Hampshire Life: February 2019 (^) 121
A timless charm
Community, character, charm, and concerns about
overdevelopment, EMMA CAULTON reflects on Romsey
PROPERTY LIFE: ROMSEY
B
ias alert: I am very fond Romsey.
Here is a proper old-fashioned
market town with charming
twisty narrow streets lined with
period buildings. It is a treasure trove
of independents including Bradbeers
department store, stylish boutiques on
Bell Street, and a liberal scattering of
good cafes and tea rooms, delis, pubs
and restaurants. (Just four examples
are The Three Tuns, a Hampshire Life
Food & Drink Awards winner, The White
Horse, which has been an inn since
medieval times, Dish, described as a deli
and kitchen, and La Parisienne, a local
institution that’s regularly jammed full.)
There are weekly street markets (Tuesday,
Friday and Saturday) in the Cornmarket
and a monthly farmers’ market (near
Waitrose). Plus, there are hidden gardens
and parks and riverside walks as the Test
runs through the town - one favourite walk
leads through Memorial Park and along the
River Test to Sadler’s Mill.
With good facilities, picturesque
surroundings and a strong sense of
community, Romsey has long appealed
to retirees, families and young couples.
And it often attracts those priced out
of the Winchester market (particularly
as Winchester is about 20 minutes’
drive away). I always think Romsey has
everything Winchester has, except on a
slightly smaller scale. There’s a Norman
Abbey instead of a cathedral, the Beggars
Fair (a lively musical mash-up in the
streets and venues around town) instead
of Winchester’s Hat Fair, and King John’s
House, an insight into 13th century life,
instead of the Great Hall. Property prices
are more reasonable than Winchester’s
probably as it is not really commutable to
London. However, the station provides a
good service to Southampton (ten to 14
minutes) in one direction and to Salisbury
(20 minutes more or less) in the other.
Also, access to the major road networks is
available at junction 3 of the M27 - about
three miles away - near enough to be easily
accessible and far enough away to avoid
motorway drone.
Both town and country types will be
pleased with the choice of properties.
The historic town centre has quaint old
cottages, terraces, town houses and
apartments converted from Strong’s
Brewery. There are some later, much
favoured, family homes found on The
Meads and The Harrage.
If it is quiet and space you’re after,
round and about Romsey are a selection
of villages. Those to the east of Romsey
STAR BUY
Bramdown, Awbridge, £1,295,000
Impressive five-bedroom home in tranquil setting with
south-facing gardens and grounds approaching 1.5 acres
Charles Powell, West Wellow, 01794 322999
PROPERTY
Originally built in the 10th century, Romsey Abbey is the largest parish church in the county
‘With good facilities,
picturesque surroundings
and a strong sense of
community, Romsey has
long appealed to retirees,
families and young couples’
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