Four Marks
Four Marks is a small parish 220 metres above sea level, which makes it, along with the neighbouring village of Medstead, the highest settlement in East Hampshire. It was created in 1932 from parts of the six parishes of Medstead, Ropley, Chawton, East Tisted, Newton Vallence and Farringdon.
The height of the village has seen Four Marks chosen as the site for a number of interesting initiatives. Telegraph Lane was used by the Admiralty as the location for one of it’s chain of Semaphore Stations on the uncompleted line of communication between London and Plymouth during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Four Marks was also chosen by the Ordnance Survey as a site for a triangulation point. The village also took part in a chain of beacons to commemorate the anniversary of the Armada and HM the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The Watercress Railway line, formerly the London and Southampton Railway was a very busy line with passengers and freight. It was opened in 1868 as Medstead Station and closed in 1973. Medstead and Four Marks Station was re-opened in 1983, and the Watercress Line now runs steam locomotives from Alresford to Alton as a very popular tourist attraction.
Four Marks Parish Council website (opens in a new window)
