The Hamble River by David Chun is a detailed account of the river and its valley, from prehistoric times to the present day. The Hamble River is 12 miles long, and is prized for its natural beauty.  Its source is just north of Bishops Waltham, and its estuary is Southampton Water.

For most of us, who only glimpse its beauty fleetingly as we drive along the M27, this book is a 'must read'. It is packed with extraordinary information, written by a man with a intimate knowledge and passion for his subject. Chun knows his stuff, and has read well among primary and secondary sources delving deeply into this 'clay and coppice landscape of wood, water, farmland and heath'. 

At a time when roads were poor the Hamble River was essential for transportation of flour; timber and coppice wood from the forests. He writes with authority on traditional local industries including hoop making; flour milling; iron production; and ship building. He does this by a mastery of contemporary evidence about life on and around the river. One of Nelson's flagships, HMS Elephant, was built on the Hamble in the 1800s.  The wreck of the Grace Dieu, the biggest medieval ship, lay embedded in the river mud.

The book contains almost 100 illustrations, some of them rarely seen.  My favourite is a nineteenth century engraving of Botley House, the home of local scoundrel Robert Stares, and later occupied by that famous farmer and journalist William Cobbett. Chun weaves these characters into the local landscape in a masterly way.  Chun also spotlights the remarkable Hugh Jenkyns, a local landowner, who in the early 20th century was a prime mover in protecting the beauty of the upper river. 

This is a well written and thoughtful account of the Hamble River, which has inspired me to dust off my Ordnance Survey map, and get walking. 

The Hamble River by David Chun is a detailed account of the river and its valley, from prehistoric times to the present day. The Hamble River is 12 miles long, and is prized for its natural beauty.  Its source is just north of Bishops Waltham, and its estuary is Southampton Water.

For most of us, who only glimpse its beauty fleetingly as we drive along the M27, this book is a 'must read'. It is packed with extraordinary information, written by a man with a intimate knowledge and passion for his subject. Chun knows his stuff, and has read well among primary and secondary sources delving deeply into this 'clay and coppice landscape of wood, water, farmland and heath'. 

At a time when roads were poor the Hamble River was essential for transportation of flour; timber and coppice wood from the forests. He writes with authority on traditional local industries including hoop making; flour milling; iron production; and ship building. He does this by a mastery of contemporary evidence about life on and around the river. One of Nelson's flagships, HMS Elephant, was built on the Hamble in the 1800s.  The wreck of the Grace Dieu, the biggest medieval ship, lay embedded in the river mud.

The book contains almost 100 illustrations, some of them rarely seen.  My favourite is a nineteenth century engraving of Botley House, the home of local scoundrel Robert Stares, and later occupied by that famous farmer and journalist William Cobbett. Chun weaves these characters into the local landscape in a masterly way.  Chun also spotlights the remarkable Hugh Jenkyns, a local landowner, who in the early 20th century was a prime mover in protecting the beauty of the upper river. 

This is a well written and thoughtful account of the Hamble River, which has inspired me to dust off my Ordnance Survey map, and get walking.