The Noads

There are three small woods near the village of Dibden Purlieu where our family lived. They were called the first, second and third Noads. The first was the easiest to reach and the main path went through it. The second was close by but wilder and the third was further away in the direction of Beaulieu. At some point in the 60s a fine beech tree in the middle was felled and a watchtower was erected. A school friend and I once climbed the tower in the middle of the night and felt it sway in the wind. We saw a light moving in the woods and got scared and ran home.