"The surface of Hampshire is beautifully varied,"
writes Pigot in his Directory of 1844, "with gently rising hills and
fruitful valleys; adorned with numerous seats and villages, and interspersed
with extensive woodlands... The soils are extremely various, but the far
greater proportion has a tendency to chalk: in most parts the soil is deep and
rich, producing heavy crops of wheat and barley, as well as other grain; and
great quantities of malt are made throughout the county...
The climate of the county, in most parts of it, especially
upon the downs that cross it from east to west, is of the most salubrious and
invigorating nature; nor are the exhalations from the low grounds near the sea
so pernicious as in other counties, and the seasons are mild and genial.
Hampshire produces more wood than any other county in England, particularly oak;
and a great part of the British Navy has been built and repaired with its
timber...
In manufactures and minerals Hampshire has less claims to
notice, perhaps, than any other English county. The former comprise a few stuff
goods, as shalloons and denims; and some serges and other coarse woollens. The
mineral productions are mostly confined to the cliffs on the sea coast...
Hampshire is adorned by several exceedingly handsome towns, and is distinguished
as possessing within it boundaries the most strongly fortified port (Portsmouth)
in Great Britain, where the largest ships are built, and where are docks,
arsenals and storehouses of unrivalled magnitude..."
Family History, Genealogy and
Local History Research Information for Hampshire
The
fifth series of
the BBC's acclaimed Family
History programme features Patsy Kensit, Boris Johnson, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen,
Esther Rantzen, David Suchet, Ainsley Harriott, Jerry Springer and Jodie
Kidd. Further details are on our News page.
Are you descended
from a Viking Warrior, a Saxon farmer or a Norman invader?
Channel 4 television's
" The Face of Britain" showed a
pioneering project by Oxford University and the Wellcome Foundation to use
DNA testing to determine volunteers' ancient roots.
