Page 34 • The HERALD • 19th February 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom with free design service Tel: 023 8084 3787 Email: showroom@pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk Web: www.pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk The White Horse And The Cherry Trees by Robin Somes, Fawley and Blackfield Memories It seems appropriate here to tie up a few loose ends, and to lay to rest an old notion. So the story goes, Lord Nelson visited Spratt’s Down, and nding all the inhabitants asleep at midday, promptly named it ‘Lazy Town’ – unaware that they were sleeping because they had been out smuggling all night. To quash that idea straight away, there was no settlement at Spratt’s Down in Nelson’s time, and so (if it happened at all), it was at Nelson’s Place, close to the shore at Stanswood Bay. ere once stood a pub named the White Horse, occasionally mentioned in reports of the local magistrates’ licensing sessions. It appears quite unconnected, but I can recall my mother and aunt occasionally saying that Fawley was once renowned for its cherry orchards, and indeed that a cherry festival used to be held. Any evidence of this happening seemed non-existent, but it’s a nice idea, nonetheless. Again seemingly unconnected; if one spends enough time searching through old newspaper archives, eventually the name of Sherke’s Drove, Sherker’s Drove, or Shirker’s Drove will appear – apparently referring to Badminston Drove or somewhere very close by – but with no explanation of its origin. We return to the letter written in 1927 by F J Penny, whose recollections of the Myrtle Inn at Calshot we mentioned in the previous story. He wrote: “The White Horse, at Nelson’s Place, or ‘Lazy Town’ as it was humorously nick-named by the natives of a nearby hamlet, in return for the latter being styled ‘Shirkers’-Drove’ by the ‘Nelsonians’, was kept by Charles Bound. It was owned by the Earl of Cavan, and formed part of the Eaglehurst estate, passing when that nobleman sold the property to Mr Drummond, the owner of the adjoining Cadland estate, who, to the general regret, put a period to its career as an inn. I remember it when flourishing about the year 1855, my father taking me, then a small boy, to its ‘merry gardens’, where, for the payment of sixpence, visitors could regale themselves upon luscious ‘merries’ to the full extent of their capacity. This singular form of attraction, added to that of the good ale vended amid peaceful rural surroundings, drew much custom to the White Horse, numerous wherries coming across from Cowes with people, whilst the villagers, also, were constant visitors to the secluded and orderly old inn”. at one paragraph brings together all of these threads. e word “merry” was an archaic name for the wild English cherry (Prunus avium). So, the residents of Badminston Drove (the only nearby hamlet, with the exceptions of Ower and Hillhead) objected to being called shirkers, and called Nelson’s Place ‘Lazy Town’ – and there genuinely were cherry orchards, perhaps even a festival too. In the woods around Badminston and Stanswood, there still grow wild cherry trees, and in years gone by, I made jam from the fruit. What Lord Nelson’s part in this was (since there’s little or no evidence that he ever actually visited), and where exactly the White Horse was, are probably best le to another story. Coffee and Clay Workshops at Community Café e Forest Edge Café in Alderholt is a volunteer-run community space that provides a welcoming place for locals to meet, connect, and support one another. Local ceramicist Jonathan Diorio (Diorioceramics) is running a number of co ee and clay workshops at the Café. Egg Cups workshop on Wednesday 29th April, 10am–12noon, £30 inclusive of all materials and ring costs plus a drink and a slice of cake from the Café. Ceramic Salt Pig 2 part workshop on Wednesday 20th May and 24th June, 10am–12noon, £40 for both workshops inclusive of all materials and ring costs plus a drink and a slice of cake from the Café. To book on either of the above workshops please contact Lou on: 07778 551182. Lepe Country Park Competitions For all creative people out there, watch out for Lepe Country Park’s new competitions! For the artist why not enter the Pollinator Art Competition, with an exhibition in the classroom in the summer? If you are more skilled with poetry or prose, then get thinking – they will have an autumn evening to celebrate Pollinators through the written word! Details for both competitions will be on Lepe’s website and social media soon. ere will be 3 age groups for each competition, with prizes for the winners in each group. is is part of the ongoing commitment to pollinator awareness at Lepe, encouraging people to look at wildlife and celebrate what they love most about plants and bugs. e photo competition is open for Lepe’s 2027 calendar. For more details on this and all their competitions, please visit: www.hants.gov.uk/ thingstodo/countryparks/lepe/whatson
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=