Visit Hursley Places

Welcome to Visit Hursley Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Hursley

  

Hursley Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Hursley

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Hursley history

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12th to 17th century

The earliest references to Hursley date from the late 12th century; Bishop of Winchester Henry de Blois built a manor house called Merdon Castle, within the parish, in 1138. The manor continued in the ownership of the Bishop of. Winchester until 1552 when it was surrendered to king Edward VI. The buildings had become ruinous by the 16th century, when Edward Vl granted the manor and park to Sir Philip Hoby. Some remains, notably of a gatehouse, still stand, and are listed as a building at risk.

The Cromwells – 1643 to 1718

The estate passed into the Cromwell family in 1643 when Oliver Cromwell’s son Richard married Dorothy Major. Richard Cromwell lived with his wife in Hursley from 1649 until 1658 when he was proclaimed Lord Protector following the death of his father. He was forced from office within months and by 1660 he had to flee the country with Dorothy.

The Heathcotes – 1718 to 1888

Sir Thomas Heathcote, a baronet, moved to Hursley to take up the role of a country gentleman. Between 1721 and 1724 he built a red brick Queen Anne style mansion on the site of the original hunting lodge. Sir Thomas died in 1751 and the estate passed to his son, Sir Thomas. His son, also called Sir Thomas, was a patron of the arts and modernised the estate. He was blamed by later Heathcotes for property blunders that eventually cost the family estate. The estate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1940.

Other notable residents

John Keble was Vicar of Hursley in 1835, rebuilt the church in 1848 and remained there until his death in 1866. He was Professor of Poetry at Oxford University from 1831 to 1841. Keble College, Oxford was founded in his memory.

You can visit Hursley places with Walkfo Hursley to hear history at Hursley’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Hursley has 14 places to visit in our interactive Hursley map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Hursley, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Hursley places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Hursley & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 14 audio facts unique to Hursley places in an interactive Hursley map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Hursley Places Map
14 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Hursley historic spots	Hursley tourist destinations	Hursley plaques	Hursley geographic features
Walkfo Hursley tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Hursley

  

Best Hursley places to visit

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Hursley has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Hursley’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Hursley’s information audio spots:

Trodds Copse Trodds Copse (grid reference SU417224) is a 25.23 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in central Hampshire. It comprises ancient semi-natural woodland, unimproved meadows and flushes.

The Quarters, Hursley Park The Quarters is a cricket ground in the grounds of the former Hursley Park Estate at Hursleys, Hampshire. The ground includes two fields and two bowling squares. The north east corner houses the older pavilion, while the north west corner houses a new pavilion.

Hursley House 18th-century Queen Anne style mansion in Hursley, near Winchester in Hampshire, is Grade II* listed. The building is located in the area of Hampshire.

Visit Hursley plaques