Owslebury

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Owslebury is a small village in the county of Hampshire, in the South of England approximately 5 miles outside of Winchester. It lies within the administrative district of the City of Winchester.

The village lies at the top of a hill, close to one of the roads of Roman origin radiating out to the South East of Winchester (as can be seen on Ordnance Survey maps of area). Close by lies the area (at times referred to by residents, of which this contributor used to be one, as the hamlet) of Marwell, widely known for Marwell Zoological Park. Owslebury also lies on the Pilgrims' Trail from Winchester to Mont St Michel.

Owslebury can be found referenced in several books, and has at least two titles concerning the village specifically (Owslebury Then and Now by Evelyn Houghton & Barbara Large, and Owslebury Bottom by Peter Hewett). Several archeological projects have been undertaken in the neighbourhood, including excavations at suspected Iron Age sites (Excavations at Owslebury, Hants: 1st Interim Report, Antiquaries Journal, J.R. Collis).

The village is relatively geographically concentrated along the road that runs through the village (see Ordnance Survey maps of area). It has a public house and cricket ground that has probably been in use for 150 years [1], an infrequent bus service, a local school, church (St Andrews Church) and village hall. At various times there have been several small shops in the village - There is no shop at this time, 15th September 2006 Information in this article on observed physical features has been contributed by a former resident. Further information can be found at [2] (sic), although sources for the information there are not clear. ŀ