Royal Victoria Chapel is is Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, Hampshire. It’s a large country park on the edge of the Southampton Water, with plenty of grounds for walks, play areas for children, filled with so much history, and now a beautiful restored Royal Victoria Chapel to visit.
A couple of weekends ago we had a couple of hours to spare and a very special building had just opened that week too. So we headed down to Royal Victoria Country Park where the chapel is.
We have been watching the lottery-funded renovation to this building over the past couple of years, and we even took part when they were getting people to buy a tile for the slate roof and have our message added to it. We loved this idea and the kids think it was amazing to have tile up there!
Royal Victoria Chapel is now open up to the public now and it’s well worth a trip. This chapel has so much history and it was amazing to be able to find out so much more.
The whole building has been well restored and it was lovely to see the building up close too.
As you walk in you head into the large chapel where your find displays of information on how the chapel has been used in the past. A military hospital taking in the wounded soldiers during the wars and built in 1856.
Inside this main room you will find uniforms on show, hospital equipment and a few interactive pieces for you to learn more.
Once you go upstairs to the next level you of course have the view. It’s such a lovely view anywhere at ground level but up here it’s even better.
Turn around from this view and you go into the upstairs of the large chapel room. We really loved this area, it felt so personal.
On each pew, at the front, they had written about a person who had been at Netley Hospital, a storyline of their life and what had happened. It was fascinating and I would love them to keep adding to this as I think people sit there and read them all.
The next area was upstairs to go up to the highest area. This area has arranged tours at various times during the day. These will take you right up to the top. I can only imagine how amazing the views are up there!
If you do that let me know what it was like, as we never had time that day.
What I really loved was the outside areas, they have now added wooden structures to show you the old hospital footprint. I knew it was a lot bigger when it was built but I didn’t realise just HOW big it was! These show it so clearly and the floor plans of all the different rooms too.
There is an entrance fee to visit inside and to go all the way up to the top.
Parking is paid when you leave by entering your car registration number at the pay points dotted around the park and car parks.
With so much history to learn about this building and all the stories that go with it, it’s well worth a visit to Royal Victoria Chapel. With lots to do in the country park with train rides, parks, beach and picnic areas you could easily fill up a day visiting it all.
Tips For Royal Victoria Chapel
- Parking charges
- Dogs are allowed in par, but not inside the chapel
- Royal Victoria Chapel entrance fees
- Toilets
Pictures Taken August 2018
26 Comments
This looks like an amazing place to explore and so interesting. You have taken some lovely pictures too
Thank you very much
This sounds fascinating – what a great project. Love the slate
Cool idea isn’t it to have the slate coloured and put on the roof
We love the County Park, there is so much to do. This looks like a great a great addition and we must go again soon x
Got lots to do there hasn’t it and this is another thing to add too
Wow what an incredible building and I love how the park has such a personal connection to you 🙂
Yes we do really love this countrypark, will hold some happy memories
I have never heard of Royal Victoria Chapel before. It sounds great. I would love to visit one day.
Its a very lovely place
I love hearing about the restoration of old, historical buildings. It’s lovely to see them brought back to life. Royal Victoria Chapel looks stunning and what a building to have made your mark on. Love the slate tile idea!
I am really enjoying learning more about the old buildings and History. My son loves History and he is really making me love it more too! The slate was a brilliant idea wasn’t it
What a wonderful place to visit! Looks really fascinating and somewhere you could easily spend the whole day.
There is lots to do around the countrypark too, perfect spot for a picnic!
This looks like a stunning place to visit- added to my list of days out
It’s not an expensive day out either
Wow this place is incredible! I love to explore unusual buildings , they are great for taking photos too! Lovely shots!
Thank you very much, so much History in this place
The views look stunning! What a lovely place to visit with the family. Once the outside has filled with grass and shrubs, it’s going to be beautiful.
Yes quite a few, see for miles up the top I reckon!
Oh wow what a beautiful place this is, glad you had a good day.
Thank you
What a great idea to buy a tile and I love how you have done hand prints. Looks like a great place to explore and very special to be involved from the beginning x
Yeah it’s been nice to see it being renovated and now see inside once it’s all done. I bet it was nice for the roofer to read all the tiles!
It looks like the renovations have been done really well and this is definitely somewhere we would enjoy visiting. I love learning about our history
Yeah it’s nice to learn about it and being local it’s more interesting too