The Civil War ended in the middle of the 17th Century, but there are still plenty of reminders to be found in Hampshire.

• Oliver's Battery on the outskirts of Winchester and an earthwork at Abbotstone are named after Oliver Cromwell

• At Overton there is a field name Butcher's Copse which was believed to have been named through the slaughter of animals to feed the soldiers before the Battle of Cheriton.

• The Parliamentary troops caused widespread damage at the Bishop's Palace at Bishop's Waltham that the residents had to use the remains of the flint and bricks to build houses in the area, the panelling was also used.

• There are marks on the door of Durley church that are said to have been made by Cromwell's soldiers while stabling their horses inside.

• There have been reports that a ghost of a Parliamentary soldier can be seen emerging from a drive situated opposite the church. It is thought that he was attacked while alive. There is another Roundhead figure that rides his horse through the churchyard wall and then rides it into the church.

• Old Basing House was the scene of a six month siege while held by the Royalists and was destroyed by fire and Cromwell is said to have told his troops to "take whatever you want, boys", this is recalled by Oliver's Delve which was a chalk pit where Cromwell's men dug themselves in.

• Also at Basing Slaughter's Close was named after the Royalists were said to have been slain there, it is by the canal bridge by Basing House.

• The ghost of Colonel William Norton who was one of Cromwell's officers is said to stroll to the church from his old home the Old Manor House.

From this can be seen that the Civil War had an echoing impact on the county and there are countless legends which have since been discounted after investigation.

On 19th March 1644, it is said that the Cheriton Fight, involved around 10,000 men on each side and that Sir William Waller's Roundheads defeated the Royalists, this was just after their success at Alton. It is said that the lanes around the village ran with blood, but another tale says that a mound at Lamborough near Hinton Ampner was the grave of soldiers that were killed, this was dispelled in 1930 after excavations revealed it to be a Neolithic long barrow. Waller respected his opposite number, Lord Hopton, and they held much in common with each other as both had gained experience in war and both commanded a rather ragged band of men. Lord Hopton came from Cornwall as did a lot of his troops, while Waller was from London, but both sides suffered gravely from homesickness. There were many desertions and once while trying to win the Royal garrison at Basing House in 1643, soldiers who were fed up with having to fight in inclement weather conditions and having to dodge the tiles and bricks that were thrown at them from the roof of the house by the enemy, took up the cry of "Home! Home!" but Waller retaliated by threatening them with execution.

The last stand of the Royalists in Alton Church and the assault by Cromwell's men on Winchester is an exciting episode of the war. Cavalry stormed the Cathedral with their colours flying and their drums beating, and soon broke in. They ran amok inside and broke the altar rail and took it to a nearby inn to be burnt, the organ was destroyed and memorials were defaced and threw through the stained glass windows. A similar scene took place at Romsey Abbey.

Godwin's "The Civil War in Hampshire" records that the of Basing was caused by the surrender of Winchester, and Cromwell himself came armed with guns, 7,000 horse and foot of his New Model Army and cannon.

Basing House was built in 1530 by what was the richest man in England, the first Marquis of Winchester and there was much treasure to be had. Cromwell took 200 - 300 prisoners and this included John, the then Marquis, who was captured while saving his rosary which he had hidden inside a bread oven, Inigo Jones the famous architect was carried out wearing nothing but a blanket.

Brian Vesy-FitzGerald wrote in his book "Hampshire and the Isle of Wight", first published in 1949, that  "The grass grows green today over the ruins of Basing House. But as long as Englishmen retain any of the feelings of chivalry, as long as loyalty has any hold on Englishmen, so long will the story of Basing House remain as green as the grass on her ruins."