Hartley Mauditt
On this walk children will enjoy the duck pond and tales of the abandoned village, as well as a possible extension to a lavender field.
The duck pond and the church are all that remain of the village
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 2.3 km
Terrain: Farm tracks and fields, all level but muddy in winter. Very short section on very quiet country lane.
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: A two minute’s drive from the start point is Selborne’s Lavender Fields with a small coffee shop which is open all year. It is possible to walk across the footpath from the church, but we did not try this as would involve crossing a busy road with the children
Toilets: None
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location
Parking: Small, free parking area near church (Postcode: GU34 3BL - W3W: campus/fragment/acted)
St. Leonard’s is a church without a village
‘The abandoned medieval village of Hartley Mauditt’ is how this place is mysteriously described on the ordinance survey map. As the description suggests, there is not much left of the village other than the 12th century church, a pond and some delightful countryside to explore.
The Route
Stand in the parking area with St. Leonard’s Church behind you and the pond to your right, and you will see a footpath leading up a stony farm track. Go around the barrier and follow the track until it forks with the left side going into a field and the right into a small copse of trees. Take the right path.
After the trees, the path will open up into a field. Veer left and walk up the left hand side of the field. About halfway up the field, a path will appear to your left and go into a wilding area of tree plantation and wildlife habitat. Follow the path (muddy in winter) through this section until it veers to the right and brings you back out into the field again.
Continue straight and cross the top section of the field with the hedge to your left. There are some lovely views behind the trees here, best viewed in winter when leaves aren’t bocking it. Walk to the opposite corner of the field, where there is a finger post. One path leads out of the field, and one heads to the right along the net edge of the field. Take this one and follow the edge of the field, parallel to the road, back towards the church.
When you have almost reached the point where you first entered this field, you should look for a path that goes through the trees and exits the field to your left. You will emerge back on the lane.
Turn right and you will see the pond and church. It is possible to do a circuit of the pond, which will take only about five minutes.
If you want to walk to Selborne Lavender to use the coffee shop, either of the footpaths that lead south-east from the church will go down to Selborne Road, where you will need to cross the road to reach Hartley Business Park. One footpath is to the left of the graveyard and the other is the opposite side of the church.
Did you know?
Just the church and a few scattered houses and farms are remaining of the medieval village of Hartley Mauditt. It’s decline began in 1798 with the demolition of the manor house by Lord Stowell, who was rumoured to have removed the house to prevent his wife from living there rather than the city, which he preferred. With the demise of the manor, the rest of the village was slowly abandoned. There are rumours that the wooded-over cellar of the manor is still present, with a secret tunnel linking it to Selborne Priory. And there are rumours too of ghostly sightings in the road and haunting music coming from the often empty church…
