Wednesday, 29 March 2023
We are planning a visit to Broadlands, at Romsey, Hampshire, the home of Lord and Lady Mountbatten who were memorably involved in the Partition of British India in August 1947, creating the independent states of India and Pakistan. The house also has associations with Lord Brabourne, Governor of Bombay and Bengal, and briefly Viceroy, whose son married Patricia, daughter of Lord and Lady Mountbatten, and later second Countess Mountbatten.
The party will meet first for lunch at 12 pm on Wednesday 29 March at The Bear and Ragged Staff, in Michelmersh north of Romsey. A two course set menu with choice is available for £22.95 per person, payable individually, with drinks and coffee extra.
At 2 pm we will meet at Broadlands. From the car park, where portaloos are available (but no other facilities in the house), there is a short walk to the house where a brief introductory talk will be given outside, focusing on the family’s connections with India. We will then split into two groups for a tour of the ground floor of the house, with features relating to India being given special attention. There will be a ten minute gap between the two groups, which can be spent in the grounds. Afterwards we will walk to the river, from where there is a lovely view of the main façade of the house.
Following the tour, local BACSA member Sarah Saunders-Davies has generously invited us to tea at her home, where the beautiful garden borders the River Test. The garden has participated in the National Garden Scheme, and there is a trout farm in the grounds.
The cost of the event is £15 per person, which includes a small donation to BACSA.
Booking
Numbers are limited to 24, and subject to the availability of transport for those arriving by train at Winchester station (for train times, see below under Transport). If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible to the Events Officer, Rosemary Raza, rrraza@hotmail.com, and by Friday 24 February at the latest. Please include a response to the following questions:
- Will you take a train to Winchester, or do you plan to drive from London or elsewhere?
- If you drive, would you be willing to offer transport to other BACSA members, with shared expenses? This could be from London, or elsewhere, or transporting members to and from Winchester station. We will have to see what the response is and keep our options open. At the moment, local and other BACSA members have already offered transport for 11 BACSA participants to and from Winchester.
After contacting Rosemary Raza, you can then book and pay online, or send a cheque for £15 per person payable to ‘BACSA’ to Rosemary Raza, 27 Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3RU. Bank transfers can be made to Lloyds Bank 30-96-88, Acc no 00119149, Acc name BACSA. For identification, please add your surname and Broadlands. If you have any queries, please email Rosemary, or telephone her on 0207 736 4842.
Transport
If you propose to drive, the best route from London is the M3/A303/A30 and A3057 to Romsey. The Bear and Ragged Staff is at Michelmersh (post code SO51 0LB), after Kings Somborne, on the left hand side of the A3057 (heading south) and opposite the road signed to Kimbridge. The postcode for the main entrance to Broadlands is SO51 8GG. Sarah Saunders-Davies’ address is The Island, Greatbridge, Romsey SO51 0HP. There is parking at The Bear and Ragged Staff, and at Sarah Saunders-Davies house.
By rail, there is a train leaving Waterloo at 10.05, arriving at Winchester at 11.04. A return train, after tea with Sarah Saunders-Davies, leaves at 17.48, arriving at Waterloo at 18.49. The return fare with a Senior Railcard is about £12.