Warnford
Encyclopedia
Warnford is a village and civil parish
in the City of Winchester
district of Hampshire
, England
.
The village lies on the A32
in the valley of the River Meon
between West Meon
and Exton
. It has a church and a pub, The George and Falcon. There is an infrequent bus service from Bishop's Waltham
to Petersfield
. The village was by-passed by the former Meon Valley Railway
(now a footpath and cycleway), which ran down the east of the valley.
The Church of Our Lady, to the south of the village, was rebuilt in the 12th century and contains relics of an earlier Saxon church. The ruins of the 13th century St. John's or King John's House are nearby. There are watercress beds at two places in the valley.
The Beacon Hill
National Nature Reserve and SSSI is at the western end of the parish, a chalk hill some 201 metres (659.4 ft) high flanked by numerous steep-sided dry valley
s. The Monarch's Way
long distance footpath crosses the valley in Warnford. The route of the South Downs Way
, which shares short sections of the Monarch's Way route either side of the parish, has been contentious and was the subject of public inquiries
in 2004 and 2006. Currently Ordnance Survey maps show both a route through Warnford, and a southerly route past Beacon Hill via Exton.
Warnford is currently in the Winchester parliamentary constituency but will be in the new Meon Valley
in future elections.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the City of Winchester
City of Winchester
Winchester is a local government district in Hampshire, England, with city status. It covers an area of central Hampshire including the city of Winchester itself, and neighbouring towns and villages including New Alresford, Colden Common and Bishops Waltham....
district of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The village lies on the A32
A32 road
The A32 is a road in Hampshire, southern England, that links Gosport and Alton. Starting at Gosport, facing Portsmouth, it travels north via Fareham, Wickham, Droxford, before joining the A31 road near Alton...
in the valley of the River Meon
River Meon
The River Meon is a river that flows through an area of Hampshire in southern England known as the Meon Valley, it flows generally southwards from the South Downs to the Solent. For most of its route it is a chalk stream, with a length of 21 miles .The River Meon rises approximately...
between West Meon
West Meon
West Meon is a small village in Hampshire, England, with a population of 690.It is situated near to Petersfield and East Meon, on the headwaters of the River Meon....
and Exton
Exton, Hampshire
Exton is a small village and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. The village lies in the South Downs National Park, on the west bank of the River Meon, immediately to the north of Corhampton. It is located two miles north east of Droxford and five miles north...
. It has a church and a pub, The George and Falcon. There is an infrequent bus service from Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham is a small town in Hampshire, England situated at the head of the River Hamble. It is home to the ruins of Bishop's Waltham Palace, an English Heritage monument.-History:...
to Petersfield
Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road. The town has its own railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line, the mainline rail link connecting Portsmouth and London. The town is situated on the...
. The village was by-passed by the former Meon Valley Railway
Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway was a cross-country railway in Hampshire, England that ran for between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton...
(now a footpath and cycleway), which ran down the east of the valley.
The Church of Our Lady, to the south of the village, was rebuilt in the 12th century and contains relics of an earlier Saxon church. The ruins of the 13th century St. John's or King John's House are nearby. There are watercress beds at two places in the valley.
The Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill, Warnford, Hampshire
Beacon Hill, Warnford, Hampshire is a chalk hill in the South Downs on the boundary of the parishes of Warnford and Exton. Part of the hill is a National Nature Reserve and biological SSSI, first notified in 1979.The hill-Location:...
National Nature Reserve and SSSI is at the western end of the parish, a chalk hill some 201 metres (659.4 ft) high flanked by numerous steep-sided dry valley
Dry valley
A dry valley is a valley found in either karst or chalk terrain that no longer has a surface flow of water.There are many examples of the latter along the North and South Downs in southern England...
s. The Monarch's Way
Monarch's Way
The Monarch's Way is a long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.Most of the footpath is waymarked...
long distance footpath crosses the valley in Warnford. The route of the South Downs Way
South Downs Way
The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway running along the South Downs in southern England, and is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales...
, which shares short sections of the Monarch's Way route either side of the parish, has been contentious and was the subject of public inquiries
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
in 2004 and 2006. Currently Ordnance Survey maps show both a route through Warnford, and a southerly route past Beacon Hill via Exton.
Warnford is currently in the Winchester parliamentary constituency but will be in the new Meon Valley
Meon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
Meon Valley is a new county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created for the 2010 general election...
in future elections.