| Cheriton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This must be one of the prettiest villages we
have come across on our travels across the country, it lies in a valley
where the River Itchen begins and on a green know where a church was
first built nearly 1,000 years ago the new church keeps a watchful eye
on its home, it is here where William Cobbett set out from Botley on one
of his rides and said that the village seemed "as old as the hills
around it". But the village still has a grisly reminder of the past. It was here that in 1644 a battle was fought that has remained in the history books and as a part of the county right up to the present day The Battle of Cheriton in the English Civil War and is reputed to have "broke all measures and upset the whole scheme of the king's counsels." It is here that General Waller, a Parliamentarian was on route from London to join meet up with the Royalist, Lord Hopton who held Winchester, and who had moved to meet him and occupied Alresford.
Not far away from the village lies Cheriton Wood and this was later occupied by Waller and Hopton tried to beat him. Both sides had approximately 10,000 men each, and both sides were stubborn. The ensuing fight lasted for hours until a Cavalier officer led his troop down a sunken lane towards the village of Cheriton in a gallant charge. Unbeknown to him though Waller had anticipated this and had his artillery already line up and ranged on the lane, they opened fire and in the noise and cacophony of battle his cavalry met the charge on open ground. Some of Hopton's forces did try and rescue them but then they also got caught in the very same battle. Hopton then tried to cover the retreat of the infantry and guns. Many lives were lost and also in Lamborough Lane where the fight occurred is said to have run red with blood. Afterwards the bodies were gathered in and all piled together and covered with soil. These are the mounds that can still be seen today. The grisly reminder of the past.
The church has been restored in a pleasing and gentle manner and it retains its massive 12th century tower with its arch, and some beautiful l4th century tiles by the altar. There are fine heads looking down from the porch, and set into the walls on either side of the doorways can be found to examples of 14th century carving. Beneathr the tower can be found a very fine chest, which may be a little older than the 17th century silver chalice, and there is a 13th century piscina and an ancient mass clock.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL SAINTS IMAGES OF CHERITON
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