Smashing little place that bet it looks nice in winter too with snow down , with the way the weather has been that will probably be next week . Lovely to see Liz again , could listen to her for hours 👍
If you were to visit in the early spring you would find out the need for the walkway, it was there to allow you to cross the stream that rises when the water table level rises. Call it the one of several overflows of the springs that rise in Havant.
Idsworth tiny hamlet on Hampshire West Sussex border. This is a good example what happens when modernisation in the form of the railway System spread out across the countryside. The village was cut in two by the train line the main part of the conurbation/settlement was on the far side around the large house and estate of Idsworth. Being from the church and only accessible through small tunnel and the change in people's beliefs and farming practices has ultimately sent the demise of the village. Interestingly just at the road about half a mile is a small village called Finchdean nowadays this is just a small dormitory Village for the cities of Portsmouth and London. Interestingly for over 100 years until just after the Second World War from my recollection. Had its own Iron foundry. If you walk through the village slowly and look at the buildings you will find that the iron foundry is still there. Converted into dormitory accommodation. Between the road and the railway line there is still the remnants of industrial buildings the last to be erected before the Iron works closed. Miniature chapel the village also has a miniature chapel originally paid for by the owners of the ironworks and still used today. Perhaps an opportunity for revisit.
The Saxon's were considered effeminate looking by the Norman because of their long hair and love of decorative clothing. The church may not have a grave yard because it was originally surrounded by habitable buildings that were of temporary construction. Romans said the Angles looked like Angels because of the flowing golden hair. I find it amazing king Harold ll and his family may have worshipped in this church. Superb.
As you both discus, it is very odd that there are no graveyard monuments there. Looking at information about the Church on the "Great English Churches" website (!), it reminds us that the Church never actually served a village - rather it was more "manorial". The info goes on to state that there is "evidence of graves in the vicinity". The Church Guide mentions rumours of Plague Pits nearby....but that is hardly the same thing of course!
Hi Richard, very nice to see Liz again, if you don't mind me saying she comes across as a very knowledgeable person who keeps it under her hat ,but watching her with you it's almost like she is bursting to say more. Anyway I digress , Thank you both for the videos looking forward to seeing more. Now to the point, the box pue ( spelt wrong I know). I have never seen or heard of such a thing ??? . And doesn't the fact of no visible head stones, warrant further investigation by you and the lovely Liz.. I'm sure that those of us that follow you religiously, would find it fasinating to find out. Well back to bed,it's 330am here . Thanks again for your efforts and nice to see the lovely Liz again. Be safe.
So pleased you enjoyed the video and want us off on another mission. I am sure we shall make more films together. Box pews were quite common especially when money was given to the church by wealthy landowners. It kept the commoners out of their place.
Very interesting church. It appears that the village of Idsworth died out due to the plagues of the 14th century. Hypothesising here but I don’t think that generally there were gravestones at the time and therefore any churchyard has long been lost?
Well Well. Built-in stone and not wood so that's laid an old wives tale to rest. So our Saxson ancestors did build in stone just like Sompting Church another one to look at. I must say it's nice to see that they are looking after it now when I first came across it I nearly drove by as it is so well laid back from the road, that was back in the fifties and was a neglected site. I wonder if Sussex archeology has had a dig there
What an extraordinary place. I've not seen a Saxon church look less like a Saxon church before! Where was its community and where did its graveyard go? The church does have a truly excellent website which shows off this little church very well and explains the structural threats it is under: www.idsworthchurchfriends.org/
