Editing Romsey (section)

==Places of interest==
[[File:Romsey war memorial and abbey.JPG|thumb|[[Romsey Abbey]] and [[Celtic cross]]]]

===Romsey Abbey===
{{main|Romsey Abbey}}
Romsey Abbey is a 12th-century abbey built in the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] style, probably by [[Henry of Blois]], upon an earlier Saxon church dating back to the 10th century. Elements of the old Saxon church remain, including an exposed north transept and a 10th-century [[rood]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22880/22880-h/22880-h.htm#img10|title=The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bell's Cathedrals: A Short Account of Romsey Abbey, by Thomas Perkins|website=Gutenberg.org|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> The current abbey is the largest parish church in [[Hampshire]] and is generally regarded as cathedral-like by architects and observers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36094897|title=The mystery of the hair in the coffin|last=Manel|first=Jon|date=24 April 2016|access-date=21 August 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greatenglishchurches.co.uk/html/romsey_abbey.html|title=Romsey Abbey|website=Greatenglishchurches.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> It is open daily to visitors.

=== Broadlands ===
{{Main|Broadlands}}
Broadlands is an 18th-century [[English country house|country house]] located just outside the town centre. It was designed in the [[Palladian architecture|Palladian]] style by the famous architect [[Capability Brown]] before being completed by [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland]] in 1788. It has had a number of illustrious occupants, including [[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]] and [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Louis Mountbatten]]. Broadlands has been the setting of two royal honeymoons, namely those of [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] in 1947 and then [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]] in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/11927292/Estate-where-Prince-Charles-and-Diana-spent-honeymoon-to-become-huge-solar-farm.html|title=Estate where Prince Charles and Diana spent honeymoon to become huge solar farm|last=Agency|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 October 2015|access-date=21 August 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The house itself is a Grade I listed building and the surrounding gardens are Grade II listed on the [[Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England|Register of Historic Parks and Gardens]]. Both are open to visitors on weekday afternoons in summer.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1000166|desc=BROADLANDS, Romsey Extra |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref>

===King John's House===
[[File:King John's House, Romsey.jpg|thumb|King John's House, Romsey]]
King John's House is a 13th-century building that allegedly served as a hunting lodge for [[John, King of England|King John]] when he hunted in the nearby [[New Forest]]. This is unlikely, however, since it was built in 1256 and therefore 40 years after the king's death, though there is evidence that the beams were reused from an earlier structure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hampshire-history.com/king-johns-house-romsey/|title=Hampshire History - King John's House Romsey|date=15 June 2014}}</ref> The original building and adjoining Tudor cottage have a number of unusual historical features, including 14th-century wall decorations and graffiti, a floor made from cattle [[metapodial]]s, and a traditional [[monastic garden]]. Locals claim the house is haunted, with the Hampshire Ghost Society encountering a shrouded figure during their investigations between 2002 and 2008.<ref name="Scanlan">{{cite book| first1=David | last1=Scanlan | year=2009 |title=Paranormal Hampshire |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1848682573}}</ref> The house is a Grade I [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=KING JOHN'S HOUSE|num= 1231745|access-date=10 September 2018}}</ref>

In February 2025 the building was damaged by fire.<ref name="k844">{{cite news| last=Elliman | first=Charles | title='It's a crying shame': Civic leaders react to 'devastating' King John's House fire | work=Daily Echo | date=25 February 2025 | url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24960267.its-crying-shame-civic-leaders-react-king-johns-house-fire/ | access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref>

=== Embley Park ===
{{Main|Embley Park}}
Embley Park, a country estate located on the outskirts of Romsey, was the home of [[Florence Nightingale]] from 1825 to her death in 1910. Known as the founder of [[Nursing|modern nursing]] and for her work in [[Sanitation|sanitary reform]], Nightingale is said to have received her calling from God in 1837 whilst sitting beneath a large cedar tree on the grounds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8659000/8659882.stm|title=Florence Nightingale's Embley|date=5 May 2010|access-date=20 August 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> While a manor in Embley belonged to Romsey Abbey as early as the 10th century, the current building is of 18th- and 19th-century origin.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1000215|desc=EMBLEY PARK, Wellow |access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref> The site is now home to [[Embley (school)|Embley]], an independent school. It is a Grade II listed building.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1000215|desc=EMBLEY PARK, Wellow |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref>

===The White Horse Hotel===
The White Horse Hotel is a Grade II listed,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1232184|desc=THE WHITE HORSE HOTEL, Romsey |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> 18th-century coaching inn whose timber frames date back to the 1450s. Its medieval stone cellars indicate that the site may have hosted guests to Romsey Abbey as early as the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewhitehorseromsey.co.uk/history/|title=History|website=Thewhitehorseromsey.co.uk|access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref> The existing assembly rooms are said to be where Lord Palmerston first engaged in political debate in the early 1800s. The building housed a hotel and brasserie, which until 2019, was owned and operated by Silks Hotels.

===Sadler's Mill===
{{main|Sadler's Mill}}
[[File:Sadler's Mill 2005.jpg|thumb|[[Sadler's Mill]]]]
The existence of [[Sadler's Mill]], the only mill to be developed on the main course of the [[River Test]], is first recorded in the 16th century, when it functioned as a corn and grist mill. It was at one time owned by [[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]] and later the [[Broadlands]] estate before passing to various private owners. Milling ceased in 1932 and the building was left derelict for many years until its restoration in 2005. [[Radiocarbon dating|Carbon dating]] during this restoration placed the earlier structure in the mid-17th century. It is a Grade II listed building.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1231606|desc=Sadler's Mill, Romsey Extra |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref>

===The Plaza===
The Plaza, in Winchester Road, is a fully equipped 230-seat art deco style theatre, originally built as a cinema in the 1930s. It became a bingo hall until the 1980s. It was converted in 1984 and is now home to local amateur dramatics group, Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS), who stage between ten and fourteen productions each year and hire the venue out for other local productions, concerts, and functions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plazatheatre.com/index.php|title=Plaza Theatre|website=Plaza Theatre|access-date=10 September 2018}}</ref>

===Memorial Park===
The town's memorial park, which plays host to the annual Mayor's Picnic, contains a Japanese [[Type 96 15 cm howitzer]], one of two captured by the British and brought back to Romsey by [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Louis Mountbatten]]. One was donated to the town and the other retained on the grounds of his country estate, [[Broadlands]].

===Romsey signal box===
Built in 1865, the signal box controlled the freight and passenger trains running on the railway lines passing through Romsey until 1982. Rescued from demolition by Romsey and District Buildings Preservation Trust, it is now a working museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk/ |title=Romsey Signal Box |publisher=Friends of Romsey Signal Box}}</ref>

===Other places of interest===
<!-- Note to editors: this is an alphabetical list. -->
*[[Sir Harold Hillier Gardens]] – Gardens and arboretum
*[[Mottisfont Abbey]] – National Trust property with nationally renowned rose collection
*[[Paultons Park]] – Children's theme park