Liss, Hants.

Liss lies near the A3 motorway on the main Portsmouth to London route, and on the London, Guilford, Portsmouth rail track. The entire parish is within East Hampshire's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This small picturesque Victorian railway village has been mentioned through history but has only recently begun to grow in size and popularity.

Liss manor is mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1086 and was part of the Abbey of St. Mary's at Winchester, the village is also mentioned as the resting-place for pilgrims between Winchester and Canterbury. At one time Liss manor was know as Liss Abbess. The Abbess and nuns of Winchester owned the land until 1538 and the dissolution of the monasteries where it passed into the hands of the crown. Liss remained crown property until c. 1610. Later owners included the Cole, Fitzpatrick, Taylor and Hawkshaw families.

Liss was primarily an agricultural village but became popular locally during the 19th century for the production of peppermint. The Money family grew, distilled and sold the mint at fourpence a pint.

The small community of Liss began to grow slightly because of the railway that was built in 1859. In 1933 a military link was added which again caused an increase in population, but after the military line closed in 1969 Liss remained unchanged until recent developments.

Longmoor Military Railway closed down on 31 October 1969. On hearing of its impending closure local locomotive preservation groups became very interested in acquiring this small but complete rail system, very quickly a bid was placed to purchase LMR (along with the airstrip at Gypsy Hollow which would have enabled the production of a unique transport museum).

The MOD rejected this proposal, which had been backed by the Association of Railway Preservation Societies and The Transport Trust. However the Army did offer the last 1½ miles of line from Liss Forest Road to Liss. The offer was accepted, a provisional lease was drawn up and planning permission was sought for developments at Liss.

Unfortunately the people of Liss did not share this enthusiasm and opposed the planning permission. Several residents raised £9,100 in a successful bid to buy this last piece of line, thus ensuring that trains would not run here again!

So ended the story of the Longmoor Military Railway which had its origins in 1903.

Small up-market estates and extra shops have created a younger look to the village today. But local people are trying hard to remember its humble past and councils are working to conserve its flora and fauna. Riverside nature trails and other projects are appreciated by all. Parish members continue to support its British Legion, the WRVS are still strong, and the Triangle Community Centre is well attended. Despite its recent growth Liss remains a strong community.