Netley Marsh: Hillfort, Remembrance and Landscape

The Tatchbury Mount walk crosses farmland and offers views across Netley Marsh. It leads up to and around the Iron Age hillfort. The Netley Marsh War Memorial, St Matthew’s Church and the Steam & Craft Show add commemorative history, architecture and an annual event to the landscape experience.

Tatchbury Mount and the walk through the landscape

Tatchbury Mount hillfort has an oval interior measuring approximately 2 hectares. Its parallel ramparts are 3 to 4.5 metres high, separated by a 6-metre-wide terrace. These measurements refer to different parts of the site: the height in metres describes the ramparts, while the width describes the terrace between them. Tatchbury Mount is designated as a Scheduled Monument. The surviving remains include earthworks and archaeological deposits preserved in the ground. This brings together two aspects: the landform of the earthworks and archaeological traces beneath the surface.

The Tatchbury Mount walk starts at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, a restored Grade II listed timber-framed barn. From there, it leads up to and around the hillfort. The walk offers views across Netley Marsh over farmland. This route brings a historic building at the starting point, the landscape and the archaeological site into focus. Those interested in historic sites will also find a clear connection with the surrounding landscape here.

Remembrance and architectural history

The Netley Marsh War Memorial was unveiled in November 1919 as a First World War memorial and was supplemented with further elements after the Second World War. It is listed as a Grade II monument. The unveiling and the later additions belong to different phases of its history: the additional elements were added only after the Second World War.

St Matthew’s Church was built by J P Harrison in 1855. A pair of chancel arches supports the bell tower; the arches spring from decorative corbels. This detail brings together construction and design: the chancel arches serve a supporting function, while the corbels provide their decorative starting point. For those interested in architecture, it is a concrete example of how function and design meet in a building element.

Steam & Craft Show as a reason to visit

The Netley Marsh Steam & Craft Show began in 1971 and has been held annually ever since. The three-day event features traction engines, as well as a diverse selection of vintage vehicles and historic machinery. So, alongside the traction engines, vehicles and other historic machinery are also part of the event. Its start in 1971 describes the show’s origins; its annual continuation reflects its recurring nature.

The themes offer different points of interest: the Tatchbury Mount walk combines hillfort and landscape, the memorial and church represent commemorative and architectural history, and the show offers a three-day event. If you would like to plan your stay around the Steam & Craft Show, check the specific event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Fair Oak, Twyford, Clanfield, Horndean, Lower Froyle, Sutton Scotney, Liss, Damerham.

For the broader travel overview: Hampshire.