h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK, I've thought about it, and I'm not going to mention the Bishop of Winchester, as this is (albeit inadequately) covered in the Winchester entry A1232632 which I link to. It states: <> I would suggest that any more information should be either updated here or should be an entry in its own right.

I've made the following changes:

(Defence of the Realm section) - addition:

Southampton has historic links to aviation through the Supermarine factory at Woolston. Originally set up to produce seaplanes in the early part of the 20th Century, it went on to design and build the Spitfire fighter, which played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain. The factory was not surprisingly targeted by the Luftwaffe throughout the Second World War.

(Famous Residents section) - update:
Both Jane Austen and King Alfred are buried at Winchesterat the cathedral and at Hyde Abbey respectively.

(Geography section) - addition:

Weyhill, near Andover is the site of an ancient sheep fair, the largest in the country for many centuries. Hampshire Downs sheep are a popular breed, and locals are often known as 'Hampshire Hogs', supposedly deriving from the term 'hogget' for a young sheep.


To make it easier to keep track of things, please could you direct any further comments on the Hampshire article to the PR thread F48874?thread=3244235 - thanks!

Re the Cricket team called Hawks. I have often wondered if they called themselves that due to excessive PCism. Don't forget King William 1 crowned in Winchester as well as London. William Rufus is in the Cathedral, along with the bone chests. Although Cromwell's men mixed all the bones up (or so I was told) when they came to town. Glad you've not included Football there are a few other entries that deal with that. How about a metion of Bucklers Hard with its ship building history?

Do we mention Cricket? As the game was codefied by Hambledon wasn't it, or is that a myth? The village certainly beat an 'All England' side in the 'old days'

Thanks Saints76,

I thought about including Bucklers Hard - I think about adding a line in the Tourist Trail section when I get time. I do mention shipbuilding a couple of times in passing.

I like the story about Cromwell's men mixing up the royal bones, but it's probably one for the Winchester entry.

I have mentioned cricket, and that defeat of England under the pubs section. (I could link to the scorecard on cricinfo, I suppose) I know the Bat & Ball very well -there's a monument outside it. I haven't mentioned the county cricket side - probably because the article's long enough, and most counties have got one anyway.

Icy