#65 Rob's Hampshire Pub Walks ( Netley , Hound & Royal Victoria Country Park Walk )

[@davidknowles3459]

I lived for a year or so in Hamble in 1989.I can't believe how much has changed around Netley.My then girlfriend and I were keen walkers and knew that area so well.So many new walks now.

[@janelake6076]

Loved this video ,so lovely to see my favourite place Netley and Royal Victoria Country Park.Brought back many happy memories when I lived in Southampton 9yrs ago 😀.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it Jane.

[@nicholasbell9017]

I love Netley. So much amazing history. It's hard to grasp the sheer size of the military hospital unless you actually walk along it's length. Just a thought: the Victorians must have built this, to accommodate thousands of military casualties, from wars waged across what was then a great empire. They expected war and built their "Palace of Pain". Patients came by sea and train. Sad,, in a way that was demolished, and not converted into flats like Netley castle. But I think the fires, and cost of maintaining and securing this massive building was why it was taken down. Imagine being a security guard, walking those corridors at night? No thanks! Any way, I enjoyed your video, reminds me to get out and explore my locality and it's ever-evolving history. Cheers. Nick.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Thanks Nick. It is a sobering thought that it was accepted that this vast hospital would be needed if ww were to maintain an empire especially when you consider that only a few miles down the road was another large military hospital, RN Haslar. (I wouldn't spend the night in either of them 😁)

[@davidknowles3459]

There were 2 fires at the hospital.The Army repaired the damage and then a few weeks later it was set on fire again.The Army didn't bother to repair it again.Local kids were the culprits.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Great photos of the fire damage on boards in the park.

[@charlottebanks463]

Hi Rob, thank you for this walk, my friend & I did the Netley part of it yesterday. We loved Netley Abbey, the sign there says that it is now open every day of the year except 25th December--one wonders why it's closed that day! --We plan on going back to do the Royal Vic Country Park.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Hi Charlotte Really glad you enjoyed the walk.

[@davidknowles3459]

I thought the Royal Victoria Park opened around 1980. In 1979 I remember riding with a a friend of mine who lived in Hound.We rode our motorcycles to the gate.My friend told me,that the park was opening soon but we could ride around the park,but had to look out for the Park Ranger.the park was empty.And the roads and tracks were very new . .

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Do you know I thought the same as a friends dad was posted there and I'm sure it was during the 70"s but all the info I found said 1970. I suppose maybe there was a long transition between council owned and open to the park we know today ?

[@davidknowles3459]

@@RobsHampshirePubWalks I think the Council had to clear a lot of the debris left by the Army.And then build all the new roads,tracks and carparks.Also re seed a lot of the grass.

[@davidknowles3459]

@@RobsHampshirePubWalks I just read on Wikipedia that the Country park had a massive collection of outbuildings that were not cleared until 1978,so the Park opened to the public later than that!