Barb & John's Hols: Day 18 Porstdown Hill, Portchester Castle, Titchfield Abbey

A trip down memory lane .... John's old stamping ground

We have a day of re-visiting some of John's favourite places (although Portchester Castle was new to us both). We started off the morning by driving up to Portsdown Hill. John first showed Barb this view back in April 2006 on a foggy morning on the day of our engagement party with his English friends. We had the ring .... but it hadn't been formally presented yet to Barb. Barb was twirling round in the fog excitedly waiting for the big moment that never happened (It was cold and dank. I stayed in the car with the heater on while Barb cavorted in the early morning fog oblivious to the drear around her!). It finally happened just before our guests arrived when John was wearing a tea cosy on his head and a tea towel on his shoulder, busy preparing food. Not the most romantic proposal! Pah.

Today, however .... it was beautiful weather and the views were spectacular.

Views of Portsmouth from Portsdown Hill

Barb was moved to twirl (Hrrmph)

After 16 years John got down on one knee ... and tumbled backwards down the hill in the process
(no photo of that, she was too busy laughing like a drain)

The happy couple fifteen years on ...

Portchester Castle in Hampshire

To be honest it didn't look too promising from the outside ...

... things got better once inside. Who doesn't love a moat?

Most of the castle was in ruins

A rare photo of John & Barb together in the castle grounds

The castle keep was used as a prison in the Napoleonic wars

Barb chose not to climb all the way to the top
on the steep and lethal looking staircase

A display in the tower

The were a number of interesting and well presented displays in the intact parts of the castle, which John would have loved to read but was distracted by Barb's to "come and see this". Ah well!

After looking around the castle and tower, we walked across the field to a church within the castle walls. There was a funeral in progress while we were there, but we were able to have a cup of tea in the churchyard tearooms.

St Marys church

Church with tearoom beyond

Castle views from the church graveyard

Beyond the castle walls is the sea

The path circumnavigates the castle walls and the castle
itself is very popular with local dog-walkers

We drove on from here in search of Titchfield Abbey. It's in the guidebook and on the map, but how you actually get to the parking area is not at all clear. We did a full round the block drive-by before we discovered the well hidden entrance. Once there, there's not a whole lot to see as its just a shell of the original abbey.

Found the pesky abbey at last!
This outside view is the best view of the whole thing

It would've been very impressive in its hey-day

But these days used more for picnic-ing

We moved on to Warsash which is where John had owned his house and was living when he first met Barb. Some of the road access has changed, but we found it in the end and it still looks much the same.