I recently moved to Christchurch. This would have been at the beginning of 2022. It’s a long story how I came to move here. But, in the first two years, I didn’t do much exploring, various reasons, mostly to do with health. But since my recent hospital stay (you can read more about that here ), I have a renewed interest in life…

So in recent weeks, I’ve done a bit of exploring. Not on my own, with my sister, my eldest niece and my sister’s partner, all on different days. What follows are some pictures I took, and a little detail accompanying each.

Part 1 – 2nd June 2024

This was my first excursion, with my sister. Clockwise from top left to bottom left:

  • Waiting for a bus to the main part of Christchurch. This is my local pub, the Railway
  • After getting off the bus, at Priory Corner. This is the ruins of the Norman House
  • A view inside the ruins of the Norman House
  • A mallard having a a lovely swim in the side stream next to the Norman House.
  • A view across the bowling green towards Christchurch Priory
  • A sign showing the Norman House and other bits of interest in the area

Continuing on from that same day, again clockwise from top left to top right, then bottom left to bottom right:

  • Down the main river Avon, with a flat-bottomed punt, used for fishing
  • Same view, but more zoom
  • A view up the side stream (across the bridge from the Norman House in previous images
  • Same view, but more zoom
  • A view towards the ruins of the Great Tower (you can see this in the sign in previous images)
  • A more zoomed in view of the Great Tower

Part 2 – 17th June 2024

My second excursion, this time with my sister and eldest niece. We went a bit further this time. from top left to top right, then bottom left to bottom right:

  • Christchurch Priory
  • Another view of the Priory
  • Hmm, slightly out of order, this was a swan swimming on the river Stour, south of the Priory
  • Another view of the Proiry
  • A zoomed view of the Prior tower. showing the weather vane – a fish!
  • A general view of the river Stour, south of the Priory, with lots of boats

Part 3 – 19th June 2024

My third excursion, this time with my sister’s partner. Clockwise top left to bottom left:

  • Stocks
  • The ruins of the Great Tower
  • A sign, giving some detail of the Norman House from previous images, and the castle (of which the Great Tower is part of)
  • A squirrel enjoying a paper straw it stole from a rubbish bin
  • Not sure what this is.
  • Another view of the Great Tower

Continuing on from that same day. From top left to top right, then bottom left to bottom right:

  • A tree with lots of squirrels
  • A leafy tunnel leading to the Priory
  • A friendly blackbird
  • A view of the Priory
  • Another view of the Priory with its graveyard
  • A view through the trees with the Prior graveyard (and the Priory just visible too)

I hope you enjoy these pictures. I will add more about Christchurch as I get out and about there.