Location

Boarhunt is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of the city of Portsmouth on the south coast of Great Britain. Click here for a map and satellite images.

The geology of the parish

Boarhunt parish has a very varied geology on account of its position along and across the Portsdown ridge. This is very apparent in the variety of soils encountered in various areas of the parish. Although part of the village is situated in London Clay soils, the more southern parts of the parish are situated on chalky soils especially further up Portsdown Hill. The ridge itself is the product of the resistance of its chalk to erosion whilst the softer sands and clays on either side have been worn away. Many springs and underground streams contribute to the high local water table. The River Wallington and its tributaries flowing through the parish provide a natural run-off.

The countryside of the Parish

The landscape in and around Boarhunt parish is probably regarded as its greatest asset. The presence of the Forest of Bere at the northern end of Trampers Lane provides opportunities for beautiful walks for villagers and visitors alike, and the views across Trampers Lane towards the Southwick Estate and Portsdown Hill are also frequently referred to by villagers as a great source of beauty and enjoyment.

Views into and out of the village

Boarhunt is often described as a hidden village, since from most vantage points on the edge of the parish, little of the village of North Boarhunt can be see as its buildings are screened by mature trees such as oaks, alders, and chestnuts. From Nelson’s Monument, or anywhere along the top of Portsdown Hill, the view is one of tranquil pastures, fields and forests. The lack of large housing estates, substantial housing or industrial development greatly contributes to the appeal of the village. However, the village also enjoys the proximity of large cities and their amenities without losing its strong rural identity and sense of community. The rural setting also allows stunning views of the night skies. This is mainly due to the low level of light pollution thanks to the low population density and strong local resistance to the use of excessive street lighting.

Natural assets of the Parish

There has been a constant evolution in the flora of the parish due to the variety of its soils and to man’s intervention in clearing wooded areas for agricultural and ship building purposes. However, most of the woodland of southeast Hampshire was originally part of the Royal Forest of Bere and owes its survival to the legal protection afforded to such royal hunting preserves. Recently, the English Nature and the Hampshire County Council, prompted by the widespread clearance of ancient woodland throughout the country, have collaborated to produce several publications. These reveal that some herbaceous plants are only to be found in woods with a long continuous history, such as those of the Southwick Estate. One plant in particular, Solomon’s Seal is a specialty of Hampshire woodland and only occurs in abundance in ancient woodland such as those found in and around Boarhunt. Foxgloves and bluebells also fill the woods with fragrant and colourful displays every spring and summer. In recent centuries, as Portsmouth increased in size, North Boarhunt became a market garden settlement, particularly on the lighter chalky soils, whilst on the more mediocre clay soils, mixed farming was developed. 6 Landscape and Surroundings Boarhunt Village Design Statement Landscape and Surroundings View from Goathouse Farm, looking South towards Trampers Lane Fields of rape, looking down from Portsdown Hill The fauna of the parish is very rich and varied due to the presence of deciduous wooded areas and ancient hedgerows – a variety of wildlife can be seen throughout the year feeding in or passing over the fields such as fox, roe deer, woodpeckers, egrets, owls, and wood pigeon. Fieldfare and redwing are winter visitors whilst buzzards frequent the summer skies. There are many butterflies ranging from Red Admiral to Common Blue as well as glowworms and bats. The abundance and diversity of wildlife in and around the parish is much enjoyed and appreciated by its inhabitants and visitors who rate.

History

The Parish of Boarhunt since Saxon times Boarhunt has had a number of names throughout history. Boarhunt in the 11th century, then Boarhunt Herbelyn, it was known as Boorhunt or Burghunt in the 13th century, Bourhunt Herberd in the 15th then Burrant Harbard, before finally settling on Boarhunt again in the l6th century. At the time of the Norman Conquest land at Boarhunt was granted to Hugh de Port, one of King William`s henchmen whose descendants became successive sheriffs of Hampshire. The Boarhunt estate was transferred to William of Wykeham in 1635 but at the Dissolution fell into the hands of Thomas Wriothesley. Originally Boarhunt had at least three manors all of which can be traced in the Domesday Book. St Nicholas Church, which lies in South Boarhunt, a beautiful and secluded part of the parish, dates back to the late Saxon period and has a Domesday listing as follows: ‘10 villagers and 6 smallholders with three ploughs 6 slaves; a church; a mill at 42d and another for the hall; 2 salt houses at 22s 4d’ The church underwent Victorian restoration work in 1853 but the original dimensions remain. The flint walls are 2`6” thick and there are many architectural features typical of the Saxon period. A bellcote, three-decker pulpit and boxed squire`s pew date from the nineteenth century and a massive old yew tree still adorns the churchyard. The dwellings that at one time spread out along the winding road through South Boarhunt have long disappeared and only the Elizabethan manor house, now a working farm, and the Boarhunt Mill remain. The mill is possibly one of the three recorded for Boarhunt in the Domesday Book and was working until 1928. The old mill office on the first floor still has various deliveries and payments penciled on the wooden walls. Near the southern boundaries of the parish on the heights of Portsdown is a monument to Nelson, erected in 1814. It is a stone column about 120 ft high supporting a bust with inscriptions at the base recording the battle honours of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Southwick Estate sold the site of the present Memorial Hall to Boarhunt Parish Council in July 1895 for a consideration of £5. It was given primarily to provide a site for a meeting place for the local people, mostly market gardeners and foresters, to gather and to hold social functions. The form of the original building is uncertain but in 1929 a hall was rebuilt from a barrack room for the sum of £227 as a memorial to The Great War. In 1956 the notice on the front of the hall was changed so as to commemorate both world wars and in the same year the Parish Council gave a 50-year full repairing lease to the social club. The garage has had a varied history opening as The Blue Motor Services in 1928/29 and taken over by Southdown after a workshop fire in 1935. The petrol pumps and shop were later sold to Vince, the village grocer and then taken over by The Knocker Brothers in the early 1950`s. The site of the garage, also 1 to 4 Nelson Villas, Staddle Stones and Mayfield, once a wooded corner was known as The Intake. The present shop and Post Office was originally an attractive bungalow with a wooden shed serving as the shop.