Greatham
Greatham (which is pronounced “Grettam“) is a small village just off the A3 about 6 miles north of Petersfield. At the north end of the village is Longmoor Camp, where remains of the Longmoor Military Railway can be seen.
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Greteham, and later appears in written sources as Grietham in 1167 and as Grutam in 1236. The manor of Greatham was held by Queen Edith in the time of Edward the Confessor, but at the Domesday Survey (1086) it belonged to William the Conqueror.
In the 1940s Le Court House in Greatham was bought by Group-Captain Leonard Cheshire, who in 1948 began to take in people suffering from incurable diseases. Le Court became the first home in a worldwide network of hospices for the incurably sick, now known as the Cheshire Homes.
Towards the south end of the village is the Old Church, which dates back to the 13th century. The only remaining part of this church is the chancel. The present church, the Church of St. John the Baptist, was built in 1875, and lies opposite the Old Church.
Next to the Old Church is a manor house, which is occupied by the L’Abri Fellowship, a Christian group.
Greatham village website (opens in new window)
