Site-Search
Coming Soon
|
Site-Search |
|
Page and site |
|
Alresford (New) in Southampton County England History and GeographyALRESFORD (NEW), a market town and chapelry in the parish of OLD ALRESFORD, liberty of ALRESFORD, Alton (north) division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 6 miles (N.E. by E.) from Winchester, and 57 from London, on the high road to Winchester, containing 1129 inhabitants. It derives its name from its situation near a ford on the river Alré. The manor was given to the church of Winchester by King Kinewalch, or Kinewalc, after his baptism by Bishop Birinus. About 1220, Godfrey de Lucy, Bishop of Winchester, restored the market, then fallen into disuse. On May-day, 1690, the town was destroyed by fire, previously to which it was so prosperous, that there was not an individual requiring parochial relief. In 1710, a similar calamity occurred. Alresford pond is a fine piece of water, forming the head of the river Itchen. The northern em bankment is formed by a causeway, nearly 500 yards in length, part of the main road to London previously to 1753, when the present one was made through Bishop's Sutton. This work was accomplished by Bishop de Lucy, under a grant from King John, with a view to increase the depth of the river Itchen, which was thus rendered navigable to Southampton water; though, of late, it has ceased to be so higher than Winchester. As a recompense for this arduous undertaking, the bishop obtained, for himself and his successors, the entire royalty of the river from the reservoir to the sea. The market day, principally for corn, is Thursday; and the fairs are held on Holy Thursday, the last Thursday in July and November, and the Thursday next after old Michaelmas-day, almost exclusively for sheep. Alresford was incorporated at a very early period, and returned one representative to parliament in the 23d of Edward I. The corporation consists of a bailiff, appointed by the Bishop of Winchester, and eight burgesses; who, by virtue of a lease from the bishop, receive the tolls of the market, but exercise no magisterial authority. A court leet is held at Michaelmas, when the bailiff is chosen; and the county magistrates hold a petty sessions weekly, for the division of Alton. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Bishop of Winchester. The Independents have a place of worship. H. Perin, Esq. founded a school for nine boys, sons of poor tradesmen in the town, and the neighbouring villages of Old Alresford, Sutton, and Titchburne; it is endowed with a good house for the master, and 52 acres of land, now let for £100 per annum. At Bramdean, about three miles distant, a tesselated pavement was discovered about five years ago, one part of which represents the wrestling match between Hercules and Ant?us. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
Readers of this page were also interested in: Clapham in Surrey County England History and Geography CLAPHAM, a parish in the eastern division of the hundred of BRIXTON, county of SURREY, 4 miles (S.) from London, containing 7151 inhabitants. This village has, for many years, been considered as one of the most respectable in the environs of the metropolis Dalston in Cumberland County England History and Geography DALSTON, a parish in the ward and county of CUMBERLAND, comprising the chapelry of Ivegill, and the townships of Buckhowbank, Cumdevock, Dalston, Hawkesdale, and Raughton with Gatesgill, and containing 2617 inhabitants, of which number, 955 are in the township of Dalston, 4½ miles (S.S.W.) from Carlisle Halesworth in Suffolk County England History and Geography HALESWORTH, a market town and parish in the hundred of BLYTHING, county of SUFFOLK, 30½ miles (N.E. by N.) from Ipswich, and 101 (N.E.) from London, containing 2166 inhabitants Leeds in Kent County England History and Geography LEEDS, a parish in the hundred of EYHORNE, lathe of AYI ESFORD, county of KENT, 5 miles (E. by S.) from Maidstone, containing 515 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, to which that of Broomfield is united, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury Whitchurch in Southampton County England History and Geography WHITCHURCH, a borough, decayed market town, and parish, in thehundred of EVINGAR, Kingsclere division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 12 miles (N. by E.) from Winchester, and 57 (W. S. W.) from London, containing, with the tythings of Charlcott, Cold Hurley, and Freefolk, with Freefolk Prior, 1434 inhabitants Yaxley in Huntingdon County England History and Geography YAXLEY, a parish (formerly a market town) in the hundred of NORMAN-CROSS, county of HUNTINGDON, 14 miles (N.N.W.) from Huntingdon, and 73 (N. by W.) from London, containing 1070 inhabitants. The village is irregularly, but neatly, built, extending for a considerable distance along the high road from Stilton to Farcet, and is amply supplied with water |
