"This book offers a personal view of the New Forest which stems from the author's many years of residence and research activities within the Forest. This has provided him with a deep appreciation of its unique rural charm and rich history." "This book describes many of the most interesting places in the Forest and relates their historical background. The narrative starts with a brief history of the area before and after the Norman period. There follows a description of notable inhabitants of the Forest followed by a tour of the author's favourite places such as Lyndhurst, the so-called capital of the Forest; the charm of Minstead and its unique church; Burley, the home of witches and smugglers; the extravagant Rhinefield House; old Brockenhurst and its Church; New Park, the site of many escapades by Charles II; the glory that was Christchurch Abbey; Hurst Castle and its links to the unfortunate Charles I; Lymington, the ancient port of the Forest; the story of the ghost who designed Sway Tower; Boldre and its beautiful Church; Beaulieu Abbey and how it was before its destruction; the ancient shipyards at Buckler's Hard; and finally Ashurst Lodger, once the residence of the surveyor of the New Forest and now the home of the Wessex Institute of Technology."--BOOK JACKET.
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