Royal Victoria Country Park

Royal Victoria Country Park
Netley_Hospital_Chapel
The Chapel in the centre of the park
Royal Victoria Country Park is located in Hampshire
Royal Victoria Country Park
Shown within Hampshire
TypeCountry Park
LocationNetley, Hampshire, England
Coordinates50°51′59″N 1°20′30″W / 50.86644°N 1.34174°W / 50.86644; -1.34174
Area81 ha (200 acres)
Created1980
Operated byHampshire County Council
StatusOpen year-round
AwardsGreen Flag Award
Paths
WebsiteOfficial website
Official nameRoyal Victoria Country Park
Designated28 January 2002
Reference no.1001584
Map
Map of Royal Victoria Country Park, with Royal Victoria Railway shown in grey and the Hamble Rail Trail in black.
Netley Hospital chapel in the Royal Victoria Country Park

The Royal Victoria Country Park is a country park in Netley, Hampshire, England, by the shores of Southampton Water. It comprises 200 acres (81 ha) of mature woodland and grassy parkland, as well as a small shingle beach. It was created in 1970 by Hampshire County Council, after the Royal Victoria Military Hospital that had previously occupied the site, was demolished.[1][2]

All that remains of the hospital is the chapel, which acts as a heritage centre providing history of the hospital. It also has a 150-foot (46 m) viewing tower, providing views over the park, and across Southampton Water to Hythe, and on a clear day, as far as Southampton itself.[3]

The site also has a park office and tearooms. The building housing this was built using 100 different timbers from around the UK and British Empire. It was originally built in 1940 by the YMCA for entertainment, recreation and relaxation for staff and patients at the hospital.[2]

  1. ^ "Our Story". Royal Victoria Country Park. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 1aa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Things to do - RVCP". hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2024.