The River Hart is a tributary of the River Whitewater in north Hampshire, England. It rises at Ashley Head spring in Crondall and flows north to meet the Whitewater at Bramshill.[1][2][3]
The Hart district of Hampshire is named after the river.
The Hart rises at a series of springs at about 85 metres (279 ft) elevation on Crondall golf course. From the main spring at Ashley Head, it flows northwards, hemmed in by housing, and is crossed by Redlands Lane, before passing under the drive of East Bridge House,[4] an early 19th-century mansion with older core recognised and protected in the mainstream, starting category[5] It passes Marsh Farm Business Centre (to right then fields, then passes under the Basingstoke Canal near Crookham Wharf. After running along the backs of housing on Crondall Road, it passes under the road, to be joined by a stream on its left bank.[4]
The tributary begins at some springs and ponds known as Itchel Mill Springs. The outlet flows under the A287 road to reach the site of the mill[4] demolished in 1945; a modern house has replaced the mill cottage.[6] Beyond this, it threads its way through Coxmoor Farm, under the Basingstoke Canal and across Peatmoor Copse, where it is joined by another small stream, to reach the main channel of the Hart.
After, is Pilcot Mill at Dogmersfield, a two-storey millhouse from the 18th century, last used for milling in 1928.[7] Its mill cottage has 17th and 18th century elements.[8] On the downstream side of Pilcot Bridge is a large timber-framed house of even date known as Catherine of Aragon (House).[9]
Pilcot farm is on the left bank, and then the river passes often tree-lined through fields west of Fleet, where ditches add to it. The channel splits into two to pass under the South Western main line embankment, fields being drained up to about the M3 motorway. A key ditch begins across the latter, and runs beside the main channel on its left bank. Both are crossed by the A323 Fleet Road, and are controlled by sluices as they enter Elvetham Park.[4]
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