Netley

Please note. All of the photographs in this lens have been taken by myself or Poddys. They may not be copied or used in anyway with out our permission.. Thank you.

I like to visit the grounds of The Royal Victoria Country Park.

Nowadays, the grounds of the country park are frequented by families on picnics, dog walkers, children flying kites, people sun bathing, the odd ad hoc cricket match, various summer fetes and shows as well as open air concerts on summer evenings.

There's a tea room as well as an ice cream van if you should need refreshment. There's a minature steam railway and a couple of small fairground rides to entertain the children.

In the center of the park, is the remains of the old Royal Victoria Military Hospital also known as Netley Hospital which was built after the Crimean War. The hospital is where thousands of casualties were taken to be treated after being injured in wars until WW11.

Away from the center of the park is a nice stretch of woodland. I like to take a stroll through here away from the hustle and bustle of a busy day. If you follow the pathway through, you eventually come to the military war graves situated in the cemetery. There are graves of local people who worked at the hospital as well as the many, many servicemen from all over the world. The graves are maintained by The War Graves Commission.

It's rumoured that Florence Nightingale spent time nursing at the hospital but all I can find on the net is that some of the Matrons she trained worked there. Of course, I could be wrong.

There are also football pitches, car parks and bar-b-que areas too. many benches face out towards the water where you can sit and watch the activity on the river.

The shores on the other side of the river are of Fawley and you can see the chimneys of the power station and the famous 'Fawley Flame'.