One of the surviving RAF Airfield blast shelters from RAF Ibsley in the New Forest. The site is in dense woodland and we are working with the landowner to clear and conserve the structures. Due to the vegetation this before model has a few holes in, but was a quick test using a mobile phone.
You can find out more about Ibsley Airfield in this overview article, which has links to other articles relating to Ibsley Airfield.
RAF Calshot first opened as Calshot Naval Air Station in 1913 and became Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Calshot in 1914. Seaplanes and flying boats used the spit as a base for flying from Southampton Water. Originally a training station, its role expanded to include the protection of shipping along the south coast during the war. A massive building programme in 1917 saw the first hangers built on the spit, including the Sunderland Hanger that is still in use today as part of Calshot activities Centre.
Between the wars, Calshot was renamed as RAF Calshot and used as the main base for Schneider Cup races in 1929 and 1931. T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was also based here during the 1929 event.
During World War II, Calshot was used as a maintenance and repair centre for flying boats and a training centre for RAF launches. Five of the station’s tender boats took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From 1942 it was also used as a base for Air-Sea Rescue high speed launches.
Eaglehurst camp was first built during World War I as an ancillary site of RNAS Calshot, built to accommodate the ground staff and aircraft crews based there. The site was modified in World War II with the addition of defensive trenches and camouflage on the building’s roofs. The camp was connected to RAF Calshot by a light railway (also built in World War I) and by 1940, the camp accommodated 500 trainee airmen.
After the war, operation squadrons were based at RAF Calshot until 1961, when the station was closed.
Eaglehurst camp continued to be used as part of RAF Calshot until the 1950s. In the 1960s it was briefly used as temporary accommodation for displaced persons from the island of Tristan da Cunha.
Links to other articles about this site:
Or some of Calshot’s earlier Medieval and Napoleonic history here:
Like most major airbases, Ibsley was equipped with a Battle Command Headquarters that could serve as a point to co-ordinate defence in the event that the airfield was overrun by ground forces. The BCHQ at RAF Ibsley is located on the hill (Newlands Copse) to the east of the Control Tower and is still standing. Unusually it consists of two cupolas giving views across to the airfield and of the surrounding countryside.
The BCHQ was also protected by gunpits and a series of trenche works that surround the entire hilltop, some of these are still survive with the associated metalwork.
As part of the project we have managed to install information panels on a few WWII sites. Here is a link to info on the Ibsley Battle Command Headquarters panel.
RAF Ibsley Battle Command Headquarters
by newforestarch
on Sketchfab
You can find out more about Ibsley Airfield in this overview article, which has links to other articles relating to Ibsley Airfield.
Various defensive points were established in order to slow any potential German advance, giving time for allied reinforcements to move to the area. These sites were usually centred on major road junctions, bridges or natural features that, if obstructed, would delay German forces. These included anti-tank islands, usually made up of bunkers, roadblocks, trenches and, in the event of a withdrawal being necessary, explosives that could be used to demolish a bridge or road altogether. One such anti-tank island was established at Totton (on the Redbridge Causeway).
Two pillboxes from the antitank Island have survived under Redbridge Causeway covering both railway approaches to the bridge.
PLEASE NOTE THIS PILLBOX IS ON PRIVATE LAND. THERE IS NO ACCESS WITHOUT LANDOWNERS PERMISSION
If you have anymore information about these pill boxes or others please add your comments below or contact us on archaeology@newforestnpa.gov.uk
If you have anymore information about this or other local pillboxes please add your comments below or contact us on archaeology@newforestnpa.gov.uk
Hinton
Breamore
As part of the Our Past, Our Future, Heritage Lottery Funded (HLF) Landscape Partnership Scheme the New Forest National Park Archaeology Team have been working with Emery Down to survey the condition of, and record the monuments in Christ Church graveyard. The survey will help accurately map and identify monuments that can be conserved using HLF funds and will ultimately create a database for ongoing management of the graveyard. The other ambition is to make the list of burials and monuments within the graveyard available to the public on this site to help people who are researching their family trees.
To start the survey Bournemouth Archaeology were commissioned to undertake a rapid GPS survey of the graveyard monuments to produce a digital map. The map can be seen as an image above or downloaded here: Christ Church Emery Down Map. This data is also available on the New Forest Knowledge map; if you visit the homepage and then explore the map by expanding the layers and turning on Churchyard Memorials under the archaeology layer.
The local community were then encouraged to start adding further data and information to this base survey using guidance based on Historic England Advice for Caring for Heritage Cemeteries and Burial Grounds. This was used to create some bespoke guidance for the New Forest.
Though a paper form can be filled in on site the data from this needs to be inputted into the main New Forest Churchyard database. This is managed through ArcGIS and the digital form can be accessed here: New Forest Survey Form
As this data is added by volunteers the main database will be updated so you will be able to explore it on New Forest Knowledge.
Can you help Emery Down complete their graveyard survey. All the background information you need is above and then you can visit the graveyard and spend some time exploring the site and maybe add some information using the forms.
As well as the graveyard survey adding names and dates to the database allowing residents and visitors to research their family history the condition monitoring element is allowing monuments suitable for conservation using National Lottery Heritage Funding. A number of monuments in Christ Church Emery Down have recently been conserved and you can find out more about them here: Conservation work at Christ Church Emery Down
As well as hard graft from volunteers we have been using technology to help us reveal the secrets of Christ Church; Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). The process involves taking numerous photos of one monument with a raking light and then letting the computer do the hard work to produce some amazing results. If you are interested in learning more about RTI photography you can do: here. The results produced highlighted how valuable RTI is; as the inscriptions that were once illegible have now been legible, providing a greater resource within the overall survey and documentation process.
In loving memory of Albert Broomfield who died July 25th June 1916, aged 42 years
Day by day we all do miss him, words would fail our loss to tell, but in heaven we hope to meet him, never more to say farewell.
Louisa, beloved wife of the above, died Feb 16th 1951, aged 80 years.
In loving memory of Reuben Henry, the beloved son of Reuben and Mary Phillips, who died June 15th 1908; aged 21 years.
His end was peace
In Loving memory of our dear parents Thomas Taplin, died Dec 19th 1921, aged 69, and Sarah Taplin, died Sept 27th 1932, aged 77.
In thy presence is fulness of joy
Martha, the beloved daughter of Henry and Charlotte Veal, who died April 8th 1875. Aged 25 years.
And all wept and bewailed her; but he said, weep not, she is not dead, but sleepeth. Luke 8.52.
He gave, he calls them when he thinks it best, for them to come to him and take their rest.
Pellery Mason
In Loving memory of Emily Veal who died Aug 20th 1903, aged 76 years
Sleep on beloved; sleep and take thy rest; lay down thy head upon thy saviour’s breast; we love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best.
In Loving Memory of Samuel Whitehorn who died June 15th 1916 aged 49 years.
Also of Charles son of the above who was killed on Febry 4th 1916 whilst serving with the Hants Regiment in Egypt Aged 28 years
Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest, Grant them Thine eternal rest
As well as Burley we have been working at the following graveyards and using RTI to reveal their secrets.
Newly uncovered photos and a diary of an injured New Zealand soldier are giving a personal insight into the role of the New Forest in World War I.
The diary of Rifleman Octavius George Garlick of the 1st Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade has come to light as part of research for the New Forest National Park Authority’s New Forest Remembers WWI project.
It includes his personal account of convalescing at the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital in Brockenhurst, having journeyed from New Zealand by troopship to Egypt, then on to France and Belgium.
Hospitals, industry, camps and training areas took over the Forest during the Great War of 1914 to 1918 and had a significant impact on local residents.
Rifleman Garlick’s time in the Forest began when he was transferred to Brockenhurst on 12 June 1917 by boat and train after being wounded whilst in action at Messines, Belgium. He was part of the initial assault at 3.10am on 7 June when ‘mines went off at the same time we hopped the parapet’, and was eventually wounded between the railway line and Oxonion Trench while still in Messines.
Once he arrived in the New Forest, Garlick’s photos show a relaxed pace of life for him and other injured New Zealand troops. This included regular visits to woodland near Sway organised by a local woman called Mrs Sladen, tea parties at her house and a trip from Balmer Lawn, Brockenhurst, by horse and cart.
The photos also show servicemen relaxing in hammocks in the Kia Ora Club, which was the hospital social club located on Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. Garlick is shown with his arm in a sling, with other photos showing him at the basket making school at the hospital as part of his rehabilitation.
WWI project officer Gareth Owen said: ‘The online documents and photographs held by the New Zealand National Army Museum give a real insight into the care and treatment given to the New Zealand troops at the hospital at Brockenhurst.
‘Rifleman Garlick’s photos and diary are one of the few accounts directly linking the New Forest to the theatre of war in Europe and we are very thankful to the museum for allowing us to add this information to our online interactive archive.’
Partial diary transcription
25.4.17: Left Hazebrouck Hospital after recovering from Urticaria skin disease (hives) in the trenches at Hill 63 Ploegstreet. Arrvied at reinforcement camp Steenwerck by train
27.4.17: Left Steenwerck by train arriving St. Omer marched from St. Omer to Quelines arriving same day (Trained for Messines stunt on full scale).
1.5.17: Left Quelines marched to St.Omer where we entrained arriving Steenwerck marched to Romarin arriving same day
23.5.17: Marched to Red Lodge (Hill 63) arriving same day
3.6.17: Marched to Bailluel Camp
6.6.17: Left Bailluel at 9pm and marched to assembly trench (Auckland Trench) full fighting order
7.6.17: at 3:10am mines went off at the same time we hopped the parapet taking our objective (Messines) at 7am. Wounded while in Messines between heavy railway and Oxonion Trench. Conveyed to Australian CCS then to Steen-Werck where we entrained the same day for Etaples arriving 8.6.17
9.6.17: Left Etaples by tain arriving LeHarve 10.6.17
11.6.17: Left LeHarve and embarked for Southampton
12.6.17: Arrive Southampton, entrained for Brockenhurst arriving same day.
21.8.17: Left Balmer Lawn Hospital. Entrained to Hornchurch arriving same day.
10.10.17: Left Hornchurch on leave to London arriving same day
25.10.17: Left London arriving Torquay same day
15.11.17: Left Torquay entrained for Liverpool
16.11.17: Arrived Liverpool. Embarked Ruahine (NZ Shipping Co)
19.11.17: Left Liverpool
4.12.17: Arrived Newport News. Va. USA.
5.12.17: Left Newport
5.1.18: Arrived Auckland NZ.
There are other documents here.
The discovery of Rockbourne villa was the result of a local farmer digging out his ferret in a corner of a field on West Park Farm in 1942. It was during this digging that a large quantity of oyster shells and small, mosaic tiles (tesserae) were brought to the surface. After notifying local antiquarian Morley Hewitt, who recognised the significance of the finds and subsequently purchased the land and undertook a 30 year period of excavation.
The main structure was a large residence surrounding a courtyard, including luxurious Roman mosaics and bath suites. There were also farm buildings and workshops since it sat at the centre of large farming estate. Its origins lie in the Iron Age and it was occupied until the 5th century. Unfortunately, some of the most elaborate mosaics perished before excavation, but two of the remaining examples are on public display, alongside the remains of a Hypocaust (under floor heating system), which would have warmed the mosaic floor of one of the villa’s luxurious bath suites.
Magnetometer and resistivity surveys were conducted at Rockbourne Roman Villa, Rockbourne, Hampshire on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July 2019 thanks to funding from the Our Past, Our Future a National Lottery Heritage Funded Landscape Partnership Scheme. The project was a joint venture between Avon Valley Archaeological Society (AVAS), Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) and the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) as part of the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) Festival of Archaeology 2019.
The aim of the survey was to investigate the buried archaeology at Rockbourne and give the public a chance to get hands on with geophysical survey.
You can read the final report here: Rockbourne Roman Villa Geophysical Survey
An archaeological investigation was carried out by Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit for Halcrow Group Limited on behalf of Scotia Gas Networks at Lepe, prior to the laying of the Cross-Solent gas pipeline. This covered the areas to be used as a site compound, a drill site, the 3km long pipe-stringing area and associated works. The work consisted of a watching brief on topsoil removal with further investigation of threatened features, and took place between September 2010 and April 2011.
Twenty-two areas were stripped. Most contained no archaeological features or only post-medieval ditches. A number of flints were recovered including a Mesolithic core and later prehistoric pieces.
One trench, T11, produced a complex area of Romano-British activity including ditches, pits, kilns/hearths and structural features. This area was subject to further work to retrieve dating and environmental evidence. This revealed some evidence of 1st and 2nd century activity but the main phases of occupation dated to the 3rd and 4th centuries, when a rectilinear field system, aligned on the Roman road was laid out across the landscape, followed by the production of grog-tempered pottery in a number of small stone-built kilns.
Air photos and previously discovered finds suggest this newly discovered settlement covered an area some 300m square straddling the narrow strip of land along which Roman Road (Margary 423) passed to reach the coast of the Solent less than 1km to the south. The settlement undoubtedly formed an important node between land and sea trade in the Roman period and will merit further research.
You can access the report here: Report on a Watching Brief and Archaeological Excavation at Lepe, Hampshire, A2010.77
Paul Kelly has been undertaking some targeted geophysical survey as part of LoCATE to try and begin identifying the location of a potential Roman harbour around the Lepe area. This project is supported thanks to funding from the Our Past, Our Future a National Lottery Heritage Funded Landscape Partnership Scheme.
The first phase of his work is reported on here: Lepe Country Park Geophysical Survey Report
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The survey was undertaken as a volunteer-led effort, supported by New Forest National Park Archaeology and was made possible due to the kind permission of the Cadland Estate and Lepe Country Park. The equipment was kindly made available through the LoCATE project supported by Bournemouth University.
The purpose of this survey was to identify potential remains of any Roman features in the area, which has seen considerable modern activity such as WW2 defences and preparation for D-Day alongside recent recreational activity as part of the Country Park.
There was evidence of previously identified WW2 AA gun pits at the western end of the area, therefore the survey concentrated on the area to the east. Two linear features were found, also a possible track and hints of what might be an oval feature. One area shows evidence of a square feature, approximately 9m x 9m, with a possible ditch running northwest from this. There was a lot of metal ‘noise’, perhaps caused by WW2 activity and recent recreation. At the eastern end of the area no obvious anomalies were identified. The features identified are interesting and need to be put into context with the area immediately to the north, which has yet to be surveyed.
Search Terms: Geophysics
A series of photos following Royal Navy trainees (marines) at the Eastern Warfare School at Brockenhurst, Hampshire where they learn jungle tactics for the Pacific War in the ‘rainforests of Brockenhurst’. The first photos show the planning of operations for training exercises at the Eastern Warfare School (what is now Careys Manor Hotel). This is followed by inspection of the marine trainees and then the photos show trainees in a wooded area (likely to be Roydon Woods) with their faces painted with camouflage paint, wearing American fatigue caps and gaiters and carrying American ‘Tommy’ guns. The final series of photos sees the trainees on patrol and learning to give themselves all-round protection when forced to keep to a narrow track in the ‘English jungle’.
All Photos are credit: Imperial War Museum for Non-Commercial Use
(Licence)