Romsey is a small market town on the river Test in the south of Hampshire, 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles south of Winchester.
Romsey grew up around the Abbey, after nuns founded a community in what was a tiny village. Over the centuries, Romsey has prospered from the woollen and tanning industries until the 18th century when new enterprises in the north took over. New enterprises filled the gaps and brewing, papermaking and sackmaking grew up. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Romsey was famous for making collapsible boats which were used as lifeboats on the ocean going liners. Watermills have also been part of Romsey’s heritage, milling corn from as early as the 16th century. Sadler’s Mill is probably the best known of the surviving mills and is the only mill developed on the river Test.
Living in Romsey you are well situated for access to many parts of our diverse county. The coast is only a few miles away for those who like to take advantage of the sailing, beaches and other watersport activities. The New Forest is a few miles to the west with fantastic wildlife and nature walks, and the larger cities of Winchester and Southampton a few miles away offering many great restaurants, theatres and shopping.
Romsey is within easy reach of the M27 and M3 motorways providing fast links to the coast, London and the North for those who need to commute, and there is a shuttle to Winchester station for a fast train link to Waterloo.
The town has a variety of leisure activities for people to enjoy. It is known for its fly fishing on the Test, specifically trout fishing. There is a sports centre and swimming pool, the Romsey Rapids. There are numerous sports clubs, and a thriving Amateur Dramatic Society which has its own theatre and puts on about 10 productions a year. This theatre used to be a cinema in the 1930’s and is also home to many other concerts and functions.
Around the Romsey area are many other attractions such as Broadlands stately home, Romsey Abbey, King Johns House and PaultonsPark. The town has a wide variety of shops from independent outlets to high street chain stores, and a good choice of places to eat from pizza restaurants, pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes.
Romsey also has a number of community events throughout the year. The Mayors Picnic takes place in early summer with music, stalls and a duck race. The Beggars Fair is held in July, a free festival of all types of music, dance and other street entertainment. Also in July is the summer carnival plus a winter carnival for the switching on of the Christmas lights.
The Romsey Arts Festival takes place every 3 years, and the Romsey Show, probably the best known event, is held at Broadlands every September.
For more information go to http://www.romseynet.org.uk/index.html