NETLEY ABBEY MATTERS!

Netley Abbey Matters
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At one end, 

Ruins of a 13th century Cistercian Abbey; at the other, a Military Cemetery


tucked in the middle -

a Victorian Village and the ghosts of its former

Military Hospital! 

Welcome to the Past Lives and Times of


NETLEY VILLAGE and HOSPITAL

Let the memories live on!


Here's the Search Box.  As it's free, it will give you results for other sites as well as this one, sorry!

Before you get to the really interesting stuff ... some "housekeeping/need-to-know" blurb!


Please note that I am an independent researcher with no direct connection to any of the Local History Societies or the Royal Chapel Team at the Royal Victoria Country Park.


The contents and design of this website have been researched and created by me,

including finding the sources stated and as such are subject to copyright

If you want to share my research elsewhere, you must ask for my permission first and be happy to

credit this website as one of your sources.


The majority of the newspaper articles are courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive/FMP.

Sources are in black print, underlined, beneath the relevant article


If a word or phrase is in this colour, you should be able to click on it and it

will open on a new tab and let you return to the previous one when you're ready!



Shared Hospital Stories

I am in the midst of transferring these stories from this website to an A4 soft-cover book

which is due to be published about the middle of April 2024.

As I would, for obvious reasons, prefer that folk bought the book, the Shared Stories are

no longer available to look at on this website, without a password.

Only folk who have contributed to the Shared Hospital Stories can request the password

from me but even this will be withdrawn sometime on Monday 18 March 2024.


My book's title is "Unforgotten Lives at Netley Hospital".

It will contain the majority of the Shared Hospital Stories which were on this website

plus other stories taken from our Netley Military Hospital Names' database.

There's currently about 135 pages!


It will retail at £12.99 (plus P+P where applicable) and can be ordered directly from me.

I'm also hoping that it will be listed on Apple Books to help my overseas sources buy their copy!

All profits will be donated to Alzheimer's Research UK.


I will set up a pre-order form on on this website as soon as I have the front cover sorted!


If you live locally to Netley Abbey, Hound Local History Society is holding a Book Signing event

at their History Room at Netley Train Station on Saturday 27 April from 1030h - 1230h.

Past Lives and Times of Netley Village and Hospital

To give more space back to Netley Village, I've given the Hospital its own page again.

Please see Netley Military Hospital Names for the latest info on the Hospital

Victoria Road, Netley Abbey

The Prince Consort Hotel

Some stories along the Timeline of the Pub/Inn 1843 - 1939

Prince Consort Hotel story

Built about 1843 on behalf of Mr Robert Beck, formerly a Bookseller and Stationer in

Fleet Street, London, as the “Army + Navy Hotel”, it changed its name when Queen Victoria

and her husband, Prince Albert came to Netley to lay the foundation stone of the

Royal Victoria Military Hospital in 1863.


During this visit, the Royal couple stayed at Netley Cliff House which was situated opposite the Pub.

The Prince Consort Inn/Hotel has over the years played a central role in the Village of Netley Abbey.

License Application for Prince Consort Pub

The newspaper added a later article confirming that the License application had been successful.


“Morris and Bruce are favoured with instructions from the Executors of the late James Budden Esq to sell by auction at the Prince Consort Hotel on 11/04/1866 - a compact and desirable property consisting of five recently erected eight-roomed Dwelling Houses …”

Hampshire Chronicle 07/04/1866 



Annual dinner of Royal Victoria Lodge MU at Prince Consort  Hotel in 1880

“A meeting was held at the Prince Consort Inn on Tuesday 27/10/1903 for the purpose of forming

a chess club for Netley Abbey and District. Matches and tournaments will be arranged and

the club will have the use of a separate room.”

Hampshire Advertiser 31/10/1903


Click here to read about other clubs and activities which took place in the Village in years gone by



“A large muster of Licensed holders met at the Central Club Rooms on Tuesday, 24/10/1933 to partake in 'ye ancient game of bungs'. Representatives from the Sun Inn, Manor, Roll Call, Prince Consort, Netley Victoria and Central Clubs attended, the party numbering about 100 keen enthusiasts.

Some excellent throwing was seen.  


The knock out competition was brought about through the hard working Secretary, Mr H Dowe

and was done to try to revive the old Bung League.” 

Hampshire Telegraph 27/10/1933


Mr Percy B Ingoldby (Southampton County Coroner), assisted by a jury, opened the inquest at the Prince Consort Inn on two accident victims on Monday 24/04/1939.


The accident took place on the main Southampton - Portsmouth road at Bursledon on 22/04/1939.

The victims were Alice Mary Morris, aged 26 and Stanley Hayward, 30.

Their bodies were removed by the police to the mortuary at the Prince Consort Inn. 

Western Gazette 28/04/1939

Past Proprietors of the Prince Consort Hotel -


Robert Beck: 1843 - 1861;

George Harding: 1871 - 1889;

Amelie Dadart: 1889 - 1895;

H S Hallett: 1907 - 1925

Albert Edward Knight: 1931 - 1946

William George Spencer: 1954


If you can fill in the gaps or bring it up to date, please let me know via Contact Me.

Alexandra Cafe on Station Road Netley

This postcard was addressed to -

Miss Eileen Capon

"Avondale"

Waverley Avenue

Netley Abbey


 - from her Dad

Postcard sent to Waverley Avenue, Netley

There is sadly no date on it but we know

that the Capon Family lived at 1 Avondale Villas between 1920 - 1940. 

Text of postcard sent to Waverley Avenue Netley

The 1921 Census shows -

Sergeant Frederick Marshall Capon, Service No 19939, RAMC, born 1887 in Camberwell, London;

his wife Annie, nee Deacon, born 1883; Daughters Eileen Patricia, born 1912 and Elfreda Pamela

born 1919; both in Hound.

Lankester + Crook opened their Cafe on the ground floor of the Oddfellows Hall

on the corner of New Road and Station Road.

Village Matches and Despatches in March!

 I've struggled, in vain - again, to find any Hatches for March.


The wedding took place at Southampton on Tuesday 31 March 1931 of Miss Winifred Mabbett,

only daughter of Mr E J Mabbett, the “Crown and Cushion”, Victoria Road, Netley Abbey and

Mr H Lowe, only son of Mrs Harrop, Victoria Road, Woolston.

Hampshire Telegraph 03/04/1931


On Saturday last, at St Edward’s Church, Netley Abbey, the marriage took place of Miss Hilda Florence Armitage, only daughter of Mr + Mrs Sidney Armitage, the Sea View, Abbey Hill, Netley Abbey and

Mr Robert George Hodder, Woodside, Butlocks Heath, Netley Abbey.

The bridegroom’s brother-in-law, Mr Godfrey Stride, was Best Man.

The bride’s friend, Miss Yvonne Dianna Espezel was the Bridesmaid.

Hampshire Telegraph 26/03/1935



"The funeral of Mr Walter Amos Earwicker, a native of Portsmouth, took place at St Mary Churchyard, Hound on Thursday. The deceased was ill only a short time and died after an operation in the

RSH Hospital aged 52. 


He was a teacher at Butlock’s Heath Council School for over 20 years and was most respected. He was a sidesman and a Sunday School teacher at St Edward’s Church. He leaves a widow and a daughter.”

Hampshire Telegraph 26/03/1926


“Mercury’s Head Master’s Death”

Mr P E Newman, who had been Head Master on the training ship “Mercury” for many years, died suddenly on Friday, 23rd, in tragic circumstances. He attended to his duties as usual during the day and boarded the 6.05 pm bus from Hamble. Shortly afterwards he was seen to collapse. The conductor and passengers rendered what assistance they could and the bus was hurried to Dr Butler’s surgery at Netley. The Doctor, however, was out and Sergeant Woodsford was called. The deceased gentleman was removed to the Scouts’ Drill Hall, Netley where artificial respiration was applied, but without success. Valuable assistance was remedied by Mr S B Williams of Hamble. Mr Newman was later seen by Dr Butler who pronounced life extinct. Mr Newman had been attended for some time by Dr Hopper of Bitterne Park for heart disease.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 30/03/1928


“Much sympathy is felt for the relations of Mr Harry Edgar Sutton of 17, Butlock’s Heath, Netley Abbey

who passed away after a short illness on Wednesday, 13 March.  


He was employed at the Shell-Mex in Hamble where he was much respected by his fellow workmen.

He was 43 years of age and leaves a widow and an 8 year old daughter.


The funeral took place on Saturday morning at St Mary’s Hound Churchyard, the Rev W Henty Summers officiating. The chief mourners were the widow, his brother Mr Fred Sutton, his parents and

workmen from Shell-Mex.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 22/03/1929


“An old and respected resident of Netley in the person of Mrs Louisa Lover, in her 71st year,

passed away on Saturday 14th at the Southampton Hospital. She had been ill for some time at her residence in Waverley Avenue, Netley Abbey, previous to going into hospital.

Her husband pre-deceased her over 7 years ago.  


Mrs Lover was well known as she kept the Tea Rooms near Netley Station for some years.

The funeral took place at St Mary’s Hound on Tuesday morning, the Rev W Henty Summers officiating. There were many floral tributes.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post, 20/03/1931


“The funeral of Mr West, RN, (retired), 79, of Briarleigh, Victoria Road, Netley Abbey took place at

St Mary’s Hound Churchyard last week. The deceased was an old and respected resident of Netley

having lived there since his retirement. He leaves a widow and 2 daughters.

His only son was drowned during the Great War, he being one of the Officers on the ‘Asturias’.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 11/03/1932


“The death of Mrs Constance Carr, wife of Major-General Howard Carr, CB, took place in a nursing home in Southampton on March 25. The funeral took place at the Southampton Crematorium on Saturday. Until recently Major-General Carr resided at Thymira, Abbey Hill, Netley Abbey.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 03/04/1936


Much sympathy is expressed towards Mr + Mrs H Bowyer, Victoria Road, Netley Abbey in the loss of

their 2 year old child, Brenda who passed away at the Isolation Hospital on Saturday, 21/03/1936.

The funeral took place at Hound on 25/03/1936.

Hampshire Telegraph 27/03/1936


“Mr H Lowe, Sorrento, Station Road, Netley Abbey passed away at his residence on Sunday evening, 14/03/1937 rather suddenly although he had been an invalid for some time. Mr Lowe was a well-known and respected resident, having lived in the village for 40 years. He was in his 79th year.

He leaves a grown up family of 2 sons and 2 daughters. His wife pre-deceased him 2 years ago.” 

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 19/03/1937


“The funeral of Mr John Robertson took place at St Mary’s Churchyard Hound on 11/03/1937.

The chief mourners the widow, Mr A Robertson, brother, Mrs W Robertson, sister-in-law,

Mr Brann (father-in-law), Mrs Corbett (sister-in-law), Mr + Mrs Barnes (brother + sister-in-law),

Mr Fielding (brother-in-law), Messrs L + V Kitcher (cousins).


Floral tributes included one from the Watch Department of the Cunard White Star Line and

members of the Netley Workmen’s Club. Mr Robertson was a naval pensioner and for many years was a master-at-arms in the service of the Cunard White Star Line.

He was 54 years of age.”

Hampshire Telegraph + Post 19/03/1937


The son of Mr and Mrs Lawrence of Station Road, Netley Abbey, died at the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital after a short illness.

Hampshire Telegraph 19/03/1937


The cremation took place on Wednesday of Mrs Florence Catherine Gape of Waverley, Station Road,

Netley Abbey whose death took place on Saturday.

Hampshire Telegraph 10/03/1939


"On 12/03/1941 0130h, 5 bombs dropped in village, one demolished “The Hermitage” killing Mrs Pyke, 84. Her remains were interred on Friday 14/03/1941 at the Roman Catholic Burial Place, Bursledon, Father Haines conducting the service. The family mourners were Mrs Ensell and Mrs V Hammick (daughters), Major Pyke (son), The Rev C Ensell (son-in-law). 


Mrs Pyke was a well-known figure in the village and often visited those in need, giving cheery words and helpful comfort."

Hampshire Telegraph 21/03/1941


The funeral of Mr Walter James Castleman, 4 Wilton Terrace, Netley took place at St Mary’s Churchyard, Hound on Tuesday 18/03/1941. The family mourners were - the Widow, his son Mr Arthur Castleman,

Mrs Benham and Mrs Hedley, his daughters, Mr Billy Hedley (son-in-law); Mrs Gatrell, his mother.


Mr Castleman was 52 years of age when he passed away at The Mount, Bishopstoke on Saturday after a short illness. He was a very respected and well known resident in the village where he had lived all his life.

Hampshire Telegraph 21/03/1941

Red Lion Hotel Victoria Road Netley
Hartfield Cottages Grange Road Netley

Built in 1892 when Grange Road was Grange Lane!

Past Residents include -

1892 - 1927 Joseph Samuel Sellwood, his wife Caroline and Family

(Joseph was a Gardener to the Pennington Family at the Lake House)


1921 - 1940 Walter Amos Earwicker, his wife Louise and Family

(Walter was a School Teacher at Butlock Heath County School)

Netley Castle becoming Convalescent Home

Click on Netley Castle to read more about this fantastic building and its history!

Netley Abbey Ruins 2017 photo
Victoria Road Netley Abbey Photo
Photo Red Cross Hutted Hospital Netley 1915

From Cistercian Abbey Ruins at one end, through Netley Abbey Village to the Royal Victoria Hospital ... 

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