Whiteley Hampshire hotels:

Set in 67 acres of picturesque farmland, Titchfield Abbey Golf & Fishing is a family run business. The farm diversified from soft fruit farming into leisure in 1995 and now comprises three 9 hole par 3 golf courses and two well stocked freshwater coarse fishing lakes and cycle hire. Adjacent to the 13th Century Titchfield Abbey, from where the business takes its name, the land forms part of an important historic conservation area and contains the early 15th Century, medieval Tithe Barn from where the business is run. The Barn was restored in 1980 by the current owners. The Tithe Barn was built by French monks, living at the Abbey. It is a grade 1 listed monument and has recently been carbon dated at 1410. At approximately 157 ft long and 38 ft wide it is reputedly one of only six remaining great monastic barns of its size and type in the country. The Abbey was converted into a private house for the Earl of Southampton after the dissolution of the monasteries Local folk-law connects both the Abbey and the Barn to William Shakespeare, who as a friend of the Earl, is said to have written Romeo and Juliet in the Abbey and first performed the play in the Tithe Barn.