Cheriton – Battle History and Walks Along the Itchen

Cheriton offers a variety of reasons to visit: the story of a significant battle, historic buildings, and walks through the landscape along the Itchen. The Battle of Cheriton was fought on 29 March 1644 and proved to be a turning point in the English Civil War. A memorial plaque to the fallen stands on a hilltop; from there, you can enjoy the best view of the battlefield.

Battle History and Walking Routes

The Cheriton Battlefield Walk follows the route taken by troops to the battlefield on 29 March 1644. It runs mostly along well-trodden footpaths and trails; many sections are hilly and uneven. Conditions on the route can vary seasonally. Check the route details before your trip if you plan to follow this walk.

Another circular walk near Cheriton starts at the Village Hall, leads to the church, and then joins the Itchen Way. On the upper Itchen, five footbridges along a three-mile stretch of river can be used to make a circular walk. These descriptions refer to different routes: the Battlefield Walk focuses on the historic troop route, the other circular walk starts at the Village Hall, and the bridges on the upper Itchen are a feature of a possible circular walk. You can distinguish between the routes by their described paths, rather than assuming they are the same simply because they share a place or river name.

Church and Historic Buildings

The church of St Michael and All Angel’s in Cheriton was built in the 12th century. St Michael’s has six bells, which attract bell-ringing groups from across Hampshire. If you are planning a group visit, confirm arrangements directly with the church. The church’s construction history and the 1644 battle give Cheriton two distinct historical points of interest.

The church also hosts the Cheriton Talks, which have become an established event in the local calendar. If you want to plan your stay around a particular date, check the event dates in advance.

Shepherds Cottage is another of the village’s notable historic buildings. The house is Grade II listed and dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. Alongside the 12th-century church, it represents a different period of construction; the two buildings can therefore be viewed as separate landmarks in the village’s history.

The Itchen and Cheriton’s Local History

One of the three main sources of the River Itchen lies just south of Cheriton. The watercourse and its banks are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The spring, river, and protected status add a landscape perspective on the area to its historical themes.

The local economy also has historical and present-day connections. Watercress was one of Cheriton’s industries over the past 150 years. The Flower Pots Brewery produces small batches of cask ale in Cheriton, at the source of the River Itchen. The historical role of watercress and today’s beer production thus represent different periods in the local economy.

Discover more destinations: Bishop's Waltham, Fleet, Ringwood, Burley, Sutton Scotney, Whitsbury, Beaulieu, Eastleigh

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