Southampton to Hamble

After a nice break in which I could recover and also visit our family in the Netherlands, today is the first day of the 'Old Way' Pilgrims route from Southampton to Canterbury.

Ada dropped me of at Canterbury West for a smooth journey to Southampton.

I arrived around 11am and almost the first thing I encountered was a sharp rain shower. The weather of today was a bit like that, warm, windy and occasional showers! So I left my rain cover on my rucksack. 

The official route starts at St Mary's:

 

And there was a short walk from the station to there, pleasantly via various parks. Once I left there the route included various highlights from Southampton.

A lovely church was St Michael's, which was almost a Victoria shell built around a Norman tower. There were two ladies who welcomed 

me as well and told a bit about the church. 

 

I also came across Bernard Street! 

 

I didn't do all of the recommended sites: the route was quite confusing and I also wanted to get going as I had a late start.

So I left Southampton and crossed the Itchen to go east across a large road bridge 

And then through suburbs along side the Solent to Hamble

On the way I stopped at Netley Abbey, a ruined Cistercian monastery which is very extensive: 

And then I also visited the former Chapel of Royal Victoria Hospital, which was a huge military hospital mainly used in the 1st WW. It could threat 4,000 patients. 

 

It was quite impressive even though a little remained. 

On the floor of the museum was an OS map from the nineteen thirties ...

 

...which gives an impression of the original size of the hospital and the grounds. 

Now I am in the Priory Church of St Andrew the Apostle, in the hall. 

 

This is the first sanctuary church on the route. I was made very welcome and could join in with a men's social evening as well!

Tomorrow I hope to get more pictures and hope to climb the tower!