Hythe, Dibden & Dibden Purlieu
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Hythe is the hidden gem of the New Forest towns. Nestling between the New Forest and Southampton Water, its varied coastline offers fascinating views of one of the world’s busiest ports.
People visit Hythe for many reasons - to shop in one of the many independently owned shops or to enjoy a drink or a meal in one of its excellent cafés, pubs or restaurants. But what visitors enjoy most of all are the unrivalled views of the water and the beautiful cruise liners arriving in the port of Southampton. You can stroll along the beautiful and diverse waterfront, or you can just sit and enjoy the ever changing vista.
Throughout the year visitors are attracted by the Markets. The Tuesday Street Market is every week in the High St and has stalls selling flowers, olives, locally sourced meat, local preserves and chutneys, photographs, fabrics, baked good, fruit and veg, plants, fresh fish, and jewelry among other things. Occasional specialty markets such as the 'France at Home', 'Italia in Piazza' and the Bank Holiday Monday Arts, Craft, Vintage and Collectibles Market. On the last Saturday of November is the hugely popular Mistletoe Fayre.
There has been a ferry crossing between Hythe and Southampton since at least 1575. The 640 metre long pier was completed in 1881 and the electric railway and train were introduced in 1922. It is now the world’s oldest pier train. There is a half hourly ferry service to Southampton from the end of the pier and the 15 minute trip allows you to get ‘up close and personal’ with all the latest cruise liners.
In the early part of the 20th century, flying boats were built and operated from what is now Hythe Marine Park. T E Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, worked at the British Power Boat Company and lived in the house in Shore Rd recognised with a Blue Plaque. The hovercraft, invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell - who lived in Hythe until he died - was also developed here and there is a Memorial to the Hovercraft in the gardens of The Grove adjacent to the original test slipway.
In the area now known as the Waterside, Hythe is the central village of numerous small communities now vastly expanded by dormitory housing serving the petrochemical industries in the Waterside as well as the City of Southampton. Hythe with its sister communities of Dibden and Dibden Purlieu are part of the Parish of Hythe and Dibden.
Sandbanks to Shell Bay Ferry Fares January 2013, Dorset Coastline UK
Sandbanks Ferry Fares as displayed above the Sandbanks slipway kiosk ,don't forget car and van drivers pay on the other side at the toll gate once you have got off the ferry.
Floating Bridge, Woolston, Southampton
The floating bridge across the River Itchen opened on
the 23rd November 1836, as the years passed different
bridges were brought into operation.
Each new replacement was given a number the last
being no 14, different builders were used for make these
bridges including Day, Summers & Co of Northam,
J I Thornycroft of Woolston and the last was built in
Portsmouth by Vosper Thornycroft.
Opus at Cornwall Street Fish Dinner preview
With Opus set to host a special fish dinner on 28th June 2013, we went to Brixham market in Devon to meet fishmonger Nigel Ward and see the journey that a fish takes from the sea to the plate.