Compton and Shawford
Compton and Shawford is a parish in the
City of Winchester,
Hampshire,
England. The word
compton means
village in a combe and aptly describes the settlement as it primarily consists of a long street on the side of a chalk valley.
All Saints church in Compton is unusual in that it has two naves and two chancels, the original
Norman constructions being supplemented by a new nave and chancel in
1905.
Shawford is notable for having the longest railway
viaduct in
Hampshire. This is over 2000 feet in length and 40 feet high. The viaduct was initially threatened with demolition when the
M3 motorway was proposed but after much protest it was incorporated into the scheme.
The two halves of the parish are linked by Shawford Down which runs alongside the
River Itchen. However they are now symbolically separated by the motorway with Compton on its west side and Shawford on its east.
Shawford is served by a railway station on the
South Western Main Line.
*
Otterbourne* Shawford was the location used for Victor Meldrew's death in
One Foot in the Grave.
*
Compton and Shawford
