---

 

Hampshire Leasing

Did You Know?

Highclere Castle set in the Hampshire countryside, is one of the main filming locations for "Downton Abbey"! It also played host to the filming of “Jeeves and Wooster” starring Hugh Laurie (now better known as "Dr House") and Stephen Fry.

The Spitfire aircraft is a part of Hampshire history. R. J. Mitchell invented it, and it was first flown from Eastleigh, Hampshire on the 5th March 1936. After it had completed its official trials, the RAF ordered 310 aircrafts! This changed the game for Supermarine (British aircraft manufacturer), as prior to this, their biggest order stood at just 12 machines.

Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle wrote the original Sherlock Holmes story (“A Study in Scarlet”) in Southsea, Hampshire. The character Dr. Watson was based on a real doctor who was president of Portsmouth’s literary and scientific society and was a friend of the author.

Famous for its watercress, farms in Hampshire have grown the crop commercially since the 19th century. The county is responsible for the majority of watercress production across the nation. This is pretty impressive considering a bag of watercress is sold every second.

As typical as British weather can be with the constant rainfall, you’ll be glad that Jonas Hanway from Portsmouth has got the whole of Hampshire County covered. He was the first man in London to use an umbrella after getting inspiration from parasols used by women in Persia while on a business trip. For almost 30 years, people thought he was ridiculous for walking around with a ‘portable roof’

And to conclude, the most interesting fact about Hampshire… Southampton was the first town to sample fish fingers after they were made in Great Yarmouth! And this is why the people of Hampshire argue they have the best fish and chips in the country.

One of our greatest 20th century novelists, P.G. Wodehouse lived on various occasions in the Hampshire town of Emsworth; but that the house on Record Road where he resided was called Threepwood? He named two of his greatest characters, Lord Emsworth and his brother the Hon. Galahad Threepwood.

Hampshire is, of course, proud of its local heritage and produce. Therefore, events such as the Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition draw thousands of visitors each year from far and wide. However, there’s more than just sausage and pie up for tasting here, as judges and visitors will be able to sample meatballs and black pudding, too.