My father built a house in
Oakhanger - it was 1962. I we had known that shortly after the
main satellite up/down link for the MOD would be built in the village - perhaps we would have chosen somewhere else.
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| Entering Oakhanger - 400 year old cottages, 40 year old "golf ball" |
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| The Red Lion - where it nearly all ended |
There used to be a Cadbury Chocolate vending machine - 6d for a bar I think. Little Granddad bought me a bar and left me in my pram while ordering a pint. On returning discovered that I had eaten bar, silver foil and wrapper - luckily without choking.
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| Under Construction |
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| 1962? |
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| 2012 - the tree and garage both came down a few years back |
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| There is my Dad's signature |
The current owners were in - a little surprised - but very welcoming. It seems that my 1962 experiences (and many photos) were repeated by their son shortly after they moved in in 1984.
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| Me |
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| Him |
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| View from the kitchen window - I remember looking out and seeing Farmer Brown's tractor ploughing. That is Selborne Hanger on the skyline |
Once on my onw two feet I used to take a trip down to Binswood Farm to visit my friends the Trorts. Mum used to phone up "He has just left" and then Mrs T would look out for me - my first "orienteering" at two years old.
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| Track down to Binswood Farm |
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| Here is the farmhouse - I remember my first introduction to vegetable marrow and the two dachshunds bringing rabbits (dead and bloody) for the family |
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| The old barn is still there - where we used to play in the hay - and the turkey/pig shed is now a "One bedroom bungalow" on the market for... |
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....
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| Binswood at the end of the track is now a Woodland Trust property - this is where we went to collect firewood for bonfire night - so big and mysterious (when you are under 4 that is) |
"Now designated a site of special scientific interest, this is one of
just a few remaining lowland woodland pastures outside the New Forest
still sustained by traditional grazing of commoners’ stock.
As a
result it provides a glimpse of the landscape as it may well have looked
in medieval times, a combination of species-rich ancient woodland,
unimproved grassland, scrub and ancient oaks and beech trees."
and there is even a court case covering this special land use
:
journals.cambridge.org/production/action/cjoGetFulltext?fulltextid...
by D MACINTYRE -
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stint of cattle by virtue of owning and occupying Binswood Farm. In August 1971 some of their cattle strayed from the common into the garden of Sprat's cottage, ...
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