Romsey: A Town on the Famous River Test, Romsey, England (B)

The historic market town of Romsey lies along the River Test, a chalk stream that enjoys worldwide fame for its trout fishing.

Picturesque bridges cross the Test as it flows through the town of Romsey. One of its tributaries, Fishlake Stream, trickles down some of its streets so the residents have to cross it to reach their houses. Some of these houses, in particular those along Bell Street have been here since the fifteenth century. At the very heart of Romsey is its market place.

Overseeing the Market Place is Romsey’s most famous resident, Lord Palmerston, a former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister during the early nineteenth century. His family name was Temple and his family home was Broadlands, a large estate surrounding Romsey. However, the most famous resident of Broadlands was Earl Mountbatten, a Supreme Allied Commander, Viceroy and Governor-General of India. He was assassinated by the IRA in 1979. The Broadlands Estates are still owned by the Mountbatten family and is only open to the public for a limited period during the summer. On one side of the Market Place is the quaint King John’s House. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).