HISTORY, GAZETTEER, AND DIRECTORY OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT BY WILLIAM WHITE, 1859 FORDINGBRIDGE UNION P.P. 414 419 FORDINGBRIDGE UNION is partly in Wiltshire, and is bounded by that county on the north; by Ringwood Union and Dorsetshire, on the south; and by New Forest on the east. It is watered by the river Avon and several tributary streams; and extends to the junction of the three counties of Hants, Dorset, and Wilts; and into the north-west corner of New Forest. The following enumeration of its nine parishes, with several extra parochial places in its Superintendent Registrar s District, shows their extent, and their population in 1851. PARISHES, &c. ACRES POP. PARISHES, &c. ACRES POP. Fordingbridge parish..... 3096 * Whitsbury parish...... 1850 170 } 6292 Godshill tithing....... 82 Breamore parish....... 2651 646 Woodgreen extra par....... 407 North Charford parish..... 570 68 * Martin parish........ 602 South Charford parish..... 833 71 } 4501 * Toyd farm, &c. extra par. 14 Hale parish.......... 1672 134 Rockbourne parish........ 3798 515 Ashley Walk, part of, ex. par. 4690 270 * South Damerham parish.... 4310 759 Those marked thus * are in Wiltshire; and all the others are in RINGWOOD POLICE DIVISION and POLLING DISTRICT, in South Hants; and in Fordingbridge County Court District. BREAMORE is a separate Liberty, and the other parishes, &c., in the Hampshire part of the Union, are in FORDINGBRIDGE HUNDRED, which includes also Ibsley and Ellingham parishes; and part of Broomy Walk, &c., in the New Forest. FORDINGBRIDGE UNION extends over about 31,160 acres, and had 6834 inhabitants, in 1851. Its WORKHOUSE is at Fordingbridge, and had 67 inmates in 1841, and 92 in 1851, when the census was taken. The Rev. Wm. J. Yonge is chairman, and Mr. Vincent Pinhorn, vice-chairman, of the Board of Guardians. Robt. Manning Davy, Esq., is the Union Clerk and Superintendent Registrar. Mr. Wm. and Mrs. Dawson are master and matron of the Workhouse; James Lilley, porter; and Eliza Guard, schoolmistress. Mr John Atkins is the relieving officer and registrar. FORDINGBRIDGE is a small market town, on the west bank of the river Avon, near the northwestern termination of the New Forest, and the junction of the three counties of Hants, Dorset, and Wilts; 6½ miles N. of Ringwood, 11 miles S. of Salisbury, 25 miles W.S.W of Winchester, and 91 miles W.S.W. of London. It consists chiefly of one long street, and a few short cross streets; and has neither gas-works nor railway; the nearest stations being at Ringwood and Salisbury. It has only about 2000 inhabitants, but its PARISH had 1178 souls, in 1851, and extends over 6292 acres of land, divided into seven TITHINGS, viz., the
FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. Town, Bickton; North, South, and Middle Burgate; Midgham, and Godshill; and including the small villages, &c., of North Gorley, Hyde, Frogham, and Stuckton, from 1 to 2 miles S. and S.E. of the town, in Middle and South Burgate tithings; Bickton, 1 miles S.; Midgham, 1 mile S.W.; and Godshill, 2 miles E. of the town. GODSHILL has 82 souls and 816 acres in this parish, but includes also Godshill Wood and some other extra-parochial parts of the New Forest. It was anciently called Godmanescap, and has an ancient entrenchment, defended on one side by a double trench and ramparts, and secured on the other by the steepness of the hill, which is overgrown with oaks. This is supposed to have been one of the entrenched camps formed by Cerdic, the first Saxon King of Wessex, (see page 29) after he had defeated the Britons near Fordingbridge, and crossed the Avon at Charford, anciently called Cerd-ford or Cerdic sford. Fordingbridge is mentioned under the name of Forde, in Domesday Book, and described as having a church, two mills, and 30 acres of meadow. The tithings and manors in the parish are separately noticed in the Norman survey as belonging to various owners. The rateable annual value of the lands and buildings in the parish, as assessed to the county rates, is 11,339. John Coventry, Esq., of Ireland, owns the manorial estate of Burgate, and is lord paramount of the Hundred of Fordingbridge. (See page 414.) King s College, Cambridge, has the rectorial manor; but Charles Glyn Prideaux Brune, Esq., of Cornwall, is lord of Fordingbridge manor, and Eyre Coote, Esq., is lord of the manor of Bickton. Lord Normanton, Sir E. Hulse, G. T. Brice, Esq., Capt. Wormington, and many smaller freeholders, have estates in the parish; and some of them neat mansions, with pleasant grounds, in the fertile vale of the Avon, and on the woodland acclivities of the western bounds of the New Forest. The town has a good stone bridge, near the site of the ancient ford, above which the river flows in a very circuitous channel through the low meadows, which are now fertile, but are supposed to have been a wet, impassable marsh in ancient times. The town has a small weekly market on Friday, for corn, &c., and a pleasure fair on Sept. 9th. Messrs. Thompson & Co., of East Mill, employ about 200 hands in spinning flax and weaving sail cloth, sacking, and canvass. In the parish are four water mills, a brewery, and an ironfoundry. PETTY SESSIONS are held at the Greyhound Inn, every Friday, and Rob. Davy, Esq., of Ringwood is clerk to the magistrates. A COUNTY COURT is held here monthly, for a district comprising Fordingbridge and Ringwood Unions. Edward Everett, Esq., is the judge; H. T. Johns, Esq., of Ringwood is the registrar; Mr. Stephen Curtis, high bailiff, and Mr. George Curtis, bailiff. The ancient HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN, at Fordingbridge, stood on a farm of 40 acres, and was given by Cardinal Beaufort, in 1446, to the Hospital of St. Cross, at Winchester. THE PARISH CHURCH (St. Mary) is a large structure in the pointed style, consisting of a nave and side aisles, a north and south chancel, and a handsome tower, containing six bells. It was restored at the cost of about 2000 in 1842, when its number of sittings was increased from 750 to 1040, of which 290 are free. The south chancel is considered the most ancient part of the building, and is attributed to the 13th century.
FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. The benefice is a vicarage, valued in K.B. at 30. 2s. 2½d, and now at 601, with the curacy of Ibsley annexed to it, in the patronage of King s College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. Charles Hatch, M.A., who has ten acres of glebe, and a good Vicarage House, built in 1817. The tithes were commuted in 1842, the vicarial for 672. 5s., and the rectorial for 1250. The latter belongs to King's College, Cambridge. The Church Land, 5A. 1R. 6P., is let for 10 a year, which is applied to the church rates. HYDE CHURCH DISTRICT, formed in 1855, under the 1st and 2nd of William IV., has about 900 inhabitants, and comprises the south-eastern parts of Fordingbridge parish; including the small hamlets, &c., of Hyde, North Gorley, Stuckton, Frogham, Blissford, Hungerford, Ogdens, Holland, &c. HYDE CHURCH (Holy Ascension) stands on a lofty eminence, about 1½ miles S.E. of Fordingbridge, and is a neat structure in the early decorated style, erected in 1854-5 at the cost of about 1700, raised by subscriptions and grants. Eyre Coote, Esq., gave 300, the Diocesan Society 150, and the Incorporated Society 130. It has 1247 sittings, of which 219 are free. The Parsonage House is a commodious residence, which was erected in 1858, at the cost of 1200, raised by subscriptions, with the aid of 200 from Queen Anne s Bounty, 100 given by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, 200 from Marshall s Charity, and 100 from Pyncombe s Charity. The site of the Church and Parsonage, with five acres of glebe, was given by Eyre Coote, Esq. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Bishop of Winchester, and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Peter Warren, M.A., who has endowed the living with 1400, vested in trust with the Governors of Queen Anne s Bounty. There are NATIONAL SCHOOLS in Fordingbridge and Hyde. The former were built in 1834 at the cost of 510, on land given by John Coventry, Esq., and they are endowed with the dividends of 200 three per cent. consols, given in 1801, by the Hon. Catherine Eycott Bulkeley; the interest of 40 left by Sarah Dale, in 1824; and the interest of 100, left in 1850, by Mrs. Mary King. The two first-named legacies were given for the support of the Sunday School, formerly held in the old Market House. The CHAPELS in the town of Fordingbridge are an Independent Chapel, built in 1832, on the site of the old one, which was erected in 1695; a Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1836; and a Friends Meeting House, which was rebuilt in 1835, and has an endowment of 30s. a year out of Broad meadow. Hungerford Independent Chapel, near Hyde, is a commodious brick structure, which was built in 1856, at the cost of 850, and has a Day and Sunday School attached to it. The Rev. Thomas Grant is the minister. In Bridge street is a British School, supported by dissenters, and attended by about 90 boys and 60 girls. The old Independent Chapel in Fordingbridge is said to have been originally a Presbyterian Meetinghouse. Its minister has 8s., and the poor of its congregation 22s. yearly, from a yearly rent charge of 30s., left by Caleb Gifford, in 1710. The minister has also 20 a year from a house and garden left by Michael Lester, in 1825; 6, from two acres of land at Brunes-moor and Broad meadow; and 5 a year, left by
FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. David Tizard, who also bequeathed an annuity of 2 for a yearly distribution of 48 sixpenny loaves among the poor of the congregation, and the payment of 16s. for a sermon on the last Sunday in November. For apprenticing poor boys, Fordingbridge parish has 5 every fourth year from Dodington s Charity, as noticed with Breamore. A SAVINGS BANK has recently been opened by the Vicar. There is a Lodge of Odd Fellows at the Star Hotel, and one of Foresters at the King s Arms. There are two Friendly Societies at the George Inn, and a Mutual Provident Society meets at the Lecture Hall, which was built some years ago by shareholders. FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH DIRECTORY. Those marked 2, are in Bickton; 3, Burgate; 4, Frogham; 5, North Gorley; 6, Godshill; 7, Hyde; 8, Stuckton; 9, in Midgham; and the others in the Town, or where stated. The POST OFFICE is at Mr. James Chubb s. Letters are despatched, via Salisbury, by mail cart. Money Orders are granted and paid. Alison Alex. Esq., Burgate House Andrews Moses, vety. surgeon Atkins John, relieving officer and registrar Banks Rev. Edw., B.A., curate Beale James, seedsman, &c. Bell Sheppard, Esq., Sandhill Lodge Bonnett Job, news and advertising agent Brice Major George Tito, Packham House Browning Mr Philip Budd Mr Benjamin Caiger Frederick, solicitor Chubb James, land surveyor, seensman, insurane agent, and postmaster Chubb Mr Samuel, & Moses Chubb the Misses Chubb Wm. Targett, insurance agent, &c. Cleeves Edmund, gent. Clifton James, surgeon Curtis Stephen, high bailiff of County Court Curtis George, bailiff of ditto Dale George, hairdresser Dawkins Mrs. S., Hungerford Davy Robt. Manning, solicitor, Union Clerk, &c. Day John, woolstapler Dewson Wm. & Mrs., master and matron, Workhouse Dorrington John, tanner, currier, and feltmonger Feaver John, traveller Goater Wm. Hy. relvg. officer Grant Rev Thomas (Independent), Hungerford Hannen John, estate agent, auctioneer, &c. Harrison Thomas, gent. Hatch Rev Chas. M.A., vicar and surrogate, Vicarage Haydon Fredk. Wm. chemist, druggist, stationer, &c. Hayter James, saddler, &c. Heath Mrs Martha Hillary Charles, ironmonger, brazier, oilman, &c. Hulse Capt. Richd. Samuel, Fryern Court Jeffris John, parish clerk, and James, sexton Jeffris Wm. brewer, &c. Joyce Mr Archibald Duncan, gent; and Miss Martha Keay Wm. fancy depôt Kent George, law clerk Legg. Benj. rope, &c. maker Lock Geo. cabinet mkr. &c. McKay George, gardener
Mallett, Hugh P. Esq., Brookheath Neave Mrs. Mary 2 Neave Samuel and Josiah Reynolds, oatmeal mfrs. &c Neave Wm. and Co. corn millers and merchants, Bickton Mills Nuth Alfred, bank manager Pinhorn Mr Fras. Bickton Pinhorn Mr Jno. F. Redbrook Precey Edmund, watchmkr. engraver, &c. Rake Thos. Beaven, surgeon Reeves Miss Mary Rossiter Hy. police sergeant Rouse Charles, currier Shepperd Geo. millwright, engineer, and ironfounder, Stuckton Smith Robt. Geo. F., M.D. Thompson Samuel & Co. flax and hemp merchants, flax spinners, and sail-cloth, canvass, sack, twine, &c. manufacturers, East mill Venables Mrs Jane, Bower Wood Warren Rev Rd. Peter, M.A., incumbent, Hyde Parsonage Watts Hy. currier & butler, &c. factor Westlake Thos. merchant & mfr. (Thompson and Co.) White Mr Isaac, Godshill Williams Rev Morgan, B.A., (Independent) Withers Harry Fdk. wine and spirit merchant Withers Richard Westcott, gent. Napier Villa FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. Wormington Capt. Edward, Sandhill House ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS. Grant Tabitha (Independent) Hicks Miss Emma Wheeler Miss Virtue British School, Thos. Geo. and Eliz Rawkins National, Edw. Thos. Kellow and Eliz. Maton, Fordingbdg.; and Miss G. Tanner, Hyde BANKERS. Wilts and Dorset Banking Co., Bridge st. (draw on London and Westminster Bk.) Alfred Nuth, manager FARMERS. Absalom Wm., Godshill Aldridge Edw., Fryern Court Bartlett James, Sandhill Briant Jas., Lower Burgate Brown Phillip, Frogham Bush Isaac, Criddlestile Bush James, Thorpe s farm 5 Cheater Chas. sen and jun. Churchill Geo. Alderholt Collins Francis, Hyde 7 Collins Jas. 2 Coombs Hy. 5 Collins Eliz. 6 Cutler Jas. Curtis Ann Chubb Samuel Curtis James Read Curtis Stephen Durdle Thos., Sandhill heath Godwin John Lacey Jane Hall Wm., Midgham Hayter Stephen, sen. & jun., Upper Burgate 8 Hockley John 5 Jones Benjamin Hood George, Godshill Ingram Charles, N. Gorley 8 Jefferis Wm. Jefferis Jas. Jones Benj, North Gorley 6 Mist John Kernot Jph. Mouland Matthew, Godshill Musslewhite Thomas, do. Newman Mary Ann, do. Nutbeam Mary Jane, do. Neave & Co. 4 Parker Wm. 4 Parker Wm. jun. Kent G. 3 Parrett James, Peasash Philpot James, Burgate Pinhorn Vincent, Bickton 6 Plumley Stn. New grounds Pope Wm. 6 Pope Edw. Read Henry, Ogdens 8 Rose Jno. Skinner Cbls. Skinner Wm. Hyde Stewart Jas. 5 Thomas Sar. Stratton Ths. Sandhill House Sweatman Wm., Sandhill 5 Thomas Wm., Evans farm Thompson Saml., Gt. Bridge Viney Hannah, Gorley cross Viney James, Ashford Waters Geo. 8 Witt Chas. White Isaac, Godshill Witt Stn. Exors Witt Wm.
FIRE & LIFE OFFICES. Clerical, Medical, & General, W. T. Chubb County and Provident, F. Haydon Minerva, H. F. Withers Norwich, J. R. Neave Phœnix, &c. John Cottman Royal Exchng. R. M. Davy FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. Royal Farmers, West of England, and Accidental and Hail, J. Hannen Sun, James Chubb Times, Thomas Jenkins INNS AND TAVERNS. Crown Inn, George Waters Fighting Cocks, Hy. Witt, Godshill George Inn, John Hooper Greyhound Hotel, Robert Chilcott King s Arms, Chas. Hannen New Inn, Hy. Barnard and Mrs. Mary Spratt Rose and Crown, William Rose Royal Oak, Peter Read, North Gorley Star Hotel, Jas. Stewart BAKERS, &c. Applin James Cusse F. & Co. Huxtable Geo. Keay John 6 Mist Wm. Russell John Ward Louisa BASKET MKRS. Ball Thomas Day John BEERHOUSES. Brown Jph. 2 Clark Thos. 5 Collins Eliz. 2 Early Wm. 3 Kimber Jno. 4 Manyard H. Pope Charles 5 Witt Wm. BLACKSMITHS. 4 Bailey Hy. Bailey Robert 5 Barter Jas. Edsall Hy. Sims Daniel 6 Witt Henry BOOKSELLERS, &c. Cusse Fredk. and Co., Stamp offc. Jenkins Thos. BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS. 5 Ballard Jas. Marsh Cotg. Blackford Rd. Brothers Chs. Hannen Sol. Jefferis Thos. Kerly John Mouland Geo. Mouland Jas. Selley John Welch Benj. BUILDERS. Brashier Edm. Chalk Arthur Cottman Jno. BUTCHERS. Hall Wm. Hayter Hy. CARPENTERS. 2 Clark Thos. Cottman Jno. Henbest Fras. Horsey Wm. Shearing Wm. CHAIR MKRS. And Turners. Day John Eastman Sml. CHINA, GLASS, &c., DLRS. Gray Wm. Keay John Mercer Eliz. CONFECTNRS. Applin Thos. Keay John Cusse F. & Co. COOPERS Brown Jph. Merrie Geo. James CORN MILLERS Coles John 3 Curtis Jas. Mitchell Titus Neave Wm. & Co. Bickton 2 Neave S. & J. R. (oatmeal) GROCERS, &c. Applin Thos. Curtis Jas. & Wm. and corn merts Cusse Fdk. & Co. Gray Wm. Mercer Eliz. Mitchell Titus 5 Read Peter LINEN AND W. DRAPERS. Croft Samuel Gray Wm. Lawes Geo. Oates Robert Waters Chas. MALTSTERS. Higgins Chas. Jefferis Wm. Selley John Waters Geo. MILLINERS. Downer Eliza Sheppard E. Tiller S. & G. Webb Adlde. PAINTERS, PLUMBERS, &c. Alexander Js. Brothers Har. Rose Wm. SHOPKEEPERS. 4 Banks Moses 4 Blashford R. 8 Coles Chas. 8 Crosby Stn. Curtis Ann 2 Dunn Wm. 6 Fry Chtte. Gardiner Wm. Griffin Sarah Hewitt Mary 4 Maynard H.
FORDINGBRIDGE PARISH. 4 Parker Thos. Pope Charles 6 Rake Ambs. Stratton Mark Sandhill Watts Henry, and carrier 5 Witt Isaac, & cattle dlr Yents Ann, and carrier STRAW HAT MAKERS. Rouse Eliz. White Ann TAILORS. Brothers Jno. Croft Samuel Herrington C. Jenkins Thos. Langford Ths. Lawes Geo. Manning Ms. WHEELWRGTS. 2 Clarke Thos. Grandy Wm. Henbest Fras. Horsey Wm. Tiller Stephen COACH To Salisbury & Ringwood Stations daily, from the Greyhound. Mail Cart to Salisbury every evening. CARRIERS. Chas. Rouse, to Ringwood, daily; and Salisbury, Tues., Thurs., and Saturday. Hy. Watts and Ann Yeats, to Southampton, Monday and Friday. Carriers pass to Christchurch, &c. BREAMORE is a pleasant village, in the vale of the river Avon, 2 miles N. of Fordingbridge, and 9 miles S. of Salisbury. Its parish contains 646 souls and 2651 acres of land, forming a manorial liberty, of which Sir Edward Hulse, Bart., is lord; but part of the soil belongs to the Earl of Shaftesbury and several smaller freeholders. The parish includes the small hamlet of OUTWICK. Sir Edw. Hulse, Bart., now resides at the Rookery, his family mansion; BREAMORE HOUSE, which stood in a fine park, north of the village, being burn down on October 19th, 1856. The first baronet was physician to George II. The present baronet s uncle was the Right Hon. Sir Samuel Hulse, a field marshal in the army. A PRIORY for regular Augustine Canons was founded here by Baldwin, Earl of Rivers and Devonshire, and endowed with the tithes of Breamore, Hale, Rockbourn, North and South Charford, and other parishes. Its yearly revenue was valued, at the dissolution, at 200. 5s. 1d., according to Speed. No remains of it are now extant; but stone coffins have been found in the field called Priory meadow. Soon after the Reformation, most of the tithes which had belonged to this Priory passed to the Dodington family, who were long seated at Breamore House. One of them, reflecting on the tragedies that had happened in his family, restored the tithes of Breamore, Hale, Whitsbury, and Rockbourn, to their respective parish churches. Breamore Church (St. Mary) is an ancient structure, and has in its burial ground a large yew tree, 20 feet in girth. The benefice is a donative rectory, valued at 540, in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. James Nelson Palmer, M.A., who has a commodious Rectory House, built in 1804. The tithes were commuted in 1839. The Church Land is 5A. 1R. 16P. The School is supported by Sir E. Hulse and the Rector. In 1638, JOHN DODINGTON, Esq., left a yearly rent charge of 5 out of Sandy Bulls Estate, in Fordingbridge parish, to be paid in alternate rotation to the four parishes of Breamore, Fordingbridge, Harbridge, and Ringwood, for apprenticing poor children. In
BREAMORE PARISH. 1703, HENRY JOHNSON left, for apprenticing poor children of Breamore parish, 100, with which a yearly rent charge of 5. 10s., out of the manor of North Ashley, was purchased. POST via Salisbury. Hulse Sir Edward, Bart. The Rookery Palmer Rev James Nelson, M.A., rector Absalom Mrs. Mary Ann Absalom Letitia, schoolmrs Duell James, tailor Edsall John, schoolmaster Harvey Rev Samuel, B.A. curate Hobbs Samuel, wheelwright Robertson Charles, vict. Bat and Ball Robertson Charles, jun. corn miller Stanford James, land agent, Homefarm BEERHOUSES. Dove Wm. Hall John Newman Isc. Wort Absm. BLACKSMITHS. Edsall James, Post office Edsall Jermh. FARMERS. Absalom Wm. & butcher Hall George Hall John, sen. Chubbs Holloway Jno. & par. clk. Jeans Jacob Wm. Marsh Kernot John Newman Isc. Outwick Perry Thos. Read George Round Hill Read William, Hobbs Taunton John Witt Stephen SHOEMAKERS. Brothers Wm. Fround Wm. SHOPKEEPERS. Dorrington Benj. Webb Rachel CARRIER. Wort A., to Salisbury, Tues. and Saturday. WOODGREEN is an extra-parochial hamlet, near Breamore and Hale, at the north-western corner of the New Forest, from which it was enclosed about 1809. It had 407 inhabitants in 1851, and adjoins ASHLEY WALK, a large district of the New Forest, containing 5245 acres, of which 170 acres are in Breamore, and 555 in Ellingham parish. The other 4690 acres of this extensive Forest Walk are extra parochial, and had 270 inhabitants in 1851, scattered about in the forest near Woodgreen, Ashley Lodge, Goodshill Inclosure, Mudmore, and Ogdens. Mr. John Bumstead, one of the forest keepers, resides at Ashley Lodge, nearly 4 miles E. by N. of Fordingbridge. (See pages 49 and 50.) There is a Wesleyan Chapel at WOODGREEN, of which hamlet the following are the principal inhabitants. Angel Wm. Downer Isc. Brothers Wm. shopkeeper Dymott Wm. wheelwght. &c. Frowd Hy. shop & beerhs. Herrington Hanh. beerhs. Herrington Wm. beerhs. Mist Charles. shoemaker Mouland Wm. farmer White Mrs. Hooper Geo. Witt Geo. shopkeeper, and carrier to Salisbury Witt Wm., Barns farm
NORTH CHARFORD PARISH. NORTH CHARFORD, a small parish on the banks of the river Avon, 7 miles S. by E. of Salisbury, is bounded on the north by Wiltshire. It contains on 68 souls, and 755A. 2R. 37P. of land, belonging to Samuel Whitchurch and Joseph Goff, Esqrs. The former has a pleasant seat at North Charford, and occupies the principal farm. The rest of this parish, called Searchfield Farm, is occupied by Mr. Henry Hugh Herbert. The other parishioners are Mr. Benj. Hayter, and Nathl. Philpot, blacksmith. SOUTH CHARFORD, the adjoining parish, contains only 71 souls and 777A. 2R. 22P. of land. It belongs to Sir Edw. Hulse, Bart., and Joseph Goff, Esq.; and FARMERS are Jph. Brown, Rd. Coles, John Targett, and Wm. Long. The Church for these two parishes stood at South Charford, but it went to decay some centuries ago, when its tithes were given by one of the Dodingtons to the churches of Breamore and Hale, which are now used by the parishioners. Charford was anciently called Cerdic s ford, from its being the place where Cerdic, the first Saxon King of Wessex, crossed the Avon into Hampshire. (See pages 29 and 30.) Upon a high hill, near Breamore, is a large mound, called by the villagers the Giants Grave, and supposed to cover the remains of many of the Britons slain by the Saxons about the close of the fifth century. HALE, a small village and parish on the east side of the river Avon, near the borders of Wiltshire, 8 miles S. by E. of Salisbury, and 4 miles N.N.E. of Fordingbridge, adjoins the north-west angle of the New Forest, and contains 134 souls, and 1322A. 3R. 15P. of land. The owner of the soil and lord of the manor is Joseph Goff, Esq., of HALE HOUSE, a commodious mansion, in a finely-wooded Park, near the CHURCH (St. Mary,) which was rebuilt in 1715, and repaired in 1838. The benefice is a rectorial donative, valued at 260. It is endowed with the tithes of South Charford, and is in the patronage of Joseph Goff, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Geo. James Goff, M.A. The School was built by the patron in 1847. The FARMERS are James Collins, Stephen Cooper (parish clerk,) John Harrison, Joseph Harrison, and Fras. Viney. POST via Breamore and Salisbury. ROCKBOURNE, or Rockburne, a scattered village from 3 to 4 miles N.W. of Fordingbridge, and 8 miles S. by W. of Salisbury, has in its parish 515 souls, and 3798 acres of land, bounded on three sides by Wiltshire; being a projecting tongue of Fordingbridge Hundred and Union, near the junction of the three counties of Hants, Wilts, and Dorset.
ROCKBOURNE PARISH. Upon the Down farm are two barrows, supposed to cover the remains of many ancient Britons and Saxons, slain in the sixth century, when several great battles were fought in the neighbourhood. (See page 29.) The Earl of Shaftesbury is lord of the manor. His ancestor, the first Earl of Shaftesbury, was born at the Manor House, which has long been used as a farm house, and has near it the remains of an ancient chapel. The present Earl owns a great part of the parish, and the rest belongs chiefly to E. Coote, Esq., who has a handsome seat called WEST PARK, at the south end of the parish, 3 miles W.N.W. of Fordingbridge. He is the son of the late Charles Coote, Esq., and Lady Coote. The latter was a daughter of the first Lord Cremorne. A few years ago, she erected in the park a lofty column in memory of a former distinguished member of the family General Sir Eyre Coote. The CHURCH (St. Andrew) is an ancient structure, except the chancel, which was rebuilt by the late Lady Coote, and has a handsome stained glass window, and several mural monuments to members of the Coote family. The tower contains a clock and three bells. The benefice is a donative, valued at 624, and endowed with all the tithes, except about 70 a-year belonging to King s College, Cambridge. Eyre Coote, Esq., is the patron; and the Rev. Wm. Johnson Yonge, M.A., is the incumbent, and also rural dean of the Western Division of the Fordingbridge Deanery. (See page 69.) He has about 90 acres of glebe, and a commodious Rectory House. The school is supported by him, E. Coote, Esq., and the Earl of Shaftesbury. There is a small Independent Chapel in the parish. The church land, awarded at the enclosure, is let for 1. 15s. per annum. POST from Breamore, via Salisbury. Coot Eyre, Esq., West Park Yonge Rev Wm. J. M. A., incbt. & rur. dean, Rectory Blackfoot Robt., shopkeeper Brown Alfred, wheelwright and carpenter Chalk Wm. corn dealer Elford Wm. parish clerk Percy Wm. blacksmith Pope James, shoemaker Roberts Rd. baker & beerhs., and shopkeeper Rooke Henry, shoemaker Rooke Robert, shopkeeper Short Wm. castrator Wakeley Saml. shoemaker Wigg Jas. & Mrs. school FARMERS. Abbott John (and maltster) Minteys farm Hall Thos. Glebe farm Hall Wm. (& land surveryor and valuer,) Hinxmans Lush John, Alling s farm Morris George and Joseph, Down farm Penniger Cphr. Manor farm Waters Geo. Rockstead POST OFFICE at Jas. Pope s