Romantic Ruins

Who'd have thought a bit of tragedy would lead to such romance? The tragedy? Well a poor demolition guy was killed back in the 1700's (not really focusing on this fact) but leads me to the romance as it's because of this that a now overgrown ruined abbey was left alone.

Netley Abbey is a beautiful place and has…just something. It's one those places where you have to be there to take in the atmosphere, feel the weight of history and imagine the beauty that once was and yet still is. We only discovered it quite recently and by chance, tucked away in the woods off a main road above Southampton Waters and decided to go exploring with Izzy (who had plenty to climb on and jump off!).

I've seen ruins before and shamefully admit that had the attitude of if you've seen one, you've seen them all. But this was very apparently different for me. I think it's the two towering arches regally standing their ground at either end of what would've have been the main hall. There's enough of the abbey still standing to allow your imagination to wonder and even though the main road is not far away, it's blissfully peaceful. No wonder the Abbey became a haven for those 18th century romantic writers, poets and artists…John Constable painted here, Jane Austen found inspiration and now, I've discovered it and it's definitely one of my favourite places to just be. Next time I'm bringing a flask of tea and a good book.