The notice board shows the correct name for the church – The Parish Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelflaeda. But the name Romsey Abbey is, after nearly 500 years, still there and still used.
Beneath the notice board is a government Bench Mark. This is a broad arrow with a horizontal groove above. The height of this is known by the Ordnance Survey to 3mm above mean (average) sea level. This mark was cut in the 19th century.
Now look up and look at the corbels between here and the east end of the Abbey.
The corbel table from the curving wall of the choir vestry eastwards is mostly original, with some replacements. An unmistakable ram recalls that the wealth of Romsey was based on the wool trade. Merchants brought their fleeces to Romsey to be cleaned in the clear, clean water of the River Test and its tributaries. From here the woollen bales were taken the short distance to Southampton for export.
To its right is a big cat corbel with a woman in its jaws.
The corbel in the centre of this part of the north wall is an unusual headless human figure called a Blemmya. It has its arms hanging from its shoulders and has its eyes, nose and mouth on its chest. There are others to find amongst the corbels. Stories of blemmyae can be found in both Greek and Roman writings made at the time of Christ. They are also mentioned by Shakespeare in Othello and in The Tempest.
Two corbels further along to its right, is an owl.
Turn right through the gate which leads to the south garth and pause after a few metres.
