2. Chilworth and the Church

Chilworth as a manor and estate was first recorded in the Domesday book, the possession of a Saxon lord named Alwyn but was soon claimed by the Normans and given to Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux who was King William’s half-brother. 

The gardens incorporate Stew Ponds (a pond used to store live fish for eating) from the 13th Century when Chilworth was inhabited by Augustinian Friars who used St. Martha’s Church on the hilltop to the north to provide support to pilgrims completing the “Pilgrims’ Way” (a historical route from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury). The church and the views from it are well worth the visit but be warned the footpath up is somewhat of a challenge!  

From 1536 to 1541 Henry VIII looked to remove all influence of the Catholic Church and replace it with the Church of England after the Pope refused his request to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. This was known as the dissolution of the monasteries, there has been a long-standing rumour of a secret passage between St Martha’s and Chilworth Manor. The idea of the passage was to provide an escape route for priests during the dissolution, the start of this suspected secret passage has been uncovered at Chilworth Manor. The dissolution of the monasteries eventually meant the Augustinian Friars left Chilworth and all traces of the monastic home itself vanished. 

 

Painting of Henry VIII

 

For Children: 

Q: How many wives did Henry VIII have? Do you know what happened to each of them?  

A: 6. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived 

 

The ponds built by Augustinian Friars in the 13th Century

 

Navigation 

Extended Walk: Continue up the hill and out of the gate. Pass two benches and turn right up the slope, and enter the Cherry Garden Vineyard through the wooden gate. Here you will learn about the vineyard extension and planting of the Cherry Garden. 

Short Walk: Turn right before the entrance to the vineyard where you will see a bench and the next stop on the walk where you will learn about Chilworth’s resident alpacas.