Christchurch Pt 2 - The Norman House to Place Mill

The Norman House

From the medieval bridge, a thin strip of land flanked by The Avon and Mill Stream (pictured), runs south past The Norman House ruins. This is the thinnest part of a long island that can be divided into two parts. South from Bridge Street has a tarmac promenade that leads to housing and a boatyard. North is the larger, green area of fields and fishing bisected by the noisy A35 which we'll cover in the next post.

Christchurch Priory

Continuing south we pass the magnificent Christchurch Priory which in Simon Jenkins' book Thousand Best Churches was one of only eighteen churches to be awarded 5 stars.


Eventually we emerge from the tree lined path to a clump of new housing. To the east is a kind of gated community of small (holiday?) homes and boat yard.


Next to it is an angular, nautical housing estate that's been crammed in here.


Where the back yard is a large pool for the home owners boats.


This is the view from the southern tip.


As we circle round the estate, we naturally emerge onto this old bridge, taking us off the island.


And to Place Mill that was mentioned in the Domesday Book which now houses some kitsch art exhibitions.