Breamore Parish CouncilPlaces to visit
Hulse Hall
The Village Hall was erected by Lady Edith Hulse in memory of her son Captain Sir Edward Hamilton Westrow Hulse, who was killed while attempting to rescue a colleague at Neuve Chapelle in 1915.
It is still in regular use with monthly brunches, an annual flower show that had been going for over 100 years and many other social activities.
The Marsh
Although the forty acre area of grassland known as the Marsh is not registered as common land today, it has nevertheless been used to pasture grazing animals belonging to the tenants of Breamore Estate for centuries. The earliest record is from 1298. Geese have also grazed on the Marsh since at least the 15th century and can still be seen there today.
The unusual thatched, flint built cricket pavilion dates from the early years of the 20th century. It was used as the HQ of the village Home Guard during the second world war.
The Bat and Ball Pub
The Bat and Ball was opened by William Pearce soon after 1830. It took its name from the cricket played nearby on the marsh.
Railway Station
The station was built for the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway and opened in 1866. It was served by trains between Salisbury in Wiltshire and West Moors in Hampshire. British Railways closed the station and the line on 2 May 1964. The station has survived intact, and in recent years has been refurbished, it is now owned by Select Country Inns and is part of the Railway Hotel Fordingbridge. Five affordable homes were built for the Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing (HARAH) on one of the disused platforms, being completed in December 2012. A 2-mile section of the disused railway line which passes through the station has been converted into a footpath.
Countryside Museum
The Breamore Museum is a post war village museum that showcases staged sets depicting traditional village life. On exhibition is a collection of scenes including a dairy, blacksmiths, school, leather worker, village cottage and more.
The museum has a particular focus on old farm machinery, where it holds an impressive collection of tractors and steam engines. Our functioning steam workshop and traction engine are some of the few remaining operational pieces on exhibition in the UK.
Pantry Barn Cafe
Set within the courtyard at Breamore house and estate the Pantry Barn offer a wide range of loose-leaf teas, coffees, breakfast, lunch and homemade cakes and scones.
Open from 10am to 4pm daily.
Breamore House Farm Shop
The Breamore farm shop sources artisan foods by working predominantly with local businesses in Hampshire or neighbouring counties to secure great quality products.
Open during the summer season Monday to Sun day 10am to 5:30pm
Breamore Church
Breamore Church, also known as St. Mary’s Church, is a significant historical and architectural landmark in Breamore, Hampshire. Information about the church from the years 980 to 1130 is sparse, making it a subject of ongoing research. However, a more detailed history begins with the founding of the Augustinian Priory in 1130, which provides a continuous record of the priors who administered the church.
In 1536, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell’s agents reported positively on the Augustinian canons of Breamore, noting their good conduct. Despite this, the smaller religious houses, including Breamore, were suppressed.
The last prior, Finch, was given a pension and later became the Suffragan Bishop of Taunton. The priory’s site, near the River Avon and north of Breamore Mill, was granted to Henry, Marquis of Exeter, and his wife Gertrude. Excavations in 1898 revealed cloisters and stone coffins, some of which were relocated to Breamore Churchyard.
Architecturally, Breamore Church is notable as a near-complete example of a late 10th century Saxon building. It features an exceptionally long structure (96 feet 6 inches), consisting of an aisle-less nave and chancel separated by a central square tower.
Originally, there were lateral porticus (chapels or transepts) on each side of the tower, though the northern one has disappeared. There are also indications of a western adjunct matching the width of the nave.
The church’s walls are constructed from whole flints with large quoins of irregular long and short work, and pilaster strips of green sandstone and ironstone. Originally, the entire church was covered with plaster, except for the quoins and pilaster strips. The church underwent few alterations; the chancel was rebuilt in the 14th century, retaining the lower part of the old walls, and a south porch was added.
Breamore Church is not a cruciform church in the strictest sense, but it represents an early step in the evolution of the cruciform plan, which became prominent in medieval English church construction. The tower, situated between the nave and chancel, rests on piers and arches, connecting to transepts of the same width, thus forming a unified structure. This architectural development is significant, showcasing the transition from earlier designs like the side chapels at St. Pancras in Canterbury to the more integrated layouts seen in later churches such as those at Britford and Deerhurst.
The Miz-Maze
The Miz-Maze is an ancient and fascinating feature located on Breamore Down, more than a mile from any settlement. This medieval turf labyrinth is unique, designed in a Cretan style with a Christian cross intersecting its pattern. Unlike typical mazes with dead ends, the Miz-Maze is a labyrinth where all paths eventually lead to a central mound.
Historically, the Mizmaze has roots in both Pagan and Christian traditions. It was used for fertility dances in Pagan times and later for penances by monks who would traverse its paths on their knees while praying at fixed points. The symmetrical pattern of the maze, carved into the turf by cutting down to the bare chalk, is reminiscent of designs found on the floors of some Italian and French churches.
Surrounded by a grove of yew trees, the Breamore Miz-Maze has a suitably romantic and mysterious atmosphere. It is also close to a Bronze Age barrow, adding to its historical significance. To preserve this unique structure, the Miz-Maze is fenced off and not accessible by car. Visitors typically reach it via a footpath from near Breamore House, which offers a scenic walk through the woods. Other footpaths leading to the Miz-Maze include routes from Whitsbury, which circle around Castle Ditches, making for an enjoyable walking experience from multiple directions.
Breamore House
This beautiful Elizabethan red brick house was built in 1583 and is known for its historical architecture. The house suffered a significant fire in 1856 which destroyed much of the interior, but the exterior largely retains its original appearance. The house is also notable for its valuable collection of paintings, tapestries, and furniture.
Close to Breamore House is the Breamore Countryside Museum, which features various exhibits on rural life and agricultural history. The museum grounds include a modern maze made of brick, which was created as the winning design of a 1983 competition.
