MEMBERS enjoyed a leisurely walk around Titchfield on a very warm July evening with a talk by local historian George Watts.
They set off from the community centre car park to the ancient St Peter’s parish church where Mr Watts pointed out that the building had evolved over the centuries since its beginning in the year 680.
He reeled off many interesting facts such as the inclusion of Roman bricks in the facade, doubts about whether Titchfield existed as a community when the church was built and how the impressive Wriothesley family mausoleum came to be established in one corner.
He mused over whether William Shakespeare had visited the area thanks to the patronage of the Earl of Southampton who had built a stately home nearby. Mr Watts said that his own theory that Shakespeare had spent his “lost years” at Titchfield was as likely to be as correct as that of many other historians.
Walking through the main street he pointed out several jettied houses, best described as having an upper floor overhanging the ground floor. One of them had been dated as 15th century.
The evening was rounded off with supper at a nearby hostelry.
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