From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Article from 'The Motor' magazine describing the history and points of interest along the Exeter and Land's End Road.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\4\ scan0079 | |
| Date | 4th April 1939 | |
| The Motor 338 April 4, 1939. Historic Highways – Nº5. The Exeter and Land's End Road By John Aldbury Another series of Ancient Highways brought up to date. PART II. THE first instalment of this modern story of a very old road brought us to Camberley. The country improves immeasurably at Blackwater, so called for the inky hue of its peaty stream. Over a bridge at the commencement of the village, Hampshire is reached. Up the gradual rise that leads to Hartford Bridge Flats, coachmen used to whip their horses, until they were flat out, now motorists do the same. The Flats are appropriately named as they stretch without a break for four miles where a group of shaggy firs makes a picturesque landscape in a vast area of golden gorse and bracken-covered common lands, at the beginning of one of the longest straight stretches of road between London and Land's End. At the end of this straight the “White Lion,” at Hartford Bridge, on the right of the road, is a famous halt for food, tea being a speciality. Hartford Bridge was built specially to cater for the old days of road travel. Only half a mile to the south of this place is Hartley Wintney, which has many houses dating from mediaeval times. The “Row,” during the sixty years of coaching prosperity, flourished exceedingly and then in a flash it was ruined by the railway. The many venerable oaks of the district were planted with the idea of supplying timber for building “the wooden walls of Old England.” The “ironclad” of a later era killed that industry. After Hartley Row comes Hook, and about two miles beyond, on the left of the road stands a charming little example of a late Norman church of St. {Capt. P. R. Strong} Swithin, with a mermaid carved on the west jamb of the south doorway, the inner arch-order being trefoiled. Another two miles or so, and a turning on the right leads to Basing, less than a mile from the road. The first Marquis of Winchester, William Paulet, died full of years, having seen his children and grandchildren reach the sum total of over a hundred! It is said that he made, spent, and left more money than any subject since the Conquest and that he built such a palace that had no equal in the whole of England, the envy of Queen Elizabeth, whom he entertained lavishly. Even before the Civil War the glory of Basing was great, but even then this enormous place was a little too large for the pocket of its master, a portion being pulled down. Wrecked by many months of siege, the final tragedy of Basing House was enacted. A wild scene of pillage; fire breaking out, no one knew how, and driving out both Royalist and Roundhead. Many had taken refuge in the cellars and were burnt alive. Calleva Atrebatum, the dead city of the Romans, had a counterpart in Basing House, then a quarry, for anyone who cared to come and take away whatever they wanted. Battered walls, a ruined gatehouse, trenches and green earthworks mark the site of a noble building, and an epic struggle. After the Restoration the Marquis of Winchester retired to Hawkwood to the south of Basingstoke, but his son called it Hackwood, after making it into an imposing pile, about which a ghost story of a “grey lady” has been written. Some 45 miles from Hyde Park Corner, Basingstoke has saved the motorist the tedium of driving through its narrow and congested streets by a by-pass. Up to the time of the opening the town was the scene of bad traffic jams, and motorists used to count the minutes of their discomfiture One of Hampshire's most delightful villages—Wherwell—is situated only three miles from the Land's End road and worth visiting. by the clock seen on the Town Hall. This prosperous agricultural centre has witnessed many changes in the past century or so. Important railway junction, ancient borough, one can still find evidence of a prosperous past when woollen and silk goods changed hands here. Close to the station stand the ruins of the chapel of the Holy Ghost of the early 13th century. During Mary Tudor's reign the chapel was used as a school for Basingstoke's British Oak.—Some of the oak trees of Hartley Row were originally planted to supply timber for naval shipyards, before steel was introduced for shipbuilding. A24 | ||