Along the main road between Beaulieu and Lymington, lies the well known beauty spot of Hatchet Pond. This serene stretch of water reflects pine trees and is often marbled at sunset with pink, gold and the blood-red of a dying day.

When tired of idling here, take the turning sign-posted ‘East Boldre’. The village, about 12 miles south of Southampton, is a long straggling one – a rural ribbon development, and the road leads’ eventually to East End, South Baddesley and the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry. Most of the houses are built on the left hand side of the lane, with open forest and grazing animals on the right.

Further on is the old schoolhouse and the village school which are situated on the right, between clumps of pines trees. The school was built in 1842, on four and a half acres of land presented by the young Queen Victoria, together with money from the Crown and the Church of England. The log books of these early times bear witness to the strict discipline enforced by the use of the cane for such offences as untidy arithmetic, loitering outside the school, kicking a dog, and having dirty boots!

This, the smallest and oldest school in the Forest, was a sad loss when it was closed in 1985, but there was one happy outcome. When closure was first mooted because of falling numbers, a sub-committee of the Parish Council was formed and, after valiant fund-raising efforts, the playing field and infants classroom were purchased for the modest sum of ?9,000. This amenity is now used by the Scouts, Beavers and Cubs, the under-16s football club, and the Mothers and Toddlers Club, not to mention the annual church fete and countless other activities.

The village information above is taken from The Hampshire Village Book, written by members of Hampshire Federation of Women’s Institutes and published by Countryside Books.