Chalkdell, Village Street

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Chalkdell, Village Street. (left-hand panel)

Mike Gee

Dinah Lindon-Critchley’s Grade II listed house stands on Village Street overlooking the entrance to Joys Lane. Chalkdell is a cob-walled house built from chalk dug from the land on which it stands. The main part of the house dates back to the 17th century, although the building was extended and updated in the early 19th century. Once home to a member of the Tilbury family, the cellar of the house was used to store beer for the New Inn on the Common. The Tilburys were one of Chilbolton’s oldest families and they owned the village brewery on Winchester Street. Hops for the brewery were grown on Drove Road and harvested by local women and children and, in the summer, gypsies who camped at the top of Joys Lane. There was an explosion at the brewery in 1884 and the business ceased to exist. The beer barrel roll down to Chalkdell’s cellar is still in place and on clear days, the unmistakable odour of beer still lingers.