Royal Victoria Country Park facts for kids
The Royal Victoria Country Park is a fun place to visit in Netley, Hampshire, England. It sits right by the water, next to Southampton Water. This big park covers about 200 acres (81 hectares). It has lots of old trees, open grassy areas, and even a small beach with pebbles.
For many years, from 1863 to 1966, this land was home to a very important hospital called the Royal Victoria Hospital. After the hospital closed, Hampshire County Council bought the land in 1969. They then opened it as a public park in 1970 for everyone to enjoy.
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Exploring the Park's History
The Old Hospital Chapel
The main building from the old hospital that is still standing today is its chapel. This chapel is now a special heritage centre. You can learn all about the history of the Royal Victoria Hospital here.
The chapel also has a tall viewing tower, about 150 feet (46 meters) high. From the top, you get amazing views of the park. You can see across Southampton Water to Hythe. On a clear day, you might even see as far as Southampton city itself!
The Park Office and Tearooms
The park has a handy office and tearooms where you can get a snack. The building for these was built in 1940. It's special because it used 100 different types of timber from all over the UK and the old British Empire. The YMCA originally built it. It was a place for hospital staff and patients to relax and have fun.
Fun Activities at the Park
Riding the Miniature Railway
One of the most exciting things to do at the park is ride the Royal Victoria Railway. This is a miniature narrow-gauge railway. It takes you on a fun ride for about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) around the park. It's a great way to see the sights!
Discovering Nature
The park is a wonderful home for many different plants and animals. You can spot various types of animals and plants as you explore. It's a great place for nature lovers to visit.
Getting to the Park
You can easily reach the park by walking from Netley Station. There's a footpath that leads right to it. If you're coming by car, there's plenty of parking available on site.
The Netley Military Cemetery
Behind where the hospital used to be, there is a military cemetery. This cemetery was mainly for patients who died at the hospital. You can visit it by following a private footpath. A key for the gate can be picked up from the shop near the tearooms.
Many brave soldiers are buried here. This includes 636 Commonwealth service members who died in the First World War. Also, 35 from the Second World War are buried here. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after their graves. They also care for the graves of 69 German and 12 Belgian soldiers from the First World War, and one Polish soldier from the Second World War.
Southampton Water and Big Ships
Southampton Water is a very busy waterway. You'll often see huge container ships and giant cruise liners sailing by. Famous ships, like the Queen Mary 2, use the port at Southampton as their home base. Watching these massive ships pass by is quite a sight!
Restoring the Chapel
In 2014, some exciting news was shared. The park received a grant of £102,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money was used to help restore the old chapel. It also helped to uncover more interesting details about the former hospital.
