26th June 2025 • The HERALD • Page 77 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v VAUXTECH LOCAL GARAGE Tel: 023 8086 9496 Unit 5, New Forest Enterprise Centre, Totton, Southampton SO40 9LA LOCAL GARAGE EST 27 YEARS • Servicing & Repairs • MOT’s (arranged) • Brakes • Clutches • Tyres • Air Conditioning • Collection & Delivery Locally Friendly & Reliable Onsite Café Facilities All Makes & Models CALSHOT CASTLE’S PIRATE In the 1570’s, Captain James Parkinson was the Governor of Southampton Castle and the Captain of Calshot Castle. Being in charge of two prominent armed buildings gave him quite a lot of power and perhaps was a person you would not want to argue with! Calshot Castle, was an isolated building, some 11 nautical miles from Southampton and well away from populated areas. us, it was the perfect location for illegal activities to take place without any interference. In Southampton’s historical records, it shows that Captain Parkinson and his men were racketeers and pirates! ey o en held up merchant ships at the entrance to Southampton Water and extorted goods pellet at (me) putting the saide ship in great danger of casting awaye and the men in great feare.” e Mayor of Southampton collected evidence about the activities occurring inside Calshot Castle. An informer, John Solton who was a local baker, was employed in 1570, by Captain Parkinson to go to the Castle to bake some biscuits. Whilst he was there, he saw packs of Spanish wool, spices and sugar arriving by night and taken to a farm. One of the stables at the castle was full of wool. If you would like to explore the Castle for yourself, then it is open from Wednesday 23rd July to Sunday 31st August, from 10am to 2pm. Admission prices apply. Free to members of English Heritage. Please visit the website for further information. Organised tours for groups can be made in advance. www. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/calshot-castle or email: calshot.ac@hants.gov.uk Calshot Castle is an English Heritage property managed by Hampshire County Council. Calshot Castle from them before allowing them to pass. A Breton pilot reported an incident to the magistrates in 1570 where Parkinson’s men had caused his ship e Barge of Benneden to remain o Calshot for ten days. On each day they removed half a butt of sack. Some ship masters tried to slip past the castle, but were usually unsuccessful. William Jackson tried, but was stopped by “A great piece of ordynance charged with New Forest/Waterside U3A New Forest/Waterside U3A meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at St Andrew’s Hall in Dibden Purlieu, starting at 2pm. Meetings nish at around 3.30pm, but everyone is invited to stay for tea and biscuits if they wish. ey recently enjoyed an interesting illustrated talk from artist Paul Tracey, about his mission to paint images of 100 piers, including Hythe pier. He has kindly donated this picture to be auctioned, to help raise funds for the Hythe Pier Heritage Association. eir nal meeting before the summer break, is entitled ‘Walking Without Wellies’, from Ruth Kerr, on 15th July. Meetings will start again in September. Special interest groups meet regularly, including skittles, embroidery, table tennis, history, and gardening. Lunches are regularly arranged and there is also a group that meets to play boules on alternate ursday a ernoons, at the Old Mill in Hardley. Anyone who is interested in joining this friendly U3A group is welcome to go along to a meeting, or to contact the secretary if they’d like to chat rst. Please email: u3a.nfwsecretary@outlook.com Jingle Ladies Summer Concert e Jingle Ladies Summer Concert in aid of Oakhaven Hospice takes place on Saturday 19th July, 3pm at St John’s Church in Hythe. FREE ENTRY, cream tea, light refreshments and a fantastic ra e along with songs from their favourite lms and musicals.
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