West Tytherley: St Peter

West Tytherley is an ancient rural village which has been an important settlement within a single land-holding, dating back to medieval times, but more recently defined as the Norman Court Estate. The population is 600.

The self-supporting small rural community, distant from towns, was linked by droves, byways, and navigable waterways.  Today, the road infrastructure connecting the villages and surrounding areas consists of unclassified, unnumbered roads with limited capacity.  Dean railway station, located in the neighbouring village of West Dean, provides a regular local service between Salisbury, Romsey, Southampton Central, Southampton Airport (Parkway), and Chandlers Ford.  Almost 50% of the neighbourhood area is agricultural land and approximately 30% (800 ha) consists of protected woodland.  Social amenities include a CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, a parish church, a village hall, a recreation ground, a village shop, and a pub.

St Peter’s Church, sits on a hill giving commanding views of the beautiful surrounding countryside.  West Tytherley is a true village community where many people come to the church for community events – as well as Church Services.  The Primary School are regular visitors to St Peter’s. The Church has the Oldest Bell in the World (for full circle ringing) – recently restored to working order, and the churchyard is the resting place of several commonwealth soldiers, supported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who work to preserve the legacy of the commonwealth’s war dead.  A team of volunteers maintain the graveyard and the surrounds which are a source of pride in the village.  Offering a mixture of modern and traditional services, West Tytherley Church is a great place for all with a small refreshment corner inside for visitors.

Directly opposite St Peter’s is the old graveyard and the site of the original church which was built just after 1100 but demolished in 1831, as the Lord of the Manor at the time deemed it not fine enough for the Rector and Patron.