The Tatchbury Mount Walk offers views across Netley Marsh and climbs up and around the Iron Age hillfort of Tatchbury Mount. It crosses agricultural land. This brings landscape and prehistory together on one route: cultivated fields and the earthworks of a prehistoric site. This connection is a practical starting point if you would like to consider landscape and heritage together when planning your trip.
Walk and landscape
The walk begins at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, a restored Grade II listed half-timbered barn. From there, the route climbs up and around the hillfort. Its starting point provides a clear architectural reference for the outing; the walk itself crosses agricultural land and offers views across Netley Marsh. This makes it possible to consider the landscape and the archaeological site as two distinct points of interest connected by the same route. No walking time or route length is given here; the route and the stops described are the main factors to consider when assessing the outing.
Tatchbury Mount and historic traces
The interior of the hillfort is oval and covers nearly two hectares. The parallel ramparts are 3 to 4.5 metres high and separated by a six-metre-wide terrace. These measurements refer to different parts of the site: the area of the interior, the height of the ramparts and the space between them. Together, they give a more concrete picture than the term “hillfort” alone. The remains survive as earthworks and archaeological deposits preserved in the ground. Tatchbury Mount is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. The description of the surviving traces and the designation as a monument identify two different aspects of the site.
Church and remembrance
St Matthew’s Church was built in 1855 by J P Harrison. Its architectural details include a pair of chancel arches, which support the bell tower and spring from decorative corbels. The year of construction, architect and design provide different points of reference for placing the church in its historical context: the date locates the building in time, while the arches describe a specific feature of its architecture.
The Netley Marsh War Memorial offers a different historical perspective. It was unveiled in November 1919 as a First World War memorial and was extended with further elements after the Second World War. The memorial is listed as a Grade II monument. In contrast to the hillfort, it focuses on remembrance of the world wars; the Church of St Matthew, with its construction date of 1855, offers another, distinct point of reference in time.
Netley Marsh Steam & Craft Show
The Netley Marsh Steam & Craft Show began in 1971 and became an annual event. It lasts three days and features traction engines as well as a wide selection of classic vehicles and historic machinery. Its limited-duration event format differs from the permanent buildings and archaeological monuments described here: the show brings its theme together over a multi-day event, while the hillfort, church and memorial each reflect their own history of construction, remembrance or preservation.
Discover more destinations: Hound, Milford On Sea, Kingsclere, Buriton, Rotherwick, Bransgore, Fareham, Whitehill
For the main travel overview: Hampshire.
