See Hampshire through history

Inspire your family with a journey to England’s past

AD 250 - 300

The Romans build a fort at Portchester, overlooking the Solent. In the 12th century, a castle is set within the existing Roman walls.

DO IT: Visit Portchester’s medieval stronghold, enjoy the exhibition in the ancient keep and have a picnic in the grounds.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/portchester-castle

871

King Alfred is crowned and makes Winchester his capital.

DO IT: Meet the man: a 5 ton, 4.5m-high bronze statue of Alfred stands at the east end of The Broadway, close to the site of Winchester’s medieval East Gate.

1079

The New Forest is created by William I for the royal hunt, mainly of deer.

DO IT: Explore the 566 sq km New Forest National Park – look out for the free-roaming ponies, go on a horse-ride yourself, cycle the traffic-free roads or take in the glorious countryside from an open-top eco-bus.

http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/

1642

Charles Stuart – King of England – and his Parliament stand on the brink of Civil War. War finally breaks out on 22 August.

DO IT: Visit the village of Little Woodham, where life is paused in 1642. At this fascinating recreation of 17th-century life, meet ‘villagers’ in period costume, help the sawyers prepare their timber, learn the skills of the blacksmith and end up in the ale-house.

http://www.littlewoodham.org.uk/

1771

The Board of Ordnance relocates its gunpowder stores from Portsmouth to a specially constructed magazine at Priddy’s Hard, Gosport.

DO IT: The old Priddy’s Hard buildings are now home to Explosion – The Museum of Naval Firepower, where you can trace the evolution of naval weaponry from gunpowder to Exocet missiles.

http://www.explosion.org.uk

1775

Jane Austen is born in Steventon, Hampshire. She dies in Winchester in 1817, and is buried in the city’s cathedral.

DO IT: Visit Steventon’s St Nicholas Church, which Austen regularly attended. Then head to the Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, where the author lived and did most of her writing. End with a visit to her grave at Winchester’s magnificent cathedral.

http://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk

http://winchester-cathedral.org.uk/

1835 - 1845

John Deane, co-inventor of the diving helmet, lives in Gosport; during this time he discovers the sunken Mary Rose.

DO IT: Marvel at one of the best collections of diving equipment in the world, and hear stories of real divers, who have to cope with everything from shark attacks to underwater mines. Also, visit the Mary Rose in her newly opened museum.

http://www.divingmuseum.co.uk/

http://www.maryrose.org/

1875

The Gosport Ferry commences service, linking Portsmouth and Gosport and offering a quick alternative to the 14-mile road journey.

DO IT: Take a Gosport Ferry summer cruise around Portsmouth Harbour to see the rejuvenated quays and the ships of the Royal Navy from the water.

http://www.gosportferry.co.uk

1945

HMS Alliance launches, one of 14 A-class submarines built for service in the Far East during World War 2.

DO IT: Climb aboard the HMS Alliance at the Submarine Museum. See, hear and even smell what life was like at sea on a 20th-century sub.

http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk

1959

The county name changes from ‘County of Southampton’ to ‘County of Hampshire’.

DO IT: Learn about the old county namesake of Southampton at the Sea City Museum, an intriguing insight into Southampton’s historic links to the sea – not least to the ill-fated Titanic.

http://www.seacitymuseum.co.uk/

For more information on planning your visit to Hampshire, explore http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/