Miscellaneous at RVCP

Alice in Wonderland

During 1966, the Royal Victoria Military Hospital was the location used for Jonathan Miller's - Alice in Wonderland. This BBC footage is the only remaining film of the entire building and ‘It was a vista which was about to vanish’, as it was demolished in the same year. The military hospitals quarter-mile corridors and grounds melded into the trippy, 1960s gothic version of Lewis Carroll’s weird Victorian fantasy and broadcast in the Centenary year of the publication. DVD from BFI – BFIVD519-VFC41733.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alice-Wonderland-DVD-Anne-Marie-allik/dp/B00008WQ58/ref=cm_lmf_img_19_rsrsrs0

Coin Hoard

A hoard of third-century coins were found here in 1867 during excavations at Netley Hospital. The find is now in the Hartley Museum.

Adjacent to the RVCP

Netley Woods (St. Mary’s Road & Gashouse Lane).

Small areas of woodland which once formed part of the entrance to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, but well worth visiting. The Royal Victoria Country Park is now only accessible from Hound Road (north entrance) and Victoria Road (shore road) entrances.

Sophie's Pond, Victoria Road. Near the south gate entrance – Southampton Lodge.

A delightful and popular nature reserve, which is home to a charming duck pond. Sophie’s Pond is indeed a good place for people to get close to nature and also hopefully inspire many young people to develop a lifelong interest un the natural world. Species that can be observed throughout the year: Canada Geese, Muscovy duck, Moorhens, Coots, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Nar Headed Goose, Grey Lag, Barnacle Geese, Cormorant, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Herring Gulls, Prochard and more.

This freshwater pond is fed from water draining through Spear Pond Gully from The Bunney stream and reservoir built at Hound Grove, Butlocks Heath - Circa: 1870. It was dug to ensure a continual supply of water to the new Royal Victoria Hospital for ablution use. It is now known as the Butlocks Heath reservoir, which is privately owned by Castle Angling Club.

The Hard, Victoria Road. Opposite Sophie's Pond.

This area is particularly popular with visitors and has been improved with work to the parking area, viewing platform, steps and now includes street furniture. An ideal place to park with excellent views across the Southampton Water. Take time out to relax and watch the world go by or take part in the tradition of 'feeding the ducks', brown bread please.