Wellow covers a large area, divided by the river Blackwater into two parts known as East and West Wellow, about ten miles northwest of Southampton.

The church, St Margaret’s, was built in 1216 and stands away from the village. It is thought that at one time it was probably in the middle of the village, before the evacuation of people due to the plague in 1665. The church is well known and is visited by many people, especially nurses, from all parts of the world, who come to see the grave of Florence Nightingale. The tomb bears a very simple inscription, ‘F.N. 1820-1910’, in accordance with her wishes.

Florence Nightingale lived at Embley Park during her childhood. The large brick house is now a public school for boys. The park and gardens contain many varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas. The farmland around it has changed somewhat in the last few years, as it has been planted with vines by Wellow Vineyards.

Connecting part of the Embley estate was a carriage driveway over a bridge on a roadway beneath. This was known as Sounding Arch, a very substantial construction of stonework. It was in a deep cutting and the actual archway was quite long, hence the name because noises echoed – horses’ hooves, shouting, and later car horns. Stories were told of ghostly coaches passing over, past the iron railings on the top, at midnight on New Year or Christmas nights. The Sounding Arch was demolished, as road widening became necessary. A seat was made from some of the stone, and now marks the spot where once it stood. The roads and lanes about the village are still pleasant. One has a ford with a footbridge; this is Rix’s Ford and is a lovely quiet spot. In flood many cars get stuck, and it is not unusual for the local farmer to be called to the rescue with his tractor.

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