Westfield Common Interpretation Board
Westfield Common
Winchester College, Hamble's Lord of the Manor, owned Westfield Common as tithe number 185 until it was sold at the end of 1929.
Sydney Lodge and its estate were sold in 1929 to Major Charles Goldman, a South African businessman, who also purchased Westfield Common from Winchester College for £1,500.
He unsuccessfully attempted to enclose the Common, and parishioners repeatedly removed the gate he placed across Coach Road at the entrance.
1936, British Marine Aircraft purchased the Sydney Lodge Estate, including Westfield Common and Hamble Cliff House, to build a flying boat factory.
Folland Aircraft took over at the end of 1937 and it subsequently became part of the Hawker Siddeley group.
In 1979, Eastleigh Borough Council bought Westfield Common from Hawker Siddeley and transferred it to Hamble Parish Council in 2010. The Parish Council had purchased the foreshore between the high and low water marks in 2003.
Westfield Common covers just over eight acres.
Water Source, 1783
For many centuries a natural water source at Westfield Common supplied vessels anchored offshore. Ships at Netley Roads filled their fresh water casks here, and it was also used by Southampton Pilot Ketches.
This spring became a well, known as Caddick Well. It was once regarded as a 'holy well' and bottles of its water were sent as far afield as Surrey for their medicinal quality. The well bore the inscription 'Let him that thirsteth drink this water' on surrounding stonework erected by the Yorke family.
Today water can still be seen running across the beach from this source.
Tithe Map, 1839
Showing Westfield Common, with the adjoining Hamble Cliff House and Sydney Lodge
Saluting Battery, 1897
Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke built a saluting battery on Westfield Common to salute ships arriving in the Roads. It contained six cannons he brought home from a captured Dutch frigate, the Alliance, in 1805. Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke drowned in 1831; a tablet in his memory was set in the parapet by his son, the fourth Earl Hardwicke, in 1871.
The battery was maintained until the late 1920s when the estate was sold and the guns taken to the family seat in Gloucester. Remains of its base can still be seen in the undergrowth.
Pill-Box, 1939 - 1945
During the Second World War a Pill-Box was built on Westfield Common, fenced off with barbed wire to protect the gun emplacements.
Southampton Water, 1960s
Over the centuries, vessels using Southampton Water have been viewed from Westfield Common. The Queen Elizabeth is shown passing in the 1960s.
Woodland
The woodland canopy comprises oak, beech and sycamore, with elm, holm oak, turkey oak and holly below. Ground level features meadow grass, bracken, gorse, butcher's broom and bluebells.
Fishing
The foreshore is popular for beach fishing. Flounder, Plaice and Eels are the main daytime catch, with occasional Bass and Mullet. Pouting and Sole are more common at night, and Smooth-Hound provide good fishing in June and July.
© Hamble-le-Rice Parish Council and pictures Ian Underdown
