Bishopstoke

Bishopstoke is just one of the many small villages and hamlets in the borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, England. It has a history which stretches back to Anglo-Saxon times. It is featured in Domesday Book and has long links with Winchester Cathedral and its bishops. King John signed charters here during his visits in 1205 and 1207. William Gilbert, the novelist father of W.S.Gilbert, is stated to have been born here in 1804. During the reign of Queen Victoria Dean Garnier's garden is said to have rivalled that at Chiswick. In the early 1940's Benny Hill's milk round served part of the village. Bordering the River Itchen with a unique riverside frontage, the Angler's public house & restaurant is a favourite stopping off point for ramblers using the Itchen Way. Get in By air Southampton Airport, adjacent to Parkway station, Eastleigh can be accessed from the Channel Islands, many UK airports and numerous locations on the Continent & Ireland. (see www.southamptonairport.com) By bus A half hourly bus service from Eastleigh & Southampton with connections from Winchester & Romsey. By car Use the M3 or M27 motorways leading to Southampton and exit at Eastleigh then follow the signs to Bishopstoke which appear in the town centre. By train The closest train station is in Eastleigh. Frequent rail services to Eastleigh station from Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Basingstoke & London. It's a one mile walk along Bishopstoke Road or a short taxi ride. Alternatively catch a bus from the bus station in the town centre to "The Mill" stop which is at the centre of the village and close to Riverside and the river Itchen. Fast services from Bournemouth/Poole, the Midlands, Scotland & London are available to Southampton Parkway station to the south of Bishopstoke from where you can catch a local train to Eastleigh. Get around A relatively compact village the main places of interest are to be found close to Riverside. See The site of the old parish church at the lower end of Church Road is where John "Billious" Bale medieval rector, writer & playwright preached his infamous sermons. Samuel Sewall, a judge in the Salem Witch Trials was baptised here. Eastleigh Museum in the High Street, open Tuesday-Saturday, has files covering Bishopstoke's long history. Light refreshments are available & special exhibitions are staged on a regular basis.A great source of pictures on bishopstoke can be seen at bishopstoke uk . Do Ramblers can use the Itchen Way to reach other locations along the valley of the river Itchen including Allbrook (home of Mary Beale, the artist, during the late 1660's) Brambridge (home of Maria Fitzherbert in the mid 1700's), Shawford, St Cross & Winchester. Buy The village is well served with a variety of small shops including a post office. Eat The Angler's Inn. Parking available. Website : [1] The River Inn. Parking available. The Prince of Wales Inn. Parking available. Website : [2] The Welcome Inn Parking available. Website : [3] Drink See Inns above Sleep The nearest hotel is the Holiday Inn at Eastleigh not far from the M3. Get out If your visit coincides with the staging of a performance by the talented Bishopstoke Players at the Memorial Hall (See www.bishopstokeplayers.org.uk) and you book early enough, you are in for a treat. The Point, located in Leigh Road, not far from Eastleigh town centre, provides a variety of stage and film productions throughout the year. Southampton five miles to the south has several cinemas and theatres. Itchen Valley Country Park, approx. 2 miles south of Bishopstoke, can be accessed by car via Allington Lane, Fair Oak to the east of the village or walkers may use the Itchen Way which adjoins the western edge of the village. Why not use the Bishopstoke area as a base for exploring southern Hampshire. There is much to see at and around Winchester, Romsey, Bursledon, Netley and Hamble, not forgetting the New Forest. The area is well served with motorways although these should be avoided at peak commuting times. If you would like to see some great places to look at in Bishopstoke please take a look at www.bishoptoke.spaces.live.com This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!