The day after record rainfall in Hampshire (35.2mm in Otterbourne on 4 January 2024), we succeeded in finding a relatively dry 8.9km/5.5 mile walk around South Wonston.
The route is a mixture of farm tracks, footpaths, gravel, and residential roads. The worst mud was on the section of the Watercress Way https://www.thewatercressway.org.uk between South Wonston Farm and the dismantled railway, which could be avoided by walking down Downs Road making the walk 700m/0.4 of a mile shorter. There is a steep muddy path to/from Worthy Down Lane down to the dismantled railway. Off road wheels are essential. Open OS Map in a new window.
We came across an information board at Worthy Down Halt on the dismantled railway line, towards the end of our walk (having walked in a clockwise direction) making us realise the area has more of interest than we initially thought (we house hunted in the area 20 years ago!).
Worthy Down became an airfield in 1918 for the Royal Flying Corps, later becoming RAF Worthy Down. In 1939 the airfield was transferred to the Royal Navy and used by the Fleet Air Arm until 1950, then as an engineering training school. In 1960 it became home to the Electronic Accounting Development Unit who housed their computer centre here, and was used to process the first UK census electronically in 1961. In 1992, the site became a training depot for members of the Staff and Personnel Support, Education and Training Services and Army Legal Service branches. The Defence Food Services School was built on the site in 2009. In 2018 The Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration was built at Worthy Down, with training facilities and living accommodation for up to 2,000 students and staff, and bringing the training for key support roles for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force onto a single site for the first time. The Royal Logistic Corps Museum opened at Worthy Down in 2021
Worthy Down Halt platform, built in 1918 for the Royal Flying Corps, stands abandoned to the east of South Wonston. It was on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway line. The station closed in 1960, and the freight line in 1964.
To the west of Worthy Down is the site of Winchester Race Course (1590-1896) which became one of the country’s leading aerodromes; spitfires were tested here in WW2.
There are also twenty small concrete ‘pill box’ defences around South Wonston, built to protect Worthy Down Airfield. We spotted one as we entered Stainers Lane heading north
Parking - We parked on a residential street just north of The King Charles pub (see below for location)
Toilets - According to Google Maps there are no public toilets in South Wonston or Kings Worthy. The nearest Changing Places toilets are Tesco Extra, Easton Lane, Winchester SO23 7RS https://www.changing-places.org/find?toilet=1647
Refreshments - The King Charles, 6 Lovedon Lane, Kings Worthy, Winchester SO23 7NU. Cobbs Farm Shop, Springvale Road, Headbourne Worthy, Winchester SO23 7LD. There is also South Wonston Village Store & Post Office, Downs Road, South Wonston, Winchester SO21 3TA, and a Tesco Express on Springvale Road between The King Charles and Cobbs at Winchester.
Comments
Post a Comment