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| A Portrait of Highcliffe by Sheila D. Herringshaw |
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| An updated version of this popular book, originally published by Sheila Herringshaw in 1981 and reprinted in 1989. This new and enlarged edition contains additional chapters bringing the story of Highcliffe up to date. Now containing over 50 photographs of Highcliffe and its now lost surrounding estates and houses - Hoburne House, Saulfland, Nea House , Belvedere, Wolhayes, Beacon House. Extract from Chapter One - THE BEGINNINGS During the Second World War wounded servicemen came to Bournemouth to recuperate. Many were invited by Mrs Stuart Wortley to visit Highcliffe Castle . They found there in the quiet beauty of the place an uplifting of the spirit as well as healing of the body. Following an enquiry by medical authorities after the war, it was found that this part of the coast possessed very special healing qualities which helped the wounded to return to health remarkably quickly. This fact was related by Lady Violet Stuart Wortley in her book Grow old along with me . The area to be explored in this book is bounded in the north by the railway line which was built at the end of the 19th century. The eastern boundary is the Walkford Brook which flows through the wooded ravine of Chewton Bunny – a local name for a glen. The western boundary starts at the railway bridge and the Lyndhurst Road (A35) to the Somerford Roundabout, along the Highcliffe Road, turning right into Bure Lane and to the sea. The ancient history of Highcliffe can only be traced through brief references in documents and records. In the 18th century there were three group of cottages or hamlets at Chewton, Chewton Common and Slop Pond.The first semblance of a village in the centre of the area rejoiced in the name of Slop Pond. This was a group of mud walled and thatched roof cottages built at the side of the track from Christchurch to Lymington. About 1830 Captain Hopkins of Hoburne bought a field at Slop Pond on which he built about twenty houses which extended from Stanley Road westwards. The inhabitants objected to the name Slop Pond and the name of the village was changed, unimaginatively, to Newtown. In 1892 a petition was organised by the residents to change the name once more as so many letters were going astray. The Post Office agreed that the name of the village should be changed and so from the beginning of the 20th century Highcliffe could be considered as referring to all the ecclesiastical parish and the civil parish, i.e. including Chewton, Hoburne and Walkford. The third hamlet at that time, Chewton, was situated near the water-splash where the Walkford Brook crossed the Christchurch and Lymington lane. The cottages housed mainly farm labourers but was once used as a workhouse for making fusee chains. Robert Harvey Cox owned a workshop in Christchurch making fusee chains and had work sent out to New Milton and Chewton. Fusee chains were used in early clocks and watches when the mainspring first replaced the weights as the motive power. This industry was brought to Christchurch by the Huguenot refugees after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Towards the end of the second half of the 18th century smuggling became a major occupation along the South Coast. Agricultural wages were far below subsistence level, so that the local farm labourers provided a ready work force for unloading the heavily laden luggers that had arrived from the continent. The gently sloping, deserted shores of Christchurch Bay were ideal for those engaged in that illegal trade. Chewton Bunny provided the added safety of the deep ravine running right down to the water's edge giving splendid cover to those awaiting the arrival of the boats. Brandy, wines, lace, silk, tea and tobacco were shipped across the Channel by fast luggers, unloaded by local men and taken to safe hiding places in the Forest before the arrival of the Revenue Officers from Christchurch. But to the ordinary law-abiding residents or visitors Chewton Bunny had something else to offer. The Walkford Brook meanders its way past the picturesque Chewton Mill, to the sea, through a thickly wooded ravine which provided a delightful path through which to stroll. The greatest thrill perhaps was to climb the cliffs from the Bunny to see the incomparable view across the silvery sea to the distant Isle of Wight. The whole panoramic view of the coastline from Hurst Castle to Hengistbury Head was spread before the eyes of someone standing on the cliff top near the village of Slop Pond. It was to these cliffs that John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, came. © Sheila B. Herringshaw 2004 ISBN 9781897887417 |
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