HAMPSHIRE. 137 



on the capacious bays whicli indent the coast. Agriculture and sheep farming 

 are the principal occupations, the manufactures being altogether unimportant. 



The Salisbury Avon traverses the western extremity of the county. Flowino- 

 past the ancient towns of Fordhighridge and Ringtcood, it enters the English 

 Channel below CJiristchurch, a small seaport, the only attraction of which consists 

 of a fine priory church. Bournemouth is an aspiring watering-place to the west of 

 the Avon, much resorted to on account of its dry climate, but not so favoured as 

 many other watering-places as regards picturesque scenery. 



Lyndhurst, the capital of the New Forest, is a smalltown much frequented during 

 the summer, because the neighbourhood is full of interest to the botanist and entomo- 

 logist. On the skirts of the forest is Lymington, an outport of Southampton, with 

 an inconsiderable coasting trade. Bay-salt is manufactured in its neighbourhood. 



The peninsula at the head of Southampton Water, formed by the confluence 

 of the Test and Itchin, is occupied by the town of Southampton. The Homan 

 town of Clausentum lay to the east of the Itchin, its site being occupied now by the 

 village of Bittern. The Test, or Anton, is a good trout stream. It rises above the 

 old town of Andorer, to the west of which lies the village of Weyliill, famous for 

 its sheep and hop fairs, and runs past the towns of Stochhridge and Romney. The 

 latter boasts a noble abbey church. Adjoining it is Broadlands, the residence of 

 the late Lord Palmerston, to whom a monument has been erected in the town. 

 The Itchin washes the foot of a plateau upon which rises the ancient and illustrious 

 city of Winchester, known as Caer Gicent, or " White Town," in the time of the 

 Britons, perhaps in token of its pre-eminence. During the century which preceded 

 the invasion of the Romans immigrant Belgas settled at Winchester, whence its 

 Latin name of Venta BeJgarmn. The Saxons made it the capital of Wessex, and 

 subsequently of the whole of England, and notwithstanding sieges and ravages, it 

 retained its title until the twelfth century. For a long time afterwards it was 

 looked upon as a kind of holy city, and Parliaments met there, and kings were 

 crowned in its cathedral. The latter is its chief edifice, and recalls the time of its 

 ancient supremacy. It has been built and transformed in various ages, and includes 

 examples of all the styles of architecture — from the rude Norman to the most 

 highly ornate decorated. The great western window occupies more than two- 

 thirds of the height of this superb structure, and the light which penetrates through 

 its stained glass falls upon mortuary chests, supposed to contain the bones of early 

 Saxon kings. Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1387, is 

 another remarkable monument of the Middle Ages, not so much on account 

 of its architecture as of an adherence to ancient traditions in the system of 

 education carried on within its walls. Of the old royal castle, originally built by 

 William the Conqueror, only the wall and a subterranean passage remain. The 

 palace which Charles II. erected is now occupied as a barrack. The Hospital of 

 St. Cross, founded in 1136, lies about a mile to the south of Winchester, and the 

 "wayfarer's dole," consisting of a horn of beer and a piece of bread, is still given 

 to all who apply for it at the porter's lodge. Higher up on the Itchin is the 

 market town of Alresford. 

 117 



