A valley, scattered houses and paths with a long history define Sherfield English. The parish lies between Test Valley and the New Forest, mostly on the west bank of a tributary of the River Blackwater. There are several themes to explore during a visit: the landscape and its footpaths, the history surrounding Dunwood and St Leonard’s Church, and old routes and local cultivation.
Landscape and getting oriented
The land rises from about 35 m to about 50 m above Ordnance Datum. Most houses, cottages and outlying farms are scattered along narrow, tree-lined lanes; they cannot be seen from the main road. Together with the valley setting, this scattered settlement pattern shapes the character of Sherfield English: the landscape and the settlement form provide two distinct points of reference.
The old road from Romsey to Salisbury was partly rerouted and is now known as the A27 or Salisbury Road. In the late 1750s, a turnpike road from Salisbury to Southampton ran through the centre of the parish. It connected the wool-producing area around Salisbury with the port of Southampton and passed through Romsey, where a wool-finishing industry developed.
Dunwood, the church and architectural history
Dunwood, an Iron Age hillfort and now a Scheduled Monument, lies in the eastern part of the parish. Archaeological investigations suggest that it was never permanently inhabited, but served as a refuge in times of feared invasion. The site’s history therefore centres on the question of what purpose a hillfort served in times of possible danger.
St Leonard’s Church has eight tower bells, which are among the finest in England. You can contact the church for further information. Sherfield Manor House, meanwhile, represents the architectural history of the village: the house dates from the 18th century and was remodelled in the late 19th century. Materials from Sherfield House, which dated from the early 18th century, were used in the process.
Walks and a village walk
The many footpaths around Sherfield English make for scenic walks. Regular group walks take place in and around the village and are usually about five miles long. This means that walks on the footpaths are complemented by a group option of an approximate length that you can take into account when planning your own outing.
The annual village “Bluebell Walk” starts at the Hatchet. If you are planning to take part, or to join a group walk, check the walk dates and current local information about the walks before you travel.
Watercress and trade
Watercress has been grown for many years at the source of the Sherfield English stream. Before the Second World War, bunches of it were sent to Covent Garden and sold there for a penny each. The trade-related themes differ both in period and product: the turnpike road dates to the late 1750s and is associated with wool, while the Covent Garden sales involved watercress before the Second World War.
Discover more destinations: Barton on Sea, Eversley, Hound, Cadnam, Eastleigh, Hurstbourne Tarrant, Clanfield, Steep.
For the wider travel overview: Hampshire.
