Send flowers to Calshot, Hampshire

Flower Delivery to Calshot with Clare Florist

The year 1539 for King Henry VIII marked the start of the construction of so-called Device Forts, a series of artillery fortifications built for the defense of coastal England and Wales. Henry was fearful of an invasion from the combined forces of France, the historical enemy, and Spain, the land of birth of his first wife, whom he divorced to marry Anne Boleyn. One of these forts was built in the coastal village of Calshot, located on the west portion of Southampton Water.

A visit to Calshot is ideal for those who love history and architecture. The trip can be a romantic one as well with the village being close to the beach. You can make it even more so by presenting Calshot flowers to your partner or you can also surprise them with flowers in Calshot while having a nice meal.

Calshot Castle

Located on the Calshot Spit, a sand and shingle bank about a mile long on the open end of Southampton Water, the castle was meant to protect Southampton (an important port) against a seaborne attack from either France or Spain from the Solent.

The picturesque castle today is comprised of a basement, a first floor barracks room, a second floor gun room, and a roof providing fantastic views across the Solent. The castle’s shop sells different information books and souvenirs.

Calshot and the Two World Wars

The Royal Navy turned the coastal village of Calshot into one of the fist seaplane bases in the country. It was chosen because the calm and quiet waters were suitable for seaplanes. In 1913, a Royal Naval Air Station was built alongside the castle and as such, the castle needed to be modified in order to accommodate equipment such as roof-mounted funs, shell storage, and searchlights. Today, the modern rooms of the castle feature the seaplane history of Calshot Spit.

Calshot was taken over by the Royal Air Force during the inter-war years. The place was used for as the School for Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation.

Southampton was an important port and as such, was a target by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. On the castle’s moat, air-raid shelters were constructed and served as the base for five of the boats that took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.

The castle wasn’t damaged during the war and was transformed back into an active air base after the war. When military seaplanes became obsolete in 1961, the RAF station in Calshot closed down.

Management of the castle passed to English Heritage in 1983 and is a Grade II* listed building. The former hangars of the air station are used as a recreation centre.

We are online florists you can rely on when you want to send flowers to Calshot to a member of your family or to someone special. Be it an anniversary, birthday, Mother’s Day, or Valentine’s Day, you can purchase the perfect bouquet from us no matter the occasion. We offer next-day delivery services so get in touch with us now to order flowers for delivery to Calshot!