of connecting lanes and BOATS by off-road vehicles pursuing leisure activities. There is some evidence of waste tipping and poor management of roadside trees. | ||||||||||
The Wellhead
| Selborne LCA fieldwork record sheet | ||||||||||
| Zone | Zone name: | grid ref: N W | date: | |||||||
| S | South | 330 | 743 | 24 August 2011 | ||||||
| Place / view name: | Survey team: | Weather conditions: | ||||||||
| Wellhead Stream | CW, WO, PN, DN | Sun / Cloud | ||||||||
| Description: | ||||||||||
| This is a walk from the Lions Mouth on the B3006, through scrub woodland, and alongside the Wellhead Stream, emerging into the lower Clays Field, because the old wooded path has become impassable. Eventually, it is possible to steeply descend, through the thicket to reach the source of the stream. The Wellhead runs north into Selborne from the Lions Mouth alongside the B3006, and eventually joins the Seale stream, from the northern end of the village, (origin Coneycroft), to form the Oakhanger Stream.
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| Key characteristics – notable features – sketches – views | ||||||||||
| The Lions Mouth is a Victorian monument, given to Selborne by a benefactor, Mr. Mills, and it provides a a fountain and trough fed by the Wellhead stream. It is mounted on a substantial retaining wall which also houses a parallel water outlet, and an enclosure with a pumping system, previously used to distribute water around the village. The pump is backed up by a brick built pressure tank, set approx. 40m upstream and on a raised level, maybe 10m above the road.Immediately behind the retaining wall the pathway follows the course of the stream, which has cut a steep sided valley through the chalk marl. There are no extensive views due to the scrub woodland along the whole length of the stream. The old, original path alongside the stream sits mainly on an overgrown plateau on the southern side. The northern side of the stream is a very steep sided cut into the chalk that sits below the field gardens of the two houses, Galley Hill Farm Cottage and Galley Hill Farm. Approx. 150m along a dam has been created to provide a reservoir, once used by the then Brunstable Farm for field irrigation. Above the dam the source of the stream is accessible. This shows evidence of manual intervention in the past to build up support to keep the exit clear. Greensand malmstone was used, and many fragments lie in the immediate area.
The original path to the source is no longer used: instead a new route has emerged over the past 30 years, and this eventually emerges from the scrub into the Clays field, giving a good view of Noar Hill. The path skirts the scrub woodland south westerly, where after 300m it is possible to descend sharply to the source of the Wellhead. The Wellhead washes down fine sand and this covers the bed and has filled up the various water overspill capture areas, dug into the hill behind the Lions Mouth retaining wall. See photo log. Ref. nos: 3748, 3702, 3706, 3717. |
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| Boundaries – enclosure – transitions | ||||||||||
| The Wellhead has a very specific and well defined territory between its source and the outlet at the Lions Mouth. Immediately south of the Lions Mouth a gate signals a public footpath into the narrow strip of scrub woodland, bordered on the north by the steep bank carved by the stream and on the south by the Clays Field. To reach the source it is necessary to exit the wood, then re-enter further on where there is an obvious wooded bowl with difficult, (steep) access to the source. | ||||||||||
| Senses – sounds – smells – colour – feelings & sense of place | ||||||||||
| The stream woodland is enclosed at this time of year but has a heavy noise from the B3006. This gives way progressively to the water movement. A very damp air with a pervasive smell of rotting woodland. Out in the fields it becomes very open, and contrastingly fresh.The industrial archaeological remains do convey something of the time when this was the water supply for the village, when it was pumped all around, and even supported Laundry cottage sited just across from the Lions Mouth. | ||||||||||
| Condition – future threats – change from the past – historical info | ||||||||||
| The land containing the Wellhead from the source to the Lions Mouth is under the ownership of the parish council. It is poorly maintained, with no woodland management, and as a result the original path has largely vanished. The replacement, parallel path is accessible but kept open only by usage rather than maintenance, and this has to exit the council land well before reaching the source.The stream itself needs some maintenance; there is a threat from build- up of sand behind the retaining wall and this may cause flooding in very wet conditions. The reservoir is choked with weeds, but this does not seem to restrict flow. | ||||||||||
Kimbers Meadow
| Selborne LCA fieldwork record sheet | ||||||||
| Zone | Zone name: | grid ref: N W | date: | |||||
| 5 | The Lythes | 338 | 740 to 741 | 24th July | ||||
| Place / view name: | Survey team: | Weather conditions: | ||||||
| Kimbers | SW, MW, IOD, NOD | Very sunny and warm | ||||||
| Description: | ||||||||
| A steep sloping valley continuing to narrow. It is ungrazed meadow / pasture land with the hedges and trees encroaching onto it.It is owned by the National Trust and can be a field where cattle could be moved quickly if there were movement bans as there is no public footpath. This would enable Church Meadows to stay open to the public at such times. Currently at the moment it is not being used. There are a few mature trees in the centre of this field including an old distressed maple???
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| Key characteristics – notable features – sketches – views | ||||||||
| This is a delightful spot with some unfamiliar views.
Looking south towards the church and Old Vicarage there is a mix wood slope with a path coming possibly from the Old Vicarage gardens.
On the opposite side the land slopes steeply towards a large spreading hedge and behind this is the housing estate of Goslings Croft. From this hedge seems to be spreading mint, which appears to becoming the dominant plant in the westerly end of Kimbers.
Looking westwards towards the Selborne Road there is the fencing and road cutting across the valley and one becomes aware that this is not such a remote rural area as one first thought.
In an easterly direction the valley seems to narrow due to the wooded slight interlocking spurs and this then leads into Church Meadows (see Lythes 4).
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| Boundaries – enclosure – transitions | ||||||||
| The slopes of the valley define the boundaries but also the Selborne Road plus the Church, Old Vicarage and Goslings Croft to a lesser degree start to act as ‘enclosures’ or ‘boundaries’. | ||||||||
| Senses – sounds – smells – colour – feelings & sense of place | ||||||||
| Sounds ~ birds, wind in trees and grasshoppers but as one moves up the valley (westwards) the noise of the road intrudes more and more decreasing the beauty of this traditional pasture field.Smells ~ initially grass and trees but then the smell of traffic and the road becomes apparent.
Colour ~ green but the variety of shades is increased by the dappled shade of the different trees. Feelings ~ there is a sense of going back in time and because there are numerous deer and badger tracks through the grassland it feels close to nature. |
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| Condition – future threats – change from the past – historical info | ||||||||
| Again farming practices and how this could alter could lead to changes in Kimbers. In Rye’s book on p.233 to 234 he discusses about whether it is worth grazing it and maintaining the hedges… ‘What is to be done with this once so lovely field? ….. They alone, the farmers, carry on ancient country traditions.’ Luckily it is owned by the National Trust.The volume of traffic on the B3006 Selborne Road does have a negative influence on this particular location but it i best viewed from the road. | ||||||||
Nine Acres Lane
| Selborne LCA fieldwork record sheet | |||||||||
| Zone | Zone name: | grid ref: N W | date: | ||||||
| 2 | North | 737 | 341 | 15/8/11 | |||||
| Place / view name: | Survey team: | Weather conditions: | |||||||
| Nine Acres Lane | KF, JT, PC, AF, CW | Overcast and drizzle | |||||||
| Description: | |||||||||
| A sunken lane with exposed greensand rock in the steep sided banks. The trees have grown to form a green tunnel. Traveling north east along the lane, the land rises in a gentle incline. | |||||||||
| Key characteristics – notable features – sketches – views | |||||||||
| This lane was previously called The Old Coach Road and was the main road into Selborne from the Alton direction until the toll road was built in 1846(? Check) Now the B3006.The road now has a tarmac surface with sections having been widened with a concrete strip next to the drainage gulley.
During wet conditions, water pours down this lane as it drains off the adjacent fields. There are land drain outfalls visible at several points along the lane. The trees in the overgrown hedge which flanks the lane are predominantly a mixture of ash, oak, hazel, holly and cherry. The roots of the larger trees are clearly visible in the banks of the lane and are a notable feature.
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| Boundaries – enclosure – transitions | |||||||||
| The bank and boundary hedge, which is now overgrown into sizeable trees, are the main features noted above. They create the enclosed nature of the lane. | |||||||||
| Senses – sounds – smells – colour – feelings & sense of place | |||||||||
| A very enclosed route which felt damp, dull and dark at the time of our visit. | |||||||||
| Condition – future threats – change from the past – historical info | |||||||||
| The road now only leads to a small farmstead with two houses. There is minimal vehicular traffic, but the road also links into two footpaths to Bush Down and Norton and walkers use these fairly frequently. | |||||||||
The Wakes Garden
| Selborne LCA fieldwork record sheet | |||||||||
| Zone | Zone name: | grid ref: N W | date: | ||||||
| 336 | 741 | 7th September 2012 | |||||||
| Place / view name: | Survey team: | Weather conditions: | |||||||
| Wakes Garden | DS | Dry sunny | |||||||
| Description: | |||||||||
| A long narrow strip of several individual gardens stretching from Gracious Street in the North to the Village Overflow Car park in the South. Consisting of pond, wildlife garden, brick paved herb garden, six quarters flower garden, main lawn with fruit wall and stone ha-ha, mixed borders, orchard, vegetable garden, grassed paddocks, ‘basons’ (circular flower beds) and wooden Ha-ha, Melonry and hot beds , far orchard and flower beds, and wooded maintenance area. The Wakes park and Bells Cottage (19th Century Cottage & Garden) is to the West, and Wakes cottages, the Wakes itself, and all the other cottages, houses, shops and pub on the western side of the street are on the east boundary of the area | |||||||||
| Key characteristics – notable features – sketches – views | |||||||||
| The house where Gilbert White lived (The Wakes) has been much altered and extended (principally lengthways) over the intervening years. It became a sprawling country house with an amalgam of many architectural styles filling the whole of its original frontage to the main street (B3006). Now a museum, the gardens behind have also been greatly changed .The last major alterations were 1995-2000 when the Kim Wilkie Restoration plan (1993) was implemented. The main lawn extends in a rough rectangle from by the house to the park boundary, where White’s stone Ha-ha and Sundial (1761) survives. A brick path from the old back door winds its way to a position just south of this Ha-ha, where a reconstruction of his Alcove (orig. 1762?) with pediment has been built. To the North of the lawn a small section of White’s original fruit wall survives (rebuilt 2000) together with a laburnum arch (1973). To the north of this are two gardens: a pond garden where many of the wild plants mentioned by Gilbert White are featured, with apple trees (1978) and Yew Topiary hedge (1930’s) & a ‘Six quarters’ Garden consisting of six large rectangular beds and featuring the garden plants from Gilbert White’s journals. To the north of the six quarters are two further gardens, a brick paved herb garden with herbs of the period and an annual/bulb garden containing 18th century examples of these plant groups. There is also a small plant sales area adjacent to the main road. where a fine specimen tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) planted 1910 dominates the landscape. To the south of the main lawn there is a small hill now called Bakers Hill. There is a large spreading yew tree on the bank here thought to be about 300 years old, and close to this is a fine specimen Cedar of Lebanon, possibly planted by Gilbert White but more likely to date from the 19th Century. Beyond this apples, cherries, and plums (mentioned by White) have been planted (1997) amongst a very colourful display of naturalised bulbs (snowdrops, wild tulips, fritillaries and daffodils). The orchard walk is bordered by fruit bushes and ornamental shrubs noted in White’s Garden Diary. Near the top of the hill, accessed from a track behind the cottages, is a small barn housing garden equipment. The hill is topped with a quincunx (domino 5 arrangement) of tall Italian cypresses, the centre of which has a terracotta oil jar vase erected on a wooden pedestal, the whole being 9ft tall. This as an eye catcher in the landscape garden. Currently one cypress has died and the feature will shortly be replanted. Beyond the Quincunx are more fruit trees, naturalised martagon lilies (possibly 19th century or earlier) and a wooded maintenance area with lime trees, old decaying conifers and sycamores. A chain link fence divides the end of the garden from the village overflow car park. To the west of this strip of land are a series of paddocks arranged a segments between two tall curving hedges of maple, hazel and hawthorn, one at the top of Bakers hill (around the Quincunx) and one at the perimeter (the division with the park) The first paddock (adjacent to the orchard and brick walk) is grassed, the second is laid out as a vegetable garden with historic vegetable varieties, the third called ‘the field’ has circular flower beds called basons containing trees, shrubs and flowers, including a fine silver fir (Abies alba). This segment terminates to the west in a ha-ha of wooden stakes (constructed 1997, Gilbert White’s was 1759) and the whole segment provides an ornamented vista lined with more tall hedges, leading the eye out to the Wine pipe & Mount in the Wakes park (which see) The fourth paddock contains hot beds (piles of fresh fermenting manure) on which melons and cucumbers are grown. A small timber shed or Melon ground house (moved from under the Beech tree in the park) has been erected in the SW corner. The fifth segment contains apple trees and beds for cut flowers. All five segments are bisected by a vista punctuated by field gates which eventually leads to a cut out statue of Hercules in the Wakes park.
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| Boundaries – enclosure – transitions | |||||||||
| The hedges in the northern part of the garden are of yew, and most were planted in the 19th century. The tall mixed hedges dividing the segments on Bakers Hill were planted 1995/6 as part of the Wilkie plan. To the east the division between the Wakes Garden and the cottages once consisted of a number of very large trees, the rotting remains of which still exist. The remains of White’s Wych Elm were still suckering at the top of the orchard until a few years ago. Eastern boundaries on the side of Bakers hill have greatly changed over the years; White originally owned half of the back gardens of Wakes cottages 3& 4. Remains of a winding cobbled path in Bakers Hill were found in the late 1990’s. | |||||||||
| Senses – sounds – smells – colour – feelings & sense of place | |||||||||
| The complex array of individual gardens present the visitor with a range of different experiences of colour, scent and sound according to the size, layout and planting of the individual enclosures. The herb garden has aromatic smells, the roses in the six quarters have a sweet smell, and the honeysuckles in the orchard walk drift their perfume over a wide area. The arrays of naturalized bulbs on Bakers Hill are eye catching and attractive, whilst the wild garden has a sense of serenity and wilderness. The views or vistas out to the park over the Ha-ha’s give a sense of space and rural peace. | |||||||||
| Condition – future threats – change from the past – historical info | |||||||||
| The gardens are maintained in a somewhat untidy but generally pleasing way, and they continue to change and develop both with the life cycles of the plants and with new designs being researched and developed by museum staff. There is a wealth of historical information about the gardens- new material is found from time to time and eventually the layout may change considerably, provided the museum remains financially viable: if this is not the case the gardens will have to be simplified and many of the individual features which provide so much interest and enjoyment will be lost. | |||||||||
