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BROOK
MEADOW, EMSWORTH (Grid
Ref: SU751060)
BROOK
MEADOW
Documents
show that Brook Meadow has been a water meadow since the
middle of the 19th century. It is full of flowers, birds
and other wildlife and has been officially designated as
a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation in
recognition of its ecological value. The site was
purchased by Havant Borough Council in 1990, but was
neglected and, as a result, became badly overgrown with
rank vegetation which was progressively destroying its
wildlife value. The Brook Meadow Conservation Group was
formed to help protect and conserve the natural value of
the area.
Wildlife surveys have recorded a wide variety of plants
and animals, including the highly endangered Water Vole
which has its burrows along the river banks. The Brook
Meadow Conservation Group adopted the Water Vole as its
emblem. Many species of bird breed around the meadow,
including Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Blackcap and
Chiffchaff. There are butterflies to enjoy in summer and
over 300 different wildflowers, grasses, trees, sedges
and mosses. About 100 mature Crack Willows line the banks
of the River Ems.
HOW
TO GET TO EMSWORTH
Emsworth
is a small town just off the A27 between Portsmouth and
Chichester. To get to Emsworth by car take the A259 exit
from the A27 east of Havant signposted Emsworth. Follow
the A259 for about 1 mile into the town centre and turn
right at the roundabout for the square and harbour.
Emsworth is on the main railway line between Portsmouth
and Chichester. The railway station is about half a mile
north of the main town. Emsworth also has a regular bus
service from both these cities (Bus 700).
Originally
famous for its oysters and fishing, Emsworth is now
mainly a holiday and sailing resort.
Most visitors to Emsworth will want to walk round the
millpond. The picture below is taken from the Promenade
on a rather windy day in October 2002, looking towards
the quay with the Millpond on the left and the harbour on
the right. The large brown building on the left of the
picture is the Slipper Mill, now restored by Emsworth's
Slipper Sailing Club.
HOW
TO GET TO BROOK MEADOW
Brook
Meadow is situated on the eastern side of Emsworth. Look
for the prominent gasholder and Brook Meadow is right
behind it. From east to west it extends from the
industrial units in Palmer's Road to the gardens of the
cottages in Lumley Road; from north to south it extends
from the railway line to the A259. Its dimensions are
approximately 400 metres by 250 metres, or approximately
5 acres. The nearest car parks are Bridge Road (free!)
and Palmer's Road Car Park behind Tesco Express in North
Street (Pay and Display).
The above
sketch map shows the three entrances to the meadow marked
with Xs.
The
North Gate is at the bottom of Seagull Lane, a
turning off North Street just south of the railway
bridge. Go through a walkover stile and over the wooden
bridge which spans the River Ems into the main meadow.
Note: there is no parking down Seagull Lane.
The
Lumley Gate is accessed from Lumley Road. Turn left
along the public footpath opposite The Rookery and over
the small bridge, then right though the small gate to the
left of wooden 5-barred gate. Alternatively, you can walk
up the footpath along the western side of Peter Pond and
after passing Gooseberry Cottage, turn left into the
meadow.
The
South Gate is accessed from Palmer's Road Car Park.
In the north eastern corner of the car park, next to the
recycling bins, is the start of a riverside path which
goes through Palmer's Road Copse. Walk through the copse
with the River Ems on your left for about 100 yards. Then
turn left over the wooden bridge and then left again
through a wooden entrance gate into the southern part of
Brook Meadow.
DETAILED
MAP OF BROOK MEADOW
Here is a
more detailed map of Brook Meadow and its immediate
environment. The Brook Meadow site is coloured green.
Roads and paths are red and the river, millstream and
millpond blue. The railway runs across the top of the map
and the A259 road through Emsworth along the bottom. The
gasholder (D) and the industrial complex is on the left
and Lumley Road on the right.
Access
points . .A - Seagull Lane . . . B - Lumley gate . .
. C - South gate
Other
features . . . D - Gasholder . . . E - Lumley Road
Copse . . . F - Palmer's Road Copse . . . G -Palmer's
Road Car Park.
A
BRIEF HISTORY OF BROOK MEADOW
The
meadow has been owned by Havant Borough Council since
July 1990 when it was purchased from the Mitchell family
who used to reside in "Constant Springs", the large house
on the north side of the railway through which the River
Ems runs before it goes into Brook Meadow.
The meadow gets its name from a Brook Farm which was
located on the east side of North Street in the middle of
the last century, roughly opposite to where St James Road
now enters North Street.
The 1838
Tithe Map and Schedule (Warblington, Ref F7/243/1-2)
indicates that Brook Farm had pastures and orchards down
to the river, all of which are now built over. The area
on the other side of the river, i.e. our Brook Meadow,
was described in the schedules as "water meadows", which
presumably means they were regularly flooded from the
river.
Below Brook Farm the 1838 map shows the river flowed into
a millpond. This was presumably created to provide a head
of water for Emsworth Flour Mills at the bottom of Queen
Street. Although there is no longer a millpond at this
point it must have a very long history in view of the
fact (as indicated by David Rudkin in his book "The River
Ems") that there had been a mill here at least as far
back as the Doomsday Book of 1086.
