Bishops Sutton - A church, wild strawberries, butterflies and a steam train

On a summers afternoon, we went for a walk around Bishops Sutton, 11 miles away from home and never been there. Delightful church, set in stunning scenery. We found some wild strawberries and butterflies. Also just missed the steam train on the Watercress line
Bishops Sutton or Bishop's Sutton is a village and civil parish one mile (1.6 km) east of the market town of Alresford in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 419, increasing to 463 at the 2011 Census.
The parish of Bishops Sutton, has irregular shape and is an area of 3,739 acres (5.84 sq mi) with 9 acres (3.6 ha) of that being water. The village, which is at the centre of the parish, lies on low-ground (250 ft above sea level) compared to the surrounding area; it is by the head-waters of the River Alre. A long strip of land runs north-east between the parishes of Bighton and Ropley, rising to a height of 500 ft (152 m) along the downs to the north. South of the river the boundary extends to the high ground above Cheriton Wood and Bramdean Common.
Historically, Watercress cultivation formed a significant occupation in the area, due to its chalk geology and the calciferous River Alre allowing it to grow in the beds of Chalk streams. In 1865, the construction of the Mid Hants Railway, also known as the Watercress Line, meant fresh watercress could be delivered to London and further afield. Today, agriculture is still a major employer in the parish with southern areas being arable land for crops.
The main road in the village is the B3047 named Bishops Sutton Road this bears medium to low traffic into Alresford and has two side streets in the centre of the village, Church Lane and School Lane. The A31 bypasses the village to the south. The average commute to work for residents is 15.14 miles (24.36 km).
The villages is by or on (depending on which track was preferred) the Pilgrims' Way between Winchester and Canterbury, which can still be walked via the North Downs Way.
St Nicholas Church Bishop’s Sutton is a delightful simple Norman structure. Bishop’s Sutton is one of those Hampshire villages, carved by a busy road, that is easy to pass through without noticing the ancient building at its heart. The history of settlement at Bishop’s Sutton reaches back into the oldest history of England. The headwaters of the River Arle well up in its meadows, clear chalk filtered waters that still serve the community today.
#train #trains #butterfly #steamtrains #strawberry #wanderlust #village

[@JustAroundTheCornerUK]

What a lovely walk. Thanks for sharing.

[@walthamwayfarers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@srk8360]

Beautiful 💙💙💙💙👌👌

[@walthamwayfarers]

Thank you so much, beautiful area